Can you replace a incandescent bulb of 60W with a fluorescent one that's higher than 15W (its equivalent)?

Question

I understand that incandescent light bulbs have fluorescent equivalents. A 60W incandescent can be replaced by a fluorescent one around 13-15W. My questions is: Since you're using less than the maximum watts, can you use a 20W (and so on up) fluorescent bulb to replace the 60W incandescent one?

Or is the new fluorescent one (up to 15W) all I can replace it with?

Thx

Answer 1

The rating on the fixture is a measure of how much power the wiring in the fixture can handle. Though a 15w fluorescent gives as much light as a 60w incandescent, it's still drawing 1/4 the power. The amount of light produced has no effect on the fixture; the only relevant thing is that it draws 60 watts of power or less. Therefore, you could use any fluorescent bulb up to 60 watts.

Answer 2

You certainly can. The wattage rating on the fixtures is mainly for heat given off by an incandescent bulb. Since the flourescent replacements use less wattage for the equivilent lumens output of the incandescent bulbs they also give off less heat so you can put a flourescent replacement of a much higher brightness and not have a problem unless it gives off more heat than a 60W bulb. That would require a flourescent bulb that I don't think exists at this time.

Answer 3

When replacing incandescent with flourscent, its really the lumens (brightness) you want to compare to get a good match. But yeah, you could put a 20W and up to replace it: it would just be a lot brighter. They are perfectly compatible otherwise.

Answer 4

you can use the 20 w flouresant ..as long as you dont excede the wattage ratting on the fixture..it doesnt matter that its a flouresant....you just cant have those new flouresants on a dimmer switch

Answer 5

I believe you can. The reason you don't put a higher wattage is so they don't get hot and catch on fire.

Answer 6

I think you can.