A Ligthbulb moment....

sandy10 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:08

Greetings!

Quick question, I have purchased a light which uses 25w "Golfball" Chrome topped bulbs, for which the paperwork says "max 25w".

25W bulbs of this type are hard to come by, but there are numerous sites to get the same bulb in 40W.

Am I correct in saying it's safe to use the 40W bulb as the power to the bulb will still be 25W?

Cheers!

Nick1881 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:10

It's possible that using a 40w bulb will damage the lights internal wiring or power regulation circuit. I would keep to the 25w bulb.

The Short 1 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:12

mr_x_plosion said:
It's possible that using a 40w bulb will damage the lights internal wiring or power regulation circuit. I would keep to the 25w bulb.

he speaks teh truth

Bill101 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:13

Let me think............... is a 40 w bulb bigger and brighter than a 25w bulb?
The max is set(at 25w) as the heat given out by a >25w bulb will be too much for the lamp

div0 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:13

No, surprisingly the 'max 25W' warning is most likely there for a reason!

Possibly because higher rated bulbs will produce more heat.

SB118 · 12 Jan 2010 at 15:17

Ignore them all, it'll be fine. Don't forget to post and tell us if you die in the blaze.

Vesta_Man · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:34

At best you will just warp/distort the light fitting from too much heat at worst the cables supplying the light will have an insufficient CSA to carry the current drawn and they will glow red hot and burn your house down killing everyone in it!

The only time you can get away with using a 'effectively' higher W bulb in a fitting is when you use fluorescent / LED bulbs as these use less W to generate higher W if you get what I'm saying!!

Biohazard · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:35

Vesta_Man said:
if you get what I'm saying!!

i don't

MowyTone · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:45

Vesta_Man said:
..... fluorescent / LED bulbs as these use less W to generate higher W if you get what I'm saying!!

oxymoron?

Vesta_Man · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:50

They use less Watt's to generate more Lumens of light if your going to be pedantic!
Are people deliberately being thick?
ie a 15W florescent bulb produces light roughly equivalent to a 75W candescent light bulb.

RiPz · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:51

GuRkHa//$PIMP$ said:
oxymoron?

I think he's trying to say they use less W (in terms of power used) to produce the same amount of light as the equivalent incandescent bulb.

for example, a 12W energy saver will produce the same amount of light as a 60W incandescent bulb.

at least thats what i think he means

MowyTone · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:52

can see what you mean but still could have been put better

PlumpMonkey · 12 Jan 2010 at 17:46

My missus put a too high a Wattage bulb in a spot light once without telling me and then melted the light shade...

Aod · 12 Jan 2010 at 18:10

sandy10 said:
Am I correct in saying it's safe to use the 40W bulb as the power to the bulb will still be 25W?

Cheers!

no. incandescent lights don't have any sort of power regulation whatsoever. the power regulation is performed by the filament in the bulb itself.

if you put a 40w bulb in a lamp rated for 25w, either the fuse will blow or the lamp will melt.