Let Me Electrify You A Question.

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Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,866
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Regarding incandescent light bulbs.

Does the resistance come nearly entirely from the bulb itself of does the socket limit it as well. I'm not talking a fancy socket or anything, just like some ghetto ass one.

I want to plug two higher unknown wattage bulbs into two lower unknown wattage sockets powered by a single source of the original higher wattage wire.

I don't need any safety talks because I'm not a i love you and don't want to hear it... I'm just curious what is going to happen.

Do you think it will be the same amount of light as the two bulbs are supposed to produce or less? The source will most likely power both fine.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
punjabiplaya said:
The resistance of the socket should be insignificant compared to the rest.
Click to expand...
This.
The socket will have minimal influence on the performance what whatever attached device you're using - same as if you were using a 3' extension cable vs plugging directly into the wall. The extension cable is going to add resistance to the test circuit, but it's going to be orders of magnitude less than the resistance of the lightbulb.
 
Joseph F

Joseph F

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2010
3,522
2
0
The resistance of the light bulb comes from the thinness and heat of the filament, the socket doesn't have anything to do with it.
BTW, You're a i love you and you need a safety talk. :biggrin:
 
Number1

Number1

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
7,881
549
126
Joseph F said:
The resistance of the light bulb comes from the thinness and heat of the filament, the socket doesn't have anything to do with it.
BTW, You're a i love you and you need a safety talk. :biggrin:
Click to expand...

Do fags need more safety talks then regular non ghetto ass ones.
 
HardcoreRobot

HardcoreRobot

Lifer
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
so you don't need a safety talk, but you need strangers on the internet to reassure you? sounds a bit 'faggy' to me.
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,986
11
81
You're a i love you for using that word like a retard.

EDIT: Well, me too, but you did it first.
 
B

Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,866
3
0
Used some aluminum foil to keep the bulb in the socket. It was slightly too big but it worked.
 
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Paperdoc

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,524
388
126
The limits on the wattage ratings of incandescent light bulb sockets are not based on electrical loads. They are based on HEAT. Any incandescent bulb converts the majority of the electrical energy it consumes into heat, and a minority into visible light. So there's a short-term concern about whether the socket assembly can stand up to the heat being generated and dissipated without melting or distorting. For that reason, you'll never see such a bulb (common "medium base") over 300 to 500W. But more importantly, over the long term the socket, its supporting materials and the wiring attached to the socket's screws must be able to stand up to extended exposure to high temperatures without disintegrating and leaving the electrical components exposed and un-insulated. Because of that, if you examine sockets in various fixtures, you'll note these factors:
1. In small fixtures, especially in ones with closed globe-type exteriors that trap heat, you may find dark brown thermosetting Bakelite-type sockets and plastic-insulated wiring with labels rating them for no larger than 60W bulbs.
2. On similar but much larger globe fixtures you may find the limit is 100W bulbs.
3. Open fixtures, such as lamps with no enclosing glass (leaving the bulb bare and exposed to free air circulation), and especially if the bulb is mounted ABOVE the socket, the bulb limit may be 100 to 300W. (Typical in tabletop lamps.)
4. Many closed fixtures have ceramic sockets (not thermosetting polymer) and wiring with fibreglass insulation; these will take higher-wattage bulbs. These are often found in ceiling fixtures where the bulb is BELOW the socket and the design allows higher wattage for greater lighting in a room.

So, the socket does not limit the bulb wattage directly in any way. You can install a higher-wattage bulb in a socket designed and labelled for lower, and it will work. The problem most likely will be that the socket and fixture will overheat and break down over time. Unfortunately, that means you are creating a slowly-developing electrical or fire hazard and you don't realize it until disaster happens!
 
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Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,866
3
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Wow you are smart as fuck. I'm a good person Cuz i bought 5 boxes of girl scout cookies. Fire hazards are for fags. So I'll keep pumping my socket with them watts. At least 160 watts but that's only for three so probably more. Bye ATOT.

YHPM

AT Moderator ElFenix
 
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piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Maybe the higher wattage gets hotter. I think the danger is using too much wattage and causing a fire. I am sure I have used bulbs of too much wattage before with no ill effects. Engineers tend to build in a lot of extra safety into products, so oftern you can exceed ratings with no ill effect.

I seldom use even a 100 watt bulb. Usually I use like a 60 watt bulb. Maybe some bulbs like the 3-way lamp bulbs might use more wattage on the high settings. A lot of little lamps are only rated at about 60 watts.

The Plugs and the Wall Switches probably also have a rating.
 
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Joseph F

Joseph F

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2010
3,522
2
0
Ben90 said:
Wow you are smart as fuck. I'm a good person Cuz i bought 5 boxes of girl scout cookies. Fire hazards are for fags. So I'll keep pumping my socket with them watts. At least 160 watts but that's only for three so probably more. Bye ATOT.
Click to expand...

Thank you for making my day. This is possibly the least intelligent post of the month! I hereby nominate it.
 
Joseph F

Joseph F

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2010
3,522
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squirrel dog said:
I think Ben90's safety talk i love you shit is sig worthy.
Click to expand...

I was going to sig the last quote I replied to, but I don't think that it should be censored. It must be seen in all its stupid glory. Perhaps I'll post a link to it my my sig.
 
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