Is there any harm putting a bulb in a socket with a lower wattage rating?

Question

IE, a 100 watt bulb in a 60 watt socket. What happens if you do it anyway?

Answer 1

Hi There-

Generally this is a bad idea because the 100 watt lightbulb uses more energy, which produces more heat. When you have a receptical rated to 60 watts, it has been designed to withstand and disipate that level of heat.

Obviously if the socket cannot withstand or disipate excess heat, the socket itself could crack or break, or material around it could catch fire. This is deffinately risky and not recommended.

Answer 2

sure, decide on a seventy 5 watt fluorescent bulb, makes use of a lot less electrical energy and avert money. do not placed a larger watt bulb in a socket that calls for a 60 watt, undemanding bulbs produce warmth, upwards of three hundred-400 levels, that's a fireplace waiting to ensue.

Answer 3

The socket is marked as 60W for a reason.

A 100W bulb is unlikely to overload it but the excessive heat, as one correspondent has pounted out, will almost certainly crack any plastic parts.


Liz B "I'm not positive, but I think ...."

Then don't answer the question.

Answer 4

I'm not positive, but I think it will overload the socket and could burn out, cause a spark, etc. I don't think good things come of it.

one link I found on google:
http://www.ehow.com/how_370_change-lightbulb.html

Answer 5

Nope, but there is going over.