Why do the 2 prong halogen light bulbs get loose and go out; is there a way to fix them?

Question

They are in hockey puck undercounter fixtures.

Answer 1

i have to agree with the above answer. if you must touch the bulb use rubbing alochol to clean off the bulb

Answer 2

First- NO you shouldn't touch the lamps with bare fingers.  The low voltage varieties do not have a secondary glass envelope.  Sure, they will work, but not for as long as they should!  

Finger oil creates a cool spot on the glass that allows the tungsten boiled off from the filament to condense on the glass - when the tungsten/halogen cycle completes, this material will not redeposit on the filament as it should but, rather, will remain on the glass.  After a several hundred cycles, the filament will have lost too much material and will break.

The big problem with the bi-pin QH "hockey puck" lamps is that the pins are very small; the corespondingly small contacts in the socket are easily deformed from the intense heat of the lamps, and eventually don't make solid contact.  Most manufacturers have migrated to a bayonet -base lamp and socket because they are easier to design to withstand heat deformation.

That said, I have found that some xenon low voltage bi-pin lamps have slightly thicker pins, and will make electrical contact when the QH lamp pins won't.  It will allow you to get a little more use from the lights. Long term, consider replacing the fixtures with the newer style.

Answer 3

yeah dont touch the bulb with your fingers and dont buy cheap bulbs the will burn out quick regardless of if they are touched or not.

Answer 4

Ok, you know not to touch the bulb, by now, right?

In the socket there are two little tiny plates held in place by two little tiny springs. These springs get really hot, and over time they lose they're temper, and start throwing things, and kicking walls, and jk. No, they get soft and no longer provide enough pressure on the contacts on the bulb, plus the heat causes oxidation on the contacts in the socket, which add's resistance, which add's more heat, etc.

So, what you need to do is get a real small jewelers screwdriver, real small. and jam it into those little springs a few times and twist it a little. The object is to expand those springs a little. There may be a "mica" or some other cover conceiling the springs, just pry it off with the screwdriver.While your in there scrape off as much oxidation from the side of the contacts that face the bulb contacts as you can.

Answer 5

Make sure you do not touch the bulbs with your Bare Fingers, to oil from your finger prints will make the bulb burn out way sooner then they should. use disposable gloves to change the bulb and Don't Touch the Bulb!

Answer 6

Somethings the pins inside the socket is not making contact with the lamp as you know ever the low watt lamps get hot Try this flatten the pins on the lamps just alittle so that they are out of round and well make contact, works sometimes but you might have to replace the socket Sorry I don't agree that you can not handle the lamps maybe if your eating pork chops and have not washed your hands This is glass sealed I;ve handled 1000 of them and don't see any shortage in life span

75 years ago only a special trained electrician could only handle Florescent lamps so they said