The 20watt energy saving bulb emits light equivalent to a standard 100watt bulb. At present I am using a 15watt energy saving bulb, with emits light equivalent to a 75watt standard bulb, but really would like to be able to have a brighter light.
2006-09-24 22:58:05 · 18 answers · asked by Orange Slice 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
As others have implied without stating outright, the rating of the light fitting is down to the amount of heat it can safely disperse.
Most of the energy a normal light bulb uses is wasted as heat and not light: say it's 90% as a rough guess. A 100W light bulb is therefore really a 90W heater and a 10W light source, and a 75W bulb produces 67.5W of heat and 7.5W of light. Your 20W energy saving bulb generates the same "light power" as the 100W bulb (10W) but only produces 10W of heat. It is therefore completely safe in a "75W fitting" which can handle a 67W heat source.
NB though you should be careful: the rating will be based on a standard light bulb's shape. If your energy-saving bulb is a different shape (as many are), and would come closer to the fitting, then it may provide localised heating which the fitting can't cope with.
As an extreme example, a very large energy-saving bulb might touch the fabric of a lampshade into which you put it, whereas a normal bulb would be 3 inches away. The surface of the bulb may get hot enough to ignite the fabric when in direct contact: so that wouldn't be safe, even though it was within the official rating.
But as long as it doesn't get much closer to the fitting, you're probably okay.
2006-09-24 23:53:31 · answer #1 · answered by gvih2g2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if its for a standard domestic circuit (240v supply). So long as you don't go over the rating (like, fitting a 100w in a fitting rated 75w) Just to let you know, voltage is more of an issue here; mixing a low voltage (50v) bulb on a standard lighting circuit would be dodgy because of voltage drop (the bulb wouldn't fit anyway), but a 20watt bulb in a 75watt rated light fitting, is fine.
2006-09-25 06:59:55 · answer #2 · answered by JoMac 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes as long as it fits. The rated wattage is based on a standard tungsten bulb which emits mainly heat energy. A 20W energy saving bulb will emit less than 20W of heat, therefore this will be fine.
2006-09-24 23:02:07 · answer #3 · answered by Charlie Brigante 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you cannot answer this question without saying 'maybe' 'Should be' 'probably' then you should not try to answer it.
20w low energy bulb will go into a light fitting that is designed to take 75w
2006-09-25 05:00:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes
2006-09-25 01:23:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's likely the 20W lightbulb is a fluorescent. That's how you can get the equivilent light from it. It will still draw 20 watts and give off a lot less heat. You should be fine.
2006-09-25 10:19:55 · answer #6 · answered by clueless 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure, the fixture is rated for watts as you said . Floresent bulbs are more efficient and produce more lumens per watt than standard incandescent bulbs.
2006-09-24 23:02:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes a 20 watt is a lot lower than 75watt
2006-09-24 23:05:50 · answer #8 · answered by beegeecee 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
so the question really is,
can you go over the maximum watts a light fitting says you could use? Probably not, otherwise they wouldn't have a wattage number on it.
2006-09-24 23:01:15 · answer #9 · answered by Billys girl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it's OK
2006-09-24 23:06:14 · answer #10 · answered by Maganda 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋