If the old light bulb was a little too dim, they might opt for a higher-wattage bulb to improve the illumination. There is danger here, however, because light fixtures carry a maximum wattage rating, and if bulbs are installed that exceed this rating, there is the potential for overheating the fixture.
Installing light bulbs with wattage ratings that are higher than the fixture ratings does not necessarily damage the electrical circuit wires, nor is it likely to cause a circuit breaker to trip or cause other problems to the house wiring.
The potential danger usually lies in the fixture itself. Light fixtures have wire leads that are attached to the circuit wiring, and the heat that is naturally generated by a light bulb can cause these wire leads to overheat and possibly melt the insulation on the leads.
Some light fixtures have internal insulation that is designed to shield the wires up to a certain temperature. If this temperature limit is exceeded by operating the fixture with bulbs that are too large, damage to the wiring can occur.
In the case of recessed light fixtures can lights , the trapped heat can even overheat and scorch wood framing members. This potential danger exists both with hard-wired light fixtures mounted in a ceiling or wall sconce, as well as with plug-in lamps. Anytime you detect a burning odor or see scorch marks on a light fixture or lamp, it's a sign you may be exceeding the wattage rating of the light fixture.
Shut off the light and turn off the power at the breaker or fuse. If it's a lamp, unplug it. Then have an up-close look at the fixture. If it feels very warm to the touch, that's a danger sign. At this point, it's not enough just to replace the bulb with one of lower wattage—you also need to check to make sure that permanent damage hasn't already occurred.
With an appropriate screwdriver, remove the mounting screws, pull the light fixture away from the electrical box, and inspect the wires inside. If the wire nuts or insulation on the wire leads, circuit wires, or cable sheathing is melted or scorched, there's been some serious damage and you should have an electrician inspect things. The number of lumens is printed on the bulb. CFLs also include a web address, epa.
CFLs contain mercury, so you need to be careful if a CFL breaks and you need to clean it up and dispose of it. Learn more about shopping for light bulbs at energy.
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information. Search form Search. In addition to standard general service light bulbs, you can also find a lot of other options in the market. Incandescent light bulbs are available in the 15ww range, although these are being phased out. Halogen bulbs top out at w and give a different kind of light. You could also consider using reflectorized bulbs which focus the light in one direction, producing a much stronger beam with the same wattage.
Whichever type you decide on, make sure you acquire enough information before purchasing the bulbs.
Of course, there is always the maintenance side to consider. The more lamps and bulb sockets you put into your home, the higher your monthly bills will be and higher wattage bulbs only add to it by spending more energy.
However, certain types of light bulbs can help you drive down the costs of keeping your house well-lit. LED bulbs working at 10W can produce as much light as 60w incandescent bulbs , drastically reducing energy expenditure. Traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs have a near perfect CRI and score in the high 90s.
As you can see in the images above, there are a few errors in the colours in the right-hand image. The carrots are not quite as orange, the work surface appears slightly cold and blue and the green is also a subtly different shade.
A CRI score of 80 is still pretty accurate and suitable for most lighting situations, however if you want a light to pick out a particular work surface or perhaps even a painting, you may want to pick a light source with a high CRI value.
Now you have your bulb fitting and the colour and brightness in the bag, you will need to decide the shape of the bulb you want. Again, there is a bewildering variety and different brands have a subtly different look and characteristics. See the graphic, above, for the most common shapes. If you are just replacing a blown bulb, it's useful to take the old one to the shop to match it with ones on the shelves.
Each of the different shapes provides a slightly different spread and angle of light, from the almost degree spread of a globe or golf bulb, to the narrow beam of a spotlight. The 'right' shape of the bulb and spread of the light is essentially down to your personal preference, but do consider how the bulbs will look when they are switched off as well as on, and whether they will fit sensibly in their chosen location.
For example, you wouldn't want a large stick shape if it will protrude from the top of your bedside lamp. Hopefully you are now feeling a little more informed and you have made all of the key decisions. You know the fitting to look for on the box, the shape of bulb, the light colour and brightness you want, and the benefits and drawbacks of a CFL, an LED and a halogen. Before you buy though, check out our to find the best bulbs for your needs, and to see where to buy the best bulbs. Our reviews of both spotlights and conventional bulbs reveal not only the best but also the ones to avoid — and there's a big difference between the two.
The best bulbs brighten up quickly, don't lose light over time and provide a lot of light for a small amount of power. The worst will add to your energy bills, don't last as long as our Best Buys and don't match the Kelvin and lumens stated on the box. Test score. Before you buy a new light bulb, read our top tips to avoid a costly mistake. HB Haddi Browne.
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