As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:11:30 -0700, tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

Yes, often they will overheat. A 100 bulb puts out a lot more heat.
This can melt plastic parts, or even damage the bulb socket and
wiring.

What you can do is replace with a compact flourescent. A 60 watt CF
gives out as much or more light than a 100 watt incandescent but runs
cooler. They are available in shapes that will screw into a standard
lamp socket.

HTH,

Paul

Paul Franklin wrote:
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:11:30 -0700, tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

Yes, often they will overheat. A 100 bulb puts out a lot more heat.
This can melt plastic parts, or even damage the bulb socket and
wiring.

What you can do is replace with a compact flourescent. A 60 watt CF
gives out as much or more light than a 100 watt incandescent but runs
cooler. They are available in shapes that will screw into a standard
lamp socket.

HTH,

Paul

I second the advice, but I differ on the math; around here it's the 23W
CFs that are rated as equivalent to 100W incandescents. If one fits in
the lamp (the 23s are not the smallest) and the lamp isn't on a dimmer
switch or something, you should find that works fine and runs cooler
than the 40.

I use a 23W CF in my shop light. Nice bright light, stays cool in close
quarters and it'll even survive a bit of a bump. Great minds must think
alike, it's one of the bright reader ideas in this month's Fine
Homebuilding.

Chip C

tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in
using higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

100 watt bulb produces a lot more heat than a 60 watt bulb and cold
cause a dangerous fire situation! - udarrell

--
Optimizing Air-Conditioner Efficiency
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditio...ator-coil.html

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 13:21:56 -0500, udarrell wrote:

100 watt bulb produces a lot more heat than a 60 watt bulb and cold
cause a dangerous fire situation! - udarrell

It cold? Oh my!

--
If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Linux Registered User #327951

"Dan C" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 13:21:56 -0500, udarrell wrote:

100 watt bulb produces a lot more heat than a 60 watt bulb and cold
cause a dangerous fire situation! - udarrell

It cold? Oh my!

spelling flames are lame, especially when you make them in follow-up post's.

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:11:30 -0700, tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

Were you born this dumb?

--
If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Linux Registered User #327951

What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

My personal opinion is that it has more to do with liability than safety. In
the electrical and lighting industry the materials used over the last forty
or so years have improved greatly yet in the case of the lighting industry
the allowable wattage keeps decreasing. It's routine for a lighting fixture
to have a warning not to connect it to wiring rated at less than 90 degrees,
like your going to rewire eighty percent of the houses that want to install
fixtures in them. I don't think so. I'm sure a good portion of these ratings
is just to pass the liability on to you the installer or the consumer








"Dan C" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 11:11:30 -0700, tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

Were you born this dumb?

--
If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Linux Registered User #327951

In article , "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

My personal opinion is that it has more to do with liability than safety.
[snip]
I'm sure a good portion of these ratings
is just to pass the liability on to you the installer or the consumer

Your personal opinion, however, is incorrect. It has everything to do with
safety. I've had the misfortune of needing to replace numerous light fixtures
that previous homeowners used 100W bulbs in, despite the clear warnings
"Danger risk of fire use 60W max". The excessive heat of the 100W bulbs has,
in every case, severely damaged the fixture wires, causing the insulation to
harden, crack, and fall off.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Doug, I've seen that many times myself. There are certainly types of
fixtures that mount close to ceilings that produce a lot of heat and are
fire hazards, however I still believe that a lot of these ratings are more
for liability than safety
"Doug Miller" wrote in message
m...
In article , "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:
What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

My personal opinion is that it has more to do with liability than safety.
[snip]
I'm sure a good portion of these ratings
is just to pass the liability on to you the installer or the consumer

Your personal opinion, however, is incorrect. It has everything to do with
safety. I've had the misfortune of needing to replace numerous light
fixtures
that previous homeowners used 100W bulbs in, despite the clear warnings
"Danger risk of fire use 60W max". The excessive heat of the 100W bulbs
has,
in every case, severely damaged the fixture wires, causing the insulation
to
harden, crack, and fall off.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

RBM wrote:
Doug, I've seen that many times myself. There are certainly types of
fixtures that mount close to ceilings that produce a lot of heat and
are fire hazards, however I still believe that a lot of these ratings
are more for liability than safety

So do you suggest the homeowner take the chance? Maybe it will not
burn you home down.

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
m...
In article , "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:
What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why
do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

My personal opinion is that it has more to do with liability than
safety. [snip] I'm sure a good portion of these ratings
is just to pass the liability on to you the installer or the consumer

Your personal opinion, however, is incorrect. It has everything to
do with safety. I've had the misfortune of needing to replace
numerous light fixtures
that previous homeowners used 100W bulbs in, despite the clear
warnings "Danger risk of fire use 60W max". The excessive heat of
the 100W bulbs has,
in every case, severely damaged the fixture wires, causing the
insulation to
harden, crack, and fall off.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

In article , "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
Doug, I've seen that many times myself. There are certainly types of
fixtures that mount close to ceilings that produce a lot of heat and are
fire hazards,

No, it's not the fixture that's a fire hazard. The hazard is in using bulbs
that are too hot for the fixture. That's why limits are posted.

however I still believe that a lot of these ratings are more
for liability than safety

Believe what you wish. The fact remains that, when installed correctly and
used with bulbs that do not exceed their rating, fixtures of any type are safe
- and the use of bulbs that do exceed the rating can be dangerous.


--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article , RBM wrote:

Doug, I've seen that many times myself. There are certainly types of
fixtures that mount close to ceilings that produce a lot of heat and are
fire hazards, however I still believe that a lot of these ratings are more
for liability than safety

I recently saw a "banker's light" desk lamp with a tubular 60 watt bulb
have its wires char badly enough to produce a burning odor. The fixture
was rated for 60 watt bulbs.

I suspect this was a design flaw, maybe caused by the engineer assuming
that 60 watt tubular T10 5.25 inch long "showcase" bulbs in the USA not
having a disproportionally hotter surface temperature than 40 watt ones.
Turns out, the 60 watt USA (120V) version is gas filled while the 40 and
25 watt USA versions have a vacuum. The 60 watt one gets burning hot while
the 40 watt one usually stays cool enough to touch. If there are 230V
versions of these bulbs, then I would expect even 60 watt ones to have a
vacuum and have a cooler surface - and to be safe in this "banker's
light".

- Don Klipstein )

In article , RBM wrote:
What would you *think* the answer to this question would be? Why do you
think the manufacturers bother to put ratings and warnings on things?

My personal opinion is that it has more to do with liability than safety. In
the electrical and lighting industry the materials used over the last forty
or so years have improved greatly yet in the case of the lighting industry
the allowable wattage keeps decreasing. It's routine for a lighting fixture
to have a warning not to connect it to wiring rated at less than 90 degrees,
like your going to rewire eighty percent of the houses that want to install
fixtures in them. I don't think so. I'm sure a good portion of these ratings
is just to pass the liability on to you the installer or the consumer

In my experience, quality of electrical items has largely peaked out in
the 1980's and has gone a little downhill since then.

Meanwhile, it was common for many incandescent fixtures to specify
maximum of 60 watt bulbs as far back as around 1980, when I first noticed
this. This 60 watt limit may have been common even longer.

As for really high temperature rating requirements for supply wires -
this is new. I suspect this is mostly CYA from liability concerns,
although the increasing availability and affordability of non-contact
thermometers could be a reason.
If you add a fixture that requires higer temperature wire than your
building has, you only need high temperature wire from the next junction
box - and you can add a junction box a foot or two away.

If you have a fire starting at an electrical fixture being used other
than as directed, you may need a lawyer, even if the fire started from a
defect or a design flaw rather than the "misuse".

- Don Klipstein )

not advisable you can get a compact fluorescent that will put out more
light for less watts. A more important thing to look at is where is
the light going? The light for reading should be coming in over your
shoulder to avoid shadows for working on a workbench overhead is OK but
will create shadows 2 lights at the end along with an overhead light
will work best? It is not the wattage you need to look at but the
lumens and the type of lamp or enclosure any lamp or fixture with a
reflector will provide more light to a specific place. A good example
is car headlights most are 55 watts but they vary in brightness
depending on how well designed the housing and reflector are made.

Wayne

tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in
using higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

Wayne, can you repost that with proper punctuation so we can figure
out what your probably interesting information is? Your third
sentence is especially problematic. It seems to need a period in
there somewhere. Please provide it and repost. Thanks.

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 18:36:17 -0500, "wayne" wrote:

not advisable you can get a compact fluorescent that will put out more
light for less watts. A more important thing to look at is where is
the light going? The light for reading should be coming in over your
shoulder to avoid shadows for working on a workbench overhead is OK but
will create shadows 2 lights at the end along with an overhead light
will work best? It is not the wattage you need to look at but the
lumens and the type of lamp or enclosure any lamp or fixture with a
reflector will provide more light to a specific place. A good example
is car headlights most are 55 watts but they vary in brightness
depending on how well designed the housing and reflector are made.

Wayne

tenplay wrote:

As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in
using higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

tenplay wrote:
As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

You are getting a bunch of BS answers. First, you
can use the maximum size stated on the fixture,
but don't use a bigger bulb. Some fixture don't
say anything but you can test it by putting your
hand on the shade which can get warm but not hot
unless it is metal. The real solution may be move
the fixture closer or buy new fixtures that use
larger or multiple bulbs, use fixture that are
shorter so the bulb is closer to the work area, or
buy fixtures that allow moving the bulb such as
a parallel extension light.

"tenplay" wrote
As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.


no harm at all, as long as you don't mind an occasional HOUSE FIRE!

a reading lamp for your fine print is 250 watts incandescent. try to
use the twist compact flourescents which put out about four times their
input wattage of light. reading your computer online version of the
local newspaper or favorite magazines is easiest when you change the
computer's VIEW - TEXT SIZE to what's comfortable for you, as well as
the focal distance from the eye to the monitor. time for LASIK followed
by some dollar store reading glasses...

In article , tenplay wrote:
As I get older, I am needing more light to read and tasks. I have a
couple of lamps that are rated at 60 watts. Is there any harm in using
higher wattage bulbs to increase the illumination? Thanks.

I would make sure you have good bulbs. Not all 60 watt bulbs produce
the same amount of light. Good ones produce 845-890 lumens of light.
Dollar store junkers, Polaroid and Sunbeam junkers and superlonglife
vibration resistant ones produce 600-700 lumens, and 130V superlonglife
vibration resistant ones may produce about 500 lumens at 120V.

Compact fluorescents up to 26 watts (as bright as typical 100 watt
incandescents) should not overheat the fixture, although a 42 watt compact
fluorescent can make the fixture slightly hotter than a 60 watt
incandescent does. (Incandescents produce more infrared than fluorescents
- that's heat in the room but largely not in the fixture.)

However, compact fluorescents of more than about 20 watts (same light as
a typical 75 watt incandescent) can overheat themselves in downward facing
fixtures and small enclosed fixtures.

- Don Klipstein )