Two questions about light bulbs. Illuminate me!

[Orrex]

I have several lamps that have labels warning me not to use bulbs that exceed 75 watts, due to the heat, etc.

Question 1: How do CFLs mesh with that warning? Does the 13W CFL equal a 13W incandescent bulb for these purposes (meaning that it's safe?)

Question 2: Is there any harm in using a low-wattage incandescent bulb in a conventional lamp? I'd like to use a 7W incandescent bulb in a regular lamp for use at night, when a small amount of light is desired, but not too much. Does the low-wattage bulb present any risk or hazard?

It occurs to me that these are probably pretty dumb/simple questions, but before I burn my house down, I thought that I should check in with the geniuses of the Lounge.

Thanks for your wisdom!

[billyskank]

1. A 13W CFL bulb will be much brighter than a 13W incandescent bulb

but might generate similar amounts of heat. So I'd say you're probably even safer with the CFL bulbs.

[Orrex]

2. That was my thought as well.

The light output of the 13W CFL is listed as equivalent to 40W incandescent, I believe, but with the much lower wattage, I was thinking that it must be safer, as you say.

Thanks!

[TZ]

3. Those CFL's are safe for lamps

as long as they aren't controlled by a dimmer...I have a CFL in my bedroom nightstand lamp!

[Orrex]

8. We've replaced most of our household bulbs with CFLs

The principle exceptions being our appliances, the vanity-bulbs around the bathoom mirror, and two ceiling bulbs. The fixtures clip right onto the bulbs, and even the newish "shrouded" CFLs aren't quite the right shape to accomodate them.

I suppose that it varies from brand to brand, but some of the CFLs seem to take a while to warm up--up to a minute in some cases. It's not the end of the world, but I can see it as a major obstacle to complete acceptance of the technology.

Thanks for chiming in!

[onlyadream]

19. They now have CFL bulbs that are dimmable

it'll be on the package.
I never tried them though, so I don't know how well they work.

[madinmaryland]

4. A lower watt bulb is safer and uses less energy.

Just as you might put in an incandescent bulb of 40W, putting in a CFL bulb of 13W, you will end up saving electricity.

Just don't exceed that rating, as the wiring in the lamp is probably not rated to handle anything greater than 75 watts. (Actually it's probably quite a bit higher than that, but they just don't want someone sticking in a 175W bulb and causing a fire -- liability)

[Orrex]

7. Thanks!

I had hoped that was the case, because it would be quite convenient for me if it were so.


Thanks for the info, though, now that I think about it, I'll have to use that french fry heat-lamp in a different socket.

[madinmaryland]

9. You will need to use a brazilian NEMA twist lock plugs for that!!!!!

[conscious evolution]

13. Absolutely correct.

You can seldom go wrong using a smaller wattage bulb.

Check into LED bulbs.They use even less wattage and last years longer then other types.They do cost more but you save it back in no time.

[pokerfan]

16. LEDs are the new fluorescent

"Cool" colors too...

[Orrex]

17. That's awesome!

The last time I looked, all the LEDs ended in a flat disc with a dozen or so little emitters inside. I suspect that the design that you showed will be much more popular, since it's familiar.

Nifty!

[conscious evolution]

18. Who makes that brand?

Looks different than the ones I have been installing.
Is the glass colored or are they changing the colors by changing the voltage feeding the LEDs?

[pokerfan]

20. Found it here...

http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/catalog/87/30/405/208442/led_bulbs.html

[Parche]

5. The Lord Of The Rings

:woohoo: :hi:

[Orrex]

6. And you wonder why you're on my Ignore list

Whoever you are...

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Wattage is wattage, and...

lumens are lumens. Just because a 13 watt CFL might put out as many lumens as a 75 watt incandescent bulb doens't mean it gets any hotter than a 13 watt incandescant bulb. So it's safe to use.

And you can always use a smaller bulb in a standard fixture.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. CFLs give off almost no heat, so they are way safe.

So, say you have a lamp that says "Use no more than 100W bulb in this", that's talking incandescent. A CFL bulb with equivalent light output will be about, I can't remember, let's say 20W; but only give off as much heat as, maybe, a 1W bulb, if even that much.

So, in a sense, if you could find one, you could use a 10000W CFL bulb (assuming you had the power capacity to drive it) in that 100W socket, in terms of being safe heatwise.

As to question 2, no harm at all - the only ratings given in lamps are maximum wattage; you can go as low as you find a bulb.

[XemaSab]

12. 1. Turn the switch off before you change the bulb.

2. Don't stick them anywhere you wouldn't want to explain to a doctor in the ER.

[Orrex]

15. Where I plant my bulbs is my own business, thank you very much

I don't tell you how to illuminate yourself, do I?

[mwooldri]

14. We needed a lot of light in an apartment with no built in lights.

So we went the CFL route.

Bought bulbs that would put out the same amount of light as a 150w lightbulb but they only use 25w or thereabouts. By golly it was bright, but it was safe. And used as much electric as one 75w bulb.

Mark.

[Orrex]

21. Thank you, all, for your helpful replies! Except Parche, of course.

But the rest of you have given me exactly the information I needed. We have that 7W bulb in a small lamp in my younger son's room, and it's useful when we need to check on him during the night but don't want a blaze of light to beat down from the ceiling.

And we use CFLs in every lamp that will take them, though we have a few in which they'd still be impractical.


Thanks again!