What is an "A" lamp?

Question

I bought a new bedroom lamp and it has a warning, "Risk of Fire. Use only "A" lamp" bulbs. The picture looks like a regular incandescent bulb, but I was hoping to put an energy saving twisty flourescent bulb in that lamp. Is it safe? The only bulbs I can find that have the "A" on them seem to have a heavier looking base.

Answer 1

The lamps shade should have a label stating what the max wattage it can handle is (usually 40 or 60 for table lamps). but if you want to use an energy saver bulb thats fine since they produce much less heat than normal bulbs. dont worry about the "A" thing a CF (compact flourescent or energy saver) bulb will be perfectly safe in your lamp.

Answer 2

http://www.cooperlighting.com/content/source/articles/light_sources.pdf

http://www.elflist.com/article10_halo.htm

http://tristate.apogee.net/lite/lfxdgen.asp

An "A lamp" seems to be a particular kind or size of halogen incandescent lamp. These run at a high temperature.

The compact fluoros. produce far less heat and from a fire danger viewpoint would at least superficially appear to be safer. One problem is that they may be larger and contact the insides of the lampshade.

I don't know about the size of the fitting, it may well be deliberately different to prevent halogen lamps being used in ordinary fittings that cannot stand high temperatures. Most light fittings are designed for limited heat loads.

This sort of stuff looks like semi-specialist trade knowledge but in the absence of anything to the contrary, and on the condition that a compact fluoro will fit, then it should be safe. A 15 watt one generates about as much light as a 70 to 80 watt standard incandescent lamp for a fifth of the power use.

Search "the A lamp" or "an A lamp" on the net for more info.

Answer 3

Type A (General Service) lamps refer to a US standard. A-19 is equal to 40/60/100 watt GLS ES cap in UK. You can safely use any type or wattage of compact fluorescent lamp as long as there is clearance between the lamp and the shade.

Answer 4

You have all the answers you need here, the top three posted, I can't add to the list of information.