lube for lampholders

[bergie]

some advice please. we installed a warehouse full of T bays. 4 x 28 watt T5 tubes. this was about 2 years ago. a lot of tubes need replacing but the T5 lampholders are given me problems . the lamps wont turn. the little black inserts that guide the pins are all seized. these are expensive fittings so shouldnt be giving problems.
what can i spray on the lampholders to lube it. silicone spray? i dont think it is flammable.

[AndyD]

I assume they're the type where the inner part rotates 90degrees like this one

and not the type with no moving parts apart from the internal brass leaf sprung contacts (known as the 'scrotum' type fittings by my guys for obvious aesthetic reasons) like this one;


If it's the former type they must be internally damaged or badly manufactured, there's nothing to corrode and the lamps don't get changed often enough to cause wear and tear. I can't help thinking that any kind of lube may cause the plastic to deteriorate/go brittle or powdery etc and it would cause dirt and grit to collect by sticking to the lubricant. I'd probably approach the wholesaler and ask for advice and maybe inquire if there was any kind of recall.....yeah I know it's a long shot but maybe worth a go.

[bergie]

thanks andy. they are the inner rotating part,not the scrotum type. lol.
im not too worried about the risk of the lube causing the plastic to deteriorate. if i dont try the lube i will have to replace the lampholder anyway. i think the heat in the fitting might be causing it. especially in the areas where food is processed and the fitting has a glass diffuser.

[AndyD]

If they're heat damaged they're probably distorted and going to disintegrate anyway if they're jammed and you 'persuade' them to rotate. Maybe just get some new lampholders from the wholesalers and replace them, they're cheap to buy and quick to replace.

[mikilianis]

Hi bergie what I use is a Momar product called Miricale Tool, an electrical and contact lubricant you just need to wipe off the excess as it does not dry 100% I attach approx 1m of surgical tubing small enough to fit over the plastic nozzle extension tube that is supplied with the aerosol container to get a better application of the product only thing is the tube must be cleaned when you have finished using it.

[mikilianis]

They say that a picture paints a thousand words

[bergie]

thanks mikilianis