Hi all. Just wondering if it is ok to touch a MH HQI bulb with out gloves on. I know on Halogen automobile bulbs if you touch the with bare hands they most likely will explode. Is this the case also with MH bulbs? Please advis. Thanks.
Don't touch DE bulbs with your bare hands. The oils on your fingers will rub off on the bulb and may cause it to heat excessively and explode. If you do touch it, make sure to wipe it down with either pure water (RO is good enough) or rubbing alcohol. For mogul socket bulbs, they're less prone to this problem because they have an outer glass envelope, but it is still not recommended you touch the glass.
It has been experience NOT to touch ANY bulb without first proper hand coverage. Len's right, but oils on ANY bulb do tend to weaken the bulb in that it will draw heat to the area touched and leave a black spot on flourescent bulbs in some cases, both HO and regular wattage, but Metal Halide bulbs definitely DO NOT touch the bulb with your bare hands. I've seen them blow.
Aquadoc-
