is it bad to use a 100 watt bulb in a 60 W lamp?

[iwantanewcomputer]

 

[myjaja]

 

[FoBoT]

you might start a fire and die


otherwise, no , it doesn't matter

 

[So]

Yes. unless the lap was over-rated at 60W in the first place, the wires should be within their safety margnins, IMHO.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Yes, it will overheat. Teh solder joints will liquify and you will ultimately end up with a short.

Probably won't havea fire on your hands, but a headache.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer

Topic Title: is it bad to use a 100 watt bulb in a 60 W lamp?
Topic Summary: it gets kinda hot, and the bulb burns out faster, but i don't want to go get new bulbs
Created On: 09/27/2005 08:00 PM


Fire scarecrow>???

Go buy a 23-26 watt screw in flourescent,
that is Equivilant to a 100 watt bulb,and won't burn the house down;

Darwin.

 

[cavemanmoron]

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN...addfkledkigcgelceffdfgidgjk.0&MID=9876

TCP
27 watt Spring Compact Fluorescent Bulb
Model 28927



Warm White. Replaces 100W Incandescent Bulb. 1,750 Lumens. 10,000 Average Hour Life. Mfg #18927.

Store SKU # 738704
Internet # 313968
Catalog # 100047746
Price: $7.99/ea

 

[smack Down]

People really take the use only 60watt light bulb label serriously?? Of course the 100 watt gets a little hotter but that has nothing to do with the lamp. It would get hotter in 100 watt lamp also. You have nothing to worry about unless you plan on storing rags covered with flammable matterial on top of the light bulb.

 

[Howard]

The 100W bulb would draw 0.83A (60W draws 0.5A), well within basically any kind of safe limit.

*assuming 120V household power

 

[Come to Meh]

R

 

[Bozono]

premature death is emminent. Trust me, I did the same thing. Two 100 watts; the one in the properly rated socket is still going while the 100 I put in a 60w lamp died in about 6 weeks.

 

[Sphexi]

Bulbs are cheap. Your life is not. Buy some new bulbs and stop worrying about it.

 

[2cpuminimum]

If you buy bulk compact flourescent lightbulbs you'll get them cheaper if you shop around (check ebay to compare.) Then you'll save money on your electric bill with the added benefit that you can put a bright bulb in any fixture without worrying about causing a fire.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Bozono
premature death is emminent. Trust me, I did the same thing. Two 100 watts; the one in the properly rated socket is still going while the 100 I put in a 60w lamp died in about 6 weeks.

That would explain all of my 100W halogens that died in ~6 months instead of 2 years.

Oh well it was an excuse to upgrade to high wattage CF.

Double the light output, half the power of the halogens.

Viper GTS

 

[So]

Fer chrissakes...there are large margins on many of these things. I had a $12 wal-mart lamp with two sockets. One was rated for 120W the other for 60W. I ran 100 in both, no problem. All year, sometimes on overnight. The cheap plastic lampshades came near melting but the lamp was A-Okay.

 

[FoBoT]

i am telling you, you will die in a fire

 

[So]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i am telling you, you will die in a fire

...won't be caused by a lamp either :evil:

 

[Sukhoi]

How in the hell would the bulb burn out faster? It's a freaking resistor running at 100W. If anything it should last longer in a 60W socket because those wires are going to have a higher resistance than wires in a 100W socket, and consequently the bulb is going to have less current running through it. Am I wrong with something here?

 

[FoBoT]

let's see what Bob has to say about this

http://www.bobvila.com/ArticleLibrary/S.../Lighting/Lighting_Fixtures/Lamps.html

 

[Strk]

I've done this before. It burnt out the lamp itself and tripped the circuit breaker down in the basement. Just buy what it is rated for, they're cheap.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
How in the hell would the bulb burn out faster? It's a freaking resistor running at 100W. If anything it should last longer in a 60W socket because those wires are going to have a higher resistance than wires in a 100W socket, and consequently the bulb is going to have less current running through it. Am I wrong with something here?

I believe some bulbs rely on the full rated current to keep the filament hot enough that it re-deposits on itself rather than the walls of the bulb.

I know you will burn Surefire bulbs out if you run them past the point they start to dim.

Viper GTS

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
How in the hell would the bulb burn out faster? It's a freaking resistor running at 100W. If anything it should last longer in a 60W socket because those wires are going to have a higher resistance than wires in a 100W socket, and consequently the bulb is going to have less current running through it. Am I wrong with something here?

Max lamp rating has NOTHING to do with resistance of feeding wires. Instead it has to do with the thermal output of the bulb. Higher wattage bulbs put out more heat and to have a higher wattage rating the materials in the socket and surrounding area must be designed to withstand the higher temperatures generated with continuous use.

100W in 60W is a potential fire hazard.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: C6FT7


100W in 60W is a potential fire hazard.

see? 4 out of 5 ATOT'ers agree with me, you will Die In A Fire

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
How in the hell would the bulb burn out faster? It's a freaking resistor running at 100W. If anything it should last longer in a 60W socket because those wires are going to have a higher resistance than wires in a 100W socket, and consequently the bulb is going to have less current running through it. Am I wrong with something here?

Yes, I believe you are...

The electrical components (e.g. wiring, solder, socket, etc.) are likely all the same regardless of the lamp's rating. The rating has to do with the amount of heat that the lamp is capable of disapating at a safe temperature. A 100 watt bulb in a lamp rated for 60 watts maximum will cause that lamp to run at a higher temperature than it was designed for. Yes, there certainly are some safety factors built into the lamp design, but you would be foolish to risk your life on them IMHO.

P.S. The higher temperature will also cause bulbs to burn out faster.


Edit: In other words, what C6FT7 said! :thumbsup:

 

[0roo0roo]

its very simple to use a 100watt in a 60. just use a compact flourescent bulb with a 100watt rating, about 25watt actual use. heck, a 150 watt compact flourescent only eats about 45watts or so. thats the way to get around watt ratings on lamps. using a normal bulb thats rated for more then the lamp nis dangerous. lamps cost what? 10 bucks for a cheapie?