Good LED bulb will not work in a socket

[ILoveDeoxit]

TL;DR

I don't even know where to start.

Hi all,

25 year electrician here with a strange (to me) issue.

I have a science project lamp that has a dimmer, a volt meter and a socket with a bulb in it. The kids can turn on the bulb, rotate the dimmer and watch the voltage go up and down on the meter. Simple enough.

Every dimmable bulb (including LED's) I have put in it works perfectly. Until now.
Lowes sells a large globe vintage style General Electric LED bulb and I purchased one. Long story short, It will not light up in this circuit for some reason. This bulb works in every other lamp I tried it in, the bulb is fine.

I eliminated the socket as the problem by jumping the wires straight to the bulb and still nothing.

I tried a similar LED bulb, same style, design and it works. Every other bulb in the house works in this circuit except the one I just bought.

Can anyone explain this to me?

 

[hutchphd]

Summary:: I don't even know where to start.

I tried a similar LED bulb, same style, design and it works. Every other bulb in the house works in this circuit except the one I just bought.

You mean you purchased an identical bulb ? (And it works? )

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

You mean you purchased an identical bulb ? (And it works? )

No, I have other LED bulbs that are built the same way (vintage style) but they are regular sized bulbs.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

For the record, VOM shows a solid 119 volts at the socket. All I can think of is somehow the inline volt meter is effecting this bulb somehow? There is really nothing else to question.

 

[Borek]

All I can think of is somehow the inline volt meter is effecting this bulb somehow?

You said there is a dimmer, not only a voltmeter?

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

Correct. Simple circuit... Dimmer to voltmeter to bulb.

 

[Averagesupernova]

For the record, VOM shows a solid 119 volts at the socket. All I can think of is somehow the inline volt meter is effecting this bulb somehow? There is really nothing else to question.

Voltmeters are not used inline. A more detailed description and schematic would be helpful.

 

[Borek]

I would put the bet on the dimmer.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

I would suspect the dimmer but every other bulb in the house works in it.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

Voltmeters are not used inline. A more detailed description and schematic would be helpful.

Its like this...

Rotary Lutron dimmer to panel volt meter to bulb.

 

[hutchphd]

Could you show some wires, perhaps?

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

Could you show some wires, perhaps?

120 volt
hot/neutral to dimmer, hot and neutral to the meter and then to the socket. Thats it.

 

[Borek]

I would suspect the dimmer but every other bulb in the house works in it.

Doesn't matter much. LED bulbs have their own switchers which don't have to be compatible with the dimmer. It is not like every LED bulb is made exactly the same way.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

Doesn't matter much. LED bulbs have their own switchers which don't have to be compatible with the dimmer. It is not like every LED bulb is made exactly the same way.

I suppose its possible but Lutron would be the De facto standard if there is one for dimmers.
I would think A GE bulb that says "dimmable" should work with a Lutron dimmer.

 

[davenn]

I would think A GE bulb that says "dimmable" should work with a Lutron dimmer.

That would not be a wise assumption

 

[Averagesupernova]

120 volt
hot/neutral to dimmer, hot and neutral to the meter and then to the socket. Thats it.

That makes no sense.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

I would put the bet on the dimmer.

Borek you nailed it...
Not sure what happened but finally all the bulbs stopped working. Apparently the dimmer died. It tripped the breaker whatever happened inside it. New dimmer now and everything is working.

Thanks to all!

 

[hutchphd]

A dead dimmer is much better than Gremlins!

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

That makes no sense.

Its very simple Averagesuprenova...

Hot wire goes through the dimmer to control the voltage, then it goes to the meter, then it goes to power the light bulb.
Neutral goes to the meter and then the light bulb.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

A dead dimmer is much better than Gremlins!

I have to admit I was scratching my head Hutch.

 

[Averagesupernova]

Its very simple Averagesuprenova...

Hot wire goes through the dimmer to control the voltage, then it goes to the meter, then it goes to power the light bulb.
Neutral goes to the meter and then the light bulb.

View attachment 266892

It's not so simple because it contradicts what you wrote in post #12. Your diagram shows the neutral NOT going to the dimmer. The diagram is how I would have expected it, not the way you worded it in the description.

 

[ILoveDeoxit]

It's not so simple because it contradicts what you wrote in post #12. Your diagram shows the neutral NOT going to the dimmer. The diagram is how I would have expected it, not the way you worded it in the description.

You are correct Averagesupernova.
I messed up royal on post 12. The dimmer only use's the hot wire.