60 watt bulb in 75 watt T12 light fixture

[strep3241]

I just bought a couple of T12 8' shop light fixtures from Lowes and didn't realize they call for a 75 watt bulb. I already had some T12 bulbs at the house but they are 60 watt bulbs. Would I be able to use the 60 watt bulbs in a 75 watt fixture.

 

[Krazy4Real]

No, they will asplode!

 

[dainthomas]

Obama will drone you if you do.

 

[edro]

Yes you can. Most fluorescent ballasts will work on lower wattage lamps, to a point.
60 in a 75 will almost certainly work.

Check the ballast nameplate label and it will tell you.

 

[strep3241]

I didn't want to open the box yet in case I had to return it.

I will check the label. What do you mean it will work to a point?

 

[Drako]

LOL, seriously?

 

[strep3241]

LOL, seriously?

Yes seriously. Do you think this is a stupid question? Do you have a valid answer to my question?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't know much about fluorescent fixtures but I imagine it would work as the ballast is rated for 75w so if the bulb only pulls 60w then it will be fine. It's if you were to put a 75w bulb on a 60w ballast, then that 60w ballast is working harder than it was designed to.

At least, I think that's how it works. Typically that's how it works with electrical stuff. But like some guy told me once "electricity can do funny things". LOL

 

[XJustMeX21]

you should be fine with that difference.

 

[edro]

I didn't want to open the box yet in case I had to return it.
I will check the label. What do you mean it will work to a point?

It means that ballasts are designed for a certain range of lamp wattages.
If you run a 15W lamp with a 75W ballast, the ballast isn't loaded very well.
It will have very bad power factor, high THD, low efficiency, may cause the lamp to have out of spec color temperature, etc.

Don't worry about it.

 

[LTC8K6]

That is the maximum wattage, not the only wattage. 60 watt tubes will be fine.