I'm hoping that the max capacity indicated on a socket is more of a rule-of-thumb. Appreciate anyone's input.
2006-12-04 22:41:19 · 8 answers · asked by commdeus 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The simple answer is that it's probably not a good idea.
The reality is a little more complicated.
It's not always the lampholder that the problem lies with -- it's possibly the whole fitting which may get too hot.
As far as the lampholder itself is concerned, I'm not sure what country you're in, but suspect it may be UK or certainly not the US. It makes a considerable difference whether the lamp is burning with the cap (metal bit) pointing up (as when it's hanging from the ceiling) or whether it's burning cap down (as when it's in a table lamp). If it's burning cap up the cap (and therefore the lampholder) gets very hot indeed and if it's a bayonet cap fitting (as most pendant lampholders are in the UK) the plastic gets brittle very quickly and can become dangerous. Even supposdly heat-resistant T2 rated bayonet cap lampholders don't last long. Edison Screw fittings as used in many other countries tend to last much longer, even when relatively poorly made. Brass + porcelain bayonet cap lampholders are available from specialist wholesalers and last virtually forever. Naturally they need a three-wire connection because they have to be earthed (grounded).
It's already been pointed out that one way around the problem is to use an "energy-saving" compact fluorecent or other similar lamp in place of the inandescent bulb. However many of them don't like repeated on-off switching and, though they're shrinking, some of them are anything but compact. Remember that the general rule is that most "energy-saving" bulbs can't be dimmed using normal dimmers.
In all this, of course, it's true that these "maximum wattage" ratings are something of a "suck it and see" matter and rarely the result of any very sophisticated calculations. However, unless I could actually see the exact setup, my advice would be to observe the limit. That advice could change if I saw the precise installation.
2006-12-04 23:46:54 · answer #1 · answered by Feinschmecker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't do it. The 75 watt gets much hotter than the 60 and could cause a fire. The max rating on a socket has little to do with the current draw of the bulb so much as heat output of it. If you just have to have a brighter bulb then use on of the fluorescent bulb the screws into a regular socket. Then you could have a 75 watt output of light with the bulb its self only being 40 watts max.
2006-12-05 06:48:18 · answer #2 · answered by bofh772 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 60 watt rating is for fire safety, not power supply. So yes, a 75 watt bulb will work in the fixture, but it produces more heat, so you have increased your chances that it will either start a fire or shorten the life of the bulb.
2006-12-05 10:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rule of thumb, that it is. You'll run the risk of getting it hot "socket that is" and then some thing will give, let go Burn, crush depending on how is the rest of your place is, wiring that is!
Don't play with something you cant see, but can kill you!So Sockets r cheap No?
2006-12-05 06:52:38 · answer #4 · answered by reevesie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can, but it's better not to. Fire hazard, and it uses more energy. It is ok to use a lower wattage light in a higher max socket.
2006-12-05 06:45:00 · answer #5 · answered by lchamp_99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a rule of fire safety . if you exceed the wattage the fixture will get to hot and start a fire I'm an electrician and these limits are set buy the national fire prevention association
2006-12-05 06:46:09 · answer #6 · answered by chotpeper 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not risk a fire hazard.
2006-12-05 06:43:42 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure can if you like fire
2006-12-05 06:44:38 · answer #8 · answered by Normefoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋