indoor/outdoor lamps

[sitelights]

I am probably the only person that reads the small pieces of printed matter packed with low voltage halogen lamps. Actually I read everything provided in the package containing the luminaire at least once. I also read all the labels. This is just me. My take is that someone thought it was important enough to write it, print it and pack it. Most of this stuff is cautionary "boilerplate" required to satisfy company counsel or insurance underwriters but some of it is useful. My current favorite notice states: "Keep away from moisture and water which may cause pin corrosion." This 3"X3" notice folded three times and stuffed in a 20w halogen lamp box packed with a luminaire intended for outdoor use "within three feet of the ground" caught my attention. If "pin corrosion" is an issue, why not plate the pins? The answer of course is that the lamp was not made to be used in an outdoor low voltage fixture that gets wet (internal condensation) everytime the power is switched off. Go figure.

[SteveP]

Joe, the spamming world has caught up with you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_spam

You may need to implement some scheme to protect the integity of the forum. Good luck!

Anyway, regarding the lamp pin issue, we've worked hard to improve the integrity of those pesky MR-16 / socket connections.

To do this, we've gone to nickle MR-16 pins and solid nickle contacts in our sockets. In addition, we've beefed up the internal spring (now stainless steel) that sits between the socket contacts to better maintain squeezing pressure on the contacts.

[sitelights]

This problem began quite recently; it is perhaps inevitable. The forums are scanned for new posts twice daily, usually by 9 AM and then again after 5 PM. A bogus post is easy to spot so there is no agonizing over what is or is not legitimate. The post deletion takes two keystrokes; the deletion of the "member" takes two more.

The registration process could be made more difficult but a determined spammer would not be deterred. The prospective "member" must provide a valid email address which is then used to confirm membership. One cannot join and therefore cannot post if the automatic acceptance email is not acknowledged.

There have been about 8 bogus posts since this began in the past few weeks: November 2006. Two a week is easy to handle manually but, of course, an avalanche would quickly bury me. I would then have to do something about it that would require a pointless expenditure of the resources allocated to maintain this forum.

There is a more recent version of vBulletin; I will be contacting them to see if the latest iteration addresses the spamming problem. The technical support company that has been used to move lowvolt.org to a different server is always there to handle this kind of problem. Unfortunately even a brief telephoned inquiry shows up as a $75.00 minimum charge on the next invoice.


On another matter, it is gratifying to learn that the MR socket problem is being addressed; the same upgrades could enhance the performance of bi-pin J lamps. There has not been a significant improvement to the MR socket since the clip was added to grip the grooves in the lamp base.

Have you seen the latest all ceramic socket from Leviton? [Leviton.com catalog #80054-500 UPC#07847726166] I have not yet gotten my hands on this item since it is sold only in bulk. The mica cover of the springs and socket jaws has been eliminated; the top surface of the socket is seamless ceramic.

This is the first time the issue of water resistance has been acknowledged: an all ceramic socket would be a breakthrough product since it would be the closest any maker has come to a purpose-built bi-pin socket suitable for outdoor use. Also of interest: this is a "universal" bi-pin socket (almost) since it can be used with a number of different pin spacings.