BenEdwards Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 HI. I have a Strand Minim PC which stopped working. I replaced the bulb and it worked for a couple of days then it stopped working again. I was going to replace the bulb but it looks fine so I tried it in another lantern and it works so it is not the bulb. I then plugged the lantern into another dimmer channel and it still does don't work (I first tested the channel with another lamp and it is OK). So its not the bulb and the dimmer channel is OK. Any idea what could be the problem/what I should try/look at next? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Probably the lamp holder. Sometimes the spring contacts break due to the heat, or people forcing the lamps in with the big pin/small pin the wrong way round. You can't repair, you have to replace. I suggest you also inspect the wiring for damage and buzz it through, the strain relief where it enters the fixture is not all that good on minims and can fracture the cable internally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 The problem is somewhere in the plug, lead or socket into which the bulb fits.My guess is that the socket is corroded, where the pins on the old bulb corroded/ burnt?Could be the connections in the terminal block are loose.CheersGerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik10_4 Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I assume you have checked the plug and done a continuity test between plug and lamp holder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marineboy63 Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Continuity test is the answer. Pin to lampholder.pin to other side of lampholder.Pin to pin. Fault will be self evident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 And if its a burnt/corroded lamp holder best to chuck away the old lamp as the pins will more than likley be pitted ,causing arcing in the new holder which will lead to another bust lamp holder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted December 12, 2014 Author Share Posted December 12, 2014 Continuity test is the answer. Pin to lampholder.pin to other side of lampholder.Pin to pin. Fault will be self evident. Will do, was my next thing on the list, need to buy a multimeter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldradiohand Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 If you're not terribly experienced at this sort of thing it might be safer to get someone a bit better qualified to sort this for you. If you feel confident to tackle the job, get the fixture PAT tested before use, just to be sure. In fact, any piece of electrical kit should be PATted after maintenance.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Halogen lamps are very demanding on lamp holders. The contact springs inside the holder get hot and lose their temper then they fail to make good contact and the lamp pin and the holder socket get burned. After that the dead holder will burn all following lamps quickly. In another industry I used halogen enlarger lamps which were rated at 50 hours but with a burned holder could last 50 seconds. Replacing the cable and lamp holder should just be normal service repair, in house if you are competent. The start of the death of the contacts is usually things getting too hot so adding cleaning the cooling system, (fans, fins, airways etc) to a service schedule is a good plan. Some heat resistant cable is available at B&Q if you only need short lengths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatman Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 ...The start of the death of the contacts is usually things getting too hot so adding cleaning the cooling system, (fans, fins, airways etc) to a service schedule is a good plan... The cooling system in a Minim consists of a few louvre slots in the removable top plate. It's probably had a 500W lamp fitted, they are really only good for M38 300W lamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 The cooling system in a Minim consists of a few louvre slots in the removable top plate. It's probably had a 500W lamp fitted, they are really only good for M38 300W lamps.I use 500W T18/T25 on all my 20+ Minims. I have only had to replace one lamp this year so far.CheersGerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkyweb Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I wouldn't worry about using 500w lamps in a minim. They are rated for them. Depending on the age of the minim, I remember that they had a tendancy to fail at the cable inlet. That would be the first place I would look after the lamp holder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 It decided to start working, which is good and bad. Makes trouble shooting tricky. Will take the lantern down at the end of the run and have a proper look. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peza2010 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 doesn't that make it easier???cabling has gotta be suspect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenEdwards Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 doesn't that make it easier???cabling has gotta be suspect? Cable is relatively new, lamp holder maybe. As I said will get it down soon and have a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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