Can a lightbulb set paper on fire?


It was attached the bedhead - one of those little clippy lamps. I think I must have fallen asleep with the lamp on. As a result of tossing and turning (steady on) during the night, the covers must have ended up touching the bulb for some length of time.

It burnt a hole through the duvet cover.
 
I'm pretty sure that a standard incandescent light bulb can reach somewhere between four hundred, and five hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, so it is quite possible to light a paper lampshade..

Yeah, you have a fire risk if that's an incandescent bulb. Flourescent run cooler and use less electrical power for a given output, ie, more efficient hence less heat.

Ever notice light fixtures have a maximum bulb power printed on them? The reason is the potential fire risk from high temperatures, not electrical load concerns, all lamps I've seen are fused at 3A (that's 690W on UK mains before an electrical load issue!).
 
When I was at school many years ago my desk lamp in my study was bent far over next to some papers and a fire started (yes I am a posh spaz and I went to public school)
 
MARK II!!!!!! (No glue, but the guy who was here fixing the boiler left some crazy tape stuff).

s4we95.jpg


I will be monitoring temperatures very carefully :p.
 
MARK II!!!!!! (No glue, but the guy who was here fixing the boiler left some crazy tape stuff).

s4we95.jpg


I will be monitoring temperatures very carefully :p.

Meh, bit better I suppose.

You should colour it in and cut out some shapes.

You never said it was an energy saver either, they tend to run a bit cooler I believe.
 
Wow. The day I sink low enough to have to make my own lightshade out of paper because I'm too ***** to buy a cheap one is the day I give up.

Edit: "crazy tape stuff"? I am leaving this thread forthwith.
 
You won't know the max temperature for a few days, don't do it!!!
Or you could be a nerd, monitor it and find the relationship and derive the maximum possible temperature. But you would also need to know the ignition temperature and it could dependent on the shape on the type of paper used.
 
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