Desk lamp safe?

Qwedfg · 06-22-2012, 04:35 PM

I was putting some aluminum foil in a walmart architech lamp and noticed a warning label inside the shade. It says that you should not use a bulb greater than 10w (60w fluorescent) in it. I went to home depot to check out their selection and they had a hampton bay of similiar construction and the box said 40w equivalent. Is it safe to use a 15w bulb in this fixture?

randyl · 06-22-2012, 04:43 PM

Do it at your own risk, I also find it weird that they give different wattage for CFL and regular bulbs. I use a 23W on a 15w/60w rated fixture and haven't had an issue. Again, do it at your own risk, make sure you have surge protector.

PlantedRich · 06-23-2012, 02:34 AM

I would not think it was due to the wattage the light may use but due to heat generated by the two types of bulbs. CFL have the ballast built in and they can generate some heat. Maybe they estimate that the 15W CFL generates the same heat as a 60W so the light is labeled so that if heat melts the plastic-- that's your fault, not their's.

CatB · 06-23-2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlantedRich

I would not think it was due to the wattage the light may use but due to heat generated by the two types of bulbs. CFL have the ballast built in and they can generate some heat. Maybe they estimate that the 15W CFL generates the same heat as a 60W so the light is labeled so that if heat melts the plastic-- that's your fault, not their's.

it's usually the heat. CFL's don't generate as much heat as incandescent bulbs, usually.

m8e · 06-23-2012, 10:14 AM

A 10w CFL produces about the same amount of heat as an 9w incandescent. Those 60w are probably "equivalent watts".

A 15w CFL in a 10w fixture should be safe but the CFL might run a little hotter and therefore have a shorter lifetime.

PlantedRich · 06-23-2012, 03:16 PM

Part of the question has to also involve where the heat is generated, I should think. In a old style bulb the heat is at the glass prat. In CFL, the heat comes from the base where the electronics are hidden. So if the fixture is designed with space around the glass where heat can escape and we put a CFL in, will there be space at the base or does it wind up too close. Sometimes the spacing is not right and the base of the CFL can be pressed against the plastic and melt the fixture. That's just soemthing to be aware of and watch.
On the other hand, putting foil inside the fixture probably gives the maker a pretty good out for any liability so melting down the plastic from bulb choice is really not much concern.

06-22-2012, 04:35 PM	#1
Qwedfg Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 227	Desk lamp safe? I was putting some aluminum foil in a walmart architech lamp and noticed a warning label inside the shade. It says that you should not use a bulb greater than 10w (60w fluorescent) in it. I went to home depot to check out their selection and they had a hampton bay of similiar construction and the box said 40w equivalent. Is it safe to use a 15w bulb in this fixture?

06-23-2012, 10:14 AM	#5
m8e Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sweden Posts: 201	A 10w CFL produces about the same amount of heat as an 9w incandescent. Those 60w are probably "equivalent watts". A 15w CFL in a 10w fixture should be safe but the CFL might run a little hotter and therefore have a shorter lifetime. __________________ Please ignore any spelling/grammatical errors. I'm swedish and sometimes I'm also drunk.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-22-2012, 04:43 PM	#2
randyl Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,017	Do it at your own risk, I also find it weird that they give different wattage for CFL and regular bulbs. I use a 23W on a 15w/60w rated fixture and haven't had an issue. Again, do it at your own risk, make sure you have surge protector.

06-23-2012, 02:34 AM	#3
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	I would not think it was due to the wattage the light may use but due to heat generated by the two types of bulbs. CFL have the ballast built in and they can generate some heat. Maybe they estimate that the 15W CFL generates the same heat as a 60W so the light is labeled so that if heat melts the plastic-- that's your fault, not their's.

06-23-2012, 03:16 PM	#6
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	Part of the question has to also involve where the heat is generated, I should think. In a old style bulb the heat is at the glass prat. In CFL, the heat comes from the base where the electronics are hidden. So if the fixture is designed with space around the glass where heat can escape and we put a CFL in, will there be space at the base or does it wind up too close. Sometimes the spacing is not right and the base of the CFL can be pressed against the plastic and melt the fixture. That's just soemthing to be aware of and watch. On the other hand, putting foil inside the fixture probably gives the maker a pretty good out for any liability so melting down the plastic from bulb choice is really not much concern.