If a lighting appliance (like a table lamp) says maximum 60 Watt bulb, can I use a low energy bulb of 20 watt?

Question

The wattage is only 20 though the light given out is equivalent of 100 watts. So, would that be said to exceed the recommended wattage?

Answer 1

Its fine to use the 20watt LE lamp. The rating is to protect the fitting and shade from heat.

A LE lamp produces less heat and less current.

It would not be true that you coud use a 60 watt low energy bulb ( if they existed ) so its not right you can use 60 watts in any format.

A LE lamp uses les energy than a filiment lamp but more than the SAME wattage rating. EG a 60 LE lamp would produce far more heat than a 60 watt filiment lamp because they are less heat, but more light, efficient.

EG we normally compare 20 watt to 60 watt. If you had a 60 watt LE then it would melt/fire the shade - it would prduce far too much heat and light.

Answer 2

What some strange answers you have been given. It would pay if some of these people had read the question.
Yes, you can use a 29w bulb in a fitting with a maximum rating of 100w. The rating on the bulb governs the amount of power it needs. A 20w LE bulb uses a 1/3 of the elctricity of a 60w bulb, and is perfectly safe. The light they give off is equivalent to a 100w bulb, not the current consumption. They work on a different principle to a standard tungsten filament bulb and are far more efficient

Answer 3

Watts are the measurement of power. Without going in to the physics of it all, you are safe to use either a low energy fluorescent or the newer light emitting diode style lamps. However the claims that a 20 W LE bulb gives out the equivalent light to a 100W tungsten filament bulb are fanciful in the extreme. If you are switching the light on and off a lot, use a high light output 60W bulb. They don't last as long, but they do give out more light. The ones advertised as long life have a thicker filament and give out less light. The formulae are all in your school science textbooks, but no need to bother about that. Feel the heat from different light bulbs and measure the light with a photographic light meter or gauge with your own eyes. But you are perfectly safe to use a 20W LE bulb. Safer really, as there's a lot less heat.

Answer 4

The reason the lamp is only rated at 25 watts is the close proximity of the lamp shade. Remove the shade and you can use any bulb that will fit the socket. Another choice would be to use a fluorescent bulb in the lamp. They don't put out nearly the heat of an incandescent bulb and are more energy efficient too.

Answer 5

You still don't have a correct answer.!!

The 60watt max rating is to prevent heat damage to the shade from a standard GLS lamp. Low energy lamps give off much less heat than GLS and since the equivalent wattage (brightness) is about 5x, (FIVE not three) then a 20watt l.e. is equal to a 100 watt gls. It will also last 8-10 times longer depending on the brand, and only use one fifth of the energy of a gls lamp.

Answer 6

Yes the only reason they give a wattage warning is because of the heat produced if you go over what they recomend you could cause a fire. Take care out there and shine a light

Answer 7

yes, you just cant use a bulb higher than 60 watts, anything under 60 watts is ok, unless it is a dimmer switch lamp and in that case you cannot use a low energy bulb, you must use a standard one.

Answer 8

The 20W light bulb will save energy and not exceed the recommended 60W max. Sounds like you might be using one of the newer fluorescent bulbs.

Answer 9

a 20 W bulb does not give off the same light as a 100 w bulb...

Answer 10

No, 20 watt is less than 60 watt.