Introduction
We've all been in that situation. A dead light bulb. Easy enough to fix, right? You start spinning and SNAP! It breaks inside of the screw shell. Fortunately, there is a way to minimize the chance of this happening. Light bulb grease.
What is light bulb grease and how to use it?
Quite simply, it is an electrically conductive lubricant. It assists with the installation and subsequent removal of lights. By having this thin coating on the bulb it will greatly slow down corrosion due to environmental factors, thus extending bulb life.
Using it is simple enough. On the shell of a screw-style bulb, rub a light coating over it. Be careful not to get grease between the shell and the base. Since it is conductive, you could inevitably cause a short circuit. Once coated, install the bulb as you normally would.
What bulbs to use it on?
While you can use it on virtually any bulb, it's really not necessary. Since a large facility may have thousands of bulbs on the low end, it's best to focus on the ones that have special conditions. The first type I recommend using is outdoor lighting. Especially pole lights. These lights are in an ever-changing environment, subject to both temperature and humidity fluctuations. The lubrication and anticorrosion properties of the grease with be a time saver when it comes to replacing them down the line.
The next major area I recommend is in the boiler room. The high temperature and humidity will take its toll on the bulbs. The chemicals used to treat the steam will also inevitably end up in the air, whether due to leaks or from blowing down the boiler. Those chemicals can further corrode your bulbs. For the same reason, any area with a high concentration of corrosive chemicals should have greased bulbs.
The inside refrigerated units should also get special attention. Bulbs turning on and off heat the metal contacts, while at the same time being inside of a cold environment. This level of thermal stress can make the removal of bad bulbs a nuisance down the line.
Conclusion
This was just a brief overview of the reasons for using bulb grease, along with examples of good places to use it. You may not see the benefits for several years if done properly. Just consider this advice when planning your PMs.
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