Reply To: Miscellaneous Electric Tips

YW Moderator-80-

nnnnnn-

That’s an interesting theory, but it isn’t how it works.

A 100-watt bulb in a sixty-watt-max fixture will light up, in all likelihood to its full luminescence.

As with any electrical appliance, it will attempt to draw the full amount of juice it needs to work properly from the circuit it’s hooked up to.

Here are the hazards of using a bulb whose wattage is higher than what the fixture’s rated for:

1) The bulb itself burns much hotter than a lower-wattage bulb. This can cause the fixture (or the ceiling, wall, etc. that it’s installed in) to melt, get damaged, or even ignite.

2) It can cause the insulation of the fixture’s wiring to melt or become brittle, also causing a fire hazard. Since the fixture is damaged, this hazard remains, even after switching to an appropriate bulb.

3) By drawing more current than the fixture is designed for, it can overload the fixtures wiring, causing it to become hot. The heat can damage the insulation, and if it gets hot enough, start a fire.

4) One should never overload any extension-cord, appliance, or circuit – it’s dangerous and a fire hazard.

Here is a complete list of when it’s OK to install a bulb whose wattage is higher than what the fixture is designed for:

Never.

I’ve even seen properly installed and used fixtures whose wiring was damaged and/or brittle due to the heat generated by the bulb(s) – kal v’chomer the damage that can be done by overloading.

Please – don’t even think of overloading a fixture with high-wattage bulb it’s not designed for.