How do you determine the maximum wattage of a light fixture?

Question

I installed a light fixture in a ceiling fan. The light fixture has four arms and the manual says that each arm can handle up to 60 watt bulb. The light fixture is connected to the ceiling fan's wire. And I put four 60 watt buls in the light fixture. So, the total wattage is 240watt. One day, my wife said that she smells some burning stuffs around the ceiling fan. The smell could come from a different source. But, I am wondering if 240watt is too big for the fan's capacity. Does any one know this type of problem? I see some of light fixture says that the maximum wattage is 150watt, and some of them say 60watt. How do they determine that?

This light fixture is connected to the existing fan, which I don't know if the wire of the existing fan has the enough capacity. Does it make sense?

Answer 1

I have seen this time and time again. You probably bought the light fixture from a discount place, right? They are rated for 60 watt bulbs, but the sockets they install do not hold up. The wires are riveted instead of screwed into the light bases. The rivet loosens, causing an arc, and then burning of the wires. That will explain the burning smell. Ultimately, you will see a bulb out, and when you replace it, it still won't work. These are foreign made, and do not hold up.

I can't tell you how many light sockets I have replaced for people on these. I believe I did 2 last week. Go to the hardware store and pick up some new sockets, and replace the one that's burning. There will be more, so pick up spares.

Remember to shut off the power before doing any electrical replacements.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Most fixtures that have little if any way for the heat generated by an incandescent bulb to escape out the top, will have a max rating of 60 watts, depending on the size of the wiring supplied with the fixture, sometimes 40 watts. If your fan's light fixture is rated for 60 watts in each socket then the wiring in the main part of the fan should be sufficient to handle the 240 watts generated if all lights are on. Personally, we find four 60 watt bulbs more than enough lite, so we've gone down to 40 watt bulbs in our fan light.

Answer 3

Maximum Wattage

Answer 4

did you add a heat sink wire or the one thats bare to the third grounding wire .. OK theres a heavy ground wire with the three in the ceiling or to the box for the fan right now you added a light set-up so did you add a ground from the light to the box for the third ground,, no if not diagram the box the wire going in with the colors ,and then the fan wires coded for color ,and then the wires for the light ,,now go to the home depot and talk to the electrical manager for the sales and supplies ,,about the smell ,,and if you already double grounded try adding a heat sink to the green grounding post for the light fixture run it to a screw on the box as in the fan instructions there should be room to do that ,, but check the power is off when replaceing or dismantleing the fixtures we need more questions in here ,,good luck ,,an olde dude

Answer 5

If the manual says 60 watt max., then 60 watt is safe for that fixture. But you could always go to a fluorescent bulb which will not get nearly as warm as an incandescent, but will save you a lot of money over the years. It's a win win thing.