:cool: If a light fixture has two sockets rated for 60 watt bulbs, can they be replaced with compact flouresent bulbs that are brighter (because they do not exceed 60 watts)?

Yes you can go up at bit in wattage. The wattage rating is frequently based on the amount of heat a standard incandescent bulb puts out. They don't want you the set fire to a shade or wiring. Don't go up much because you will start to loose the "designers look."

Put in what you can find to give the light you want. Even a 60 watt CFL, if you found one, would produce less heat than a 60 watt incandescent.

I now have two 14 watt CFL bulbs in an exit light that a single 25 watt incandescent melted the plastic cover.

Compact fluorescent bulbs have 2 ratings. I'll call them power consumed/heat generated and light produced. With a standard incandescent bulb, power and light are the same. CF bulbs use significantly less power to produce same amout of light, i.e. 13 watts power produce 75 watts light. The restrictions on incandescent bulbs is a heat problem. As long as the power consumed (heat) is below the fixtures limit, use as many light watts as you want. Just don't try to dim the CFs.

BTW, light spectrum can also a factor. Fluorescents tend to have more of a yellowish hue than their incandescent brothers. CFs (and incadescents) are available in different spectrums.

Jimmy

Thank you so much for asking this question. I was going to ask the same thing. The "designers look" is not an issue for me, because my application is a ceiling light with a frosted glass cover, so the shape of the bulb will be less obvious. Can't wait to brighten up my kitchen!

FYI, you can find CFL's rated to be dimable.

As a general rule, CF's are, like tube and circular fluorescents, not dimmable.

There are a few that are dimmable, but make sure the package states that the bulb is dimmable.

By The WAy, come into a Home Depot store this Sunday at 1pm (at main checkout) and receive a free CF when you sign a pledge to be eco-friendly. No strings attached,

Jimmy

And they work very well, I converted my entire house to them about 6 months ago, I saw a savings on the power bill that very next month, it was obvous.

I heard there is a bill being considered in California that would 'outlaw' incandescence bulbs.

Also, an island nation in South Pacific (can't remember name) forbids incandescence bulb use.

No facts available, just rumor.

Jimmy

I have been using them for a very long time. You know when they first came out and were about $17 per bulb, that's when I jumped in. I remember thinking ouch that's allot.. but being a bulb can save you $50-$150 in power even then it was worth it. Over they years the prices have crashed :) I think that's great because now they have become main stream where I see everyone buying them. I noticed right away the light was a less yellow light then incandescence lights CFLs are more of a true white.

Another benefit is they last long and give off very little heat. I sometimes see people buying incandescence light bulbs and think to myself what are they thinking? Yeah they save a few cents but in the long run they are going to be paying 40 fold what they are saving in power alone.

Anyway I highly recommend the change.

This site goads me into things I otherwise might not do. I was noticing how dark the one store room at my church was today. Next time I am at HD with the church's credit card, I think I am going to pick up some of the 100 or 150 watt equivalents.

The church was built in the 50's and mostly has fluorescent lights, 40'' tubes. There are still odds and ends of incandescence in spots. As they burn out, I have been putting in CFL's. Likely a penny wise, pound foolish system.

I love them also! I've converted 90% of my house as the old bulbs burn out. The only bulbs not converted are the halogen bulbs now. I even use them in my drop lights as I work on the addition. Although I admit that may not be the best move since you constantly drop the lights and bust the expensive bulbs <sigh>

I did find online dimmable CFL's but they are very expensive. I was hoping someone knew of a cheaper source. I put in 15 recessed lights and would love to use dimmable CFL's in there, but that light bulb bill will be over $500 <ouch>! I will still do it since the bulbs last so long anyway, but if anyone knows of a cheaper source I would be most grateful.

By the way Costco is by far the cheapest place to guy them. If you want them cheap go to costco.

I got a 6 pack at home depot for 9$. I like them because I don't have to keep changing them. But in some rooms it is a little annoying because you have to wait for them to heat up.

I love compact fluorescents and buy them by the case. A local hardware store sells them for $1 a piece during certain months.

That having been said, they're not for every situation, especially commercially. One of my churches recently moved to a new location, that has 6 recessed lights over the pulpit. Originally they had 120w type R bulbs, and it was dim and shadowy over the pulpit. I told them they needed different bulbs, with every intention of buying some halogen PAR floodlights and some adapters to make them directional (instead of lighting the tops of folk heads). I came in the next day and they had swapped them for 6 compact fluorescent floodlights and it was WORSE. The fluorescents were more dim, less directional, and didn't always burn bright right away. I left the one fluorecent that lit the painted wall, as they wanted to burn it 24/7, and changed the rest to what I had originally intended. The results were what I wanted.

Here, see for yourself:

http://www.bandwidthcrazy.com/mr_spiffy/church1.jpg

On the flip side, I was at a chain restaurant the other day and noticed they had replaced every single bulb with CFLs. They probably cut their electric bills nationwide in half. And yet the prices on the food have gone up. Go figure.

I use them everywhere in my house, except in the living room where I have track lights and a dimmer. Yes I could get the dimmable ones, but when it comes to directional light halogen is so much better.

I am using the HD stuff. No near by Costco. The HD bulbs come on almost instantly. My wife hates waiting for the flouresents to come on, but doesn't realized I have them behind the lens in many of our fixtures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hdguy

...By The WAy, come into a Home Depot store this Sunday at 1pm (at main checkout) and receive a free CF when you sign a pledge to be eco-friendly. No strings attached,

Jimmy

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Thanks for the tip, HDGUY! I never would have known about this if it weren't for your timely tidbit!

My husband is still a little skeptical about the CFs, but I replaced 4 in our ceiling fixtures this weekend anyway, in honor of Earth Day. I put in 2 "100 watt" CFs based on the advice in this forum (they're rated for 2x60 watt incandescent bulbs). The only problem I had was that the CFs get larger at higher wattage, so the "100 watt" size (actually 23 watts, I think), were slightly longer than a regular bulb. I had to pivot the inside of the fixture a bit to fit them in.

For Your Info:

We've received a shipment of GU10 and MR16 bulbs in CFL format. The squigly is behind a lens cover so they look just like the original.

GU10 and MR16 bulbs are used frequently in desk lamps, track lighting, etc. These are small bulbs -- the length of your little finger would be about the diameter of the bulbs. GU10 bulbs twist and lock while the MR16 push in (pins).

Smallest use of CLF that I've seen.

Jimmy