Can I use this bulb in this lamp?
May 27, 2016 3:21 PM Subscribe
I have a lamp. The socket is marked "660W", but the outer part of the lamp says not to go over 60W. I used a 250W infrared bulb in the lamp for a few hours with no problem. Is it safe to continue doing so? Is it even safe to use a normal 60W bulb?
The 60W rating for the entire lamp is likely related to heat. If you're using a 250W infrared bulb, you've either got a spot-like form-factor, which is pushing more of the heat in a particular direction, or you're likely heating parts of the lamp that weren't designed to be heated.
(Or it could be that someone stamped a 60W on there because it makes it easier to get a UL listing or whatever and there' s no real engineering behind that number.)
In any case, it's easy enough to get a fixture that's rated for the 250W that I wouldn't continue to do this. I mean, my gut says "it's very likely that the inside of the lamp can handle the 2.5A no problem, if there's no external heating then you're fine", but the "but what if?" side of me is thinking "It's $7 for a clip-on socket that'll handle a 500W bulb no problem, why risk pushing it?"
posted by straw at 4:18 PM on May 27, 2016
(Or it could be that someone stamped a 60W on there because it makes it easier to get a UL listing or whatever and there' s no real engineering behind that number.)
In any case, it's easy enough to get a fixture that's rated for the 250W that I wouldn't continue to do this. I mean, my gut says "it's very likely that the inside of the lamp can handle the 2.5A no problem, if there's no external heating then you're fine", but the "but what if?" side of me is thinking "It's $7 for a clip-on socket that'll handle a 500W bulb no problem, why risk pushing it?"
posted by straw at 4:18 PM on May 27, 2016
I used a 250W infrared bulb in the lamp for a few hours with no problem. Is it safe to continue doing so?
No!
the outer part of the lamp says not to go over 60W.... Is it even safe to use a normal 60W bulb?
Probably... why would you think it's not? I am assuming yes because that is the rated wattage; if you think I'm missing something please fill me in.
The 60W rating for the entire lamp is likely related to heat.
Sorry, but this is could be dangerously wrong. The reason various electrical appliances are rated for various wattages is because they only have the internal wiring sufficient to carry a certain wattage. For instance a doorbell chime likely uses very thin wires that would probably melt and start a fire if you were to try and supply even a 60W bulb using them. Similar for 60W vs. 250W, though not as drastically and, as you observed, it might still work for a while with no detectable problems. But this does not mean it's safe! Light fixtures have wattage ratings for a reason.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 4:45 PM on May 27, 2016 [5 favorites]
No!
the outer part of the lamp says not to go over 60W.... Is it even safe to use a normal 60W bulb?
Probably... why would you think it's not? I am assuming yes because that is the rated wattage; if you think I'm missing something please fill me in.
The 60W rating for the entire lamp is likely related to heat.
Sorry, but this is could be dangerously wrong. The reason various electrical appliances are rated for various wattages is because they only have the internal wiring sufficient to carry a certain wattage. For instance a doorbell chime likely uses very thin wires that would probably melt and start a fire if you were to try and supply even a 60W bulb using them. Similar for 60W vs. 250W, though not as drastically and, as you observed, it might still work for a while with no detectable problems. But this does not mean it's safe! Light fixtures have wattage ratings for a reason.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 4:45 PM on May 27, 2016 [5 favorites]
No. If the fixture is labeled for 60W, it is only safe for use with a maximum of 60W. The fact that the socket, as an individual component, can handle up to 660W, does not mean the rest of the lamp can.
The label should also say "RISK OF FIRE". They aren't kidding.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 4:47 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
The label should also say "RISK OF FIRE". They aren't kidding.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 4:47 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
My partner learned this the hard way, plugging a hair dryer into a cheap extension cord. The cord melted and singed the comforter on the bed, and luckily she noticed before it turned into a fire.
Don't exceed listed voltages. They are there for a reason. The rated maximum is the lowest voltage in your circuit. There's probably a factor of safety in there, but it's not going to be greater than 4, like in your case of the 250w bulb.
posted by hwyengr at 5:15 PM on May 27, 2016
Don't exceed listed voltages. They are there for a reason. The rated maximum is the lowest voltage in your circuit. There's probably a factor of safety in there, but it's not going to be greater than 4, like in your case of the 250w bulb.
posted by hwyengr at 5:15 PM on May 27, 2016
Sorry I got my amps and watts mixed up. It's been a long day. Anyhow, I agree that it's not worth the risk.
posted by jon1270 at 6:13 PM on May 27, 2016
posted by jon1270 at 6:13 PM on May 27, 2016
I'm offen pretty cavalier about this sort of thing, but even I wouldn't do this. You're asking the lamp to deal with over four times as much heat as it's rated for! That could very easily cause a fire, in fact I'd go so far as to say that it will catch fire at some point if you keep using it like this. Go buy a rated lamp, they're cheap. When you do, you'll see that lamps which are rated for the kind of power your bulb needs are made quite differently from the one you're using now; instead of plastic, there will be a lot of porcelain and metal—things that don't melt or burn.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 4:13 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 4:13 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jon1270 at 3:36 PM on May 27, 2016