Exceeding Maximum Wattage Light Fixture

So you can make use of this formula.

Exceeding maximum wattage light fixture.

All light fixtures have a maximum wattage rating and yes you should follow it unless you like to risk house fires. What would happen if i used y splitters and had 4x 23 watt cfls going through each socket. When it comes to fluorescents you re only using a quarter of the energy. If your socket says not to exceed 60 watts it is referring the dangers of high heat output associated with incandescent bulbs.

If you re lucky enough to avoid a fire you risk damaging your fixture s sockets or wiring. When you see a label say 100 watt led equivalent that does not mean that the bulb actually uses 100 watts it means that it produces an amount of light equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Installing a bulb or group of bulbs that exceeds either individual or combined socket wattage ratings can have detrimental effects. A 100 watt bulb will draw more power through the wires than they safely can handle.

The simple answer is yes as long as the led bulb uses less wattage than your fixture. If it doesn t have a rating err on the conservative side. For example this fixture from lowes calls for a maximum bulb wattage of 60. The simple formula to calculate the maximum wattage of a light fixture is.

And if it s an older fixture that may not have modern wiring be even more conservative. If a fixture is rated for a maximum of 60 watts then it s dangerous to exceed that. A 100 watt bulb is going to emit a certain amount of heat and the fixture is rated to take that heat. Wattage w voltage v x current draw i however it is important to take into account the resistance factor as well when you want to calculate the maximum wattage of a light fixture.

Every light fixture is constructed to handle a certain maximum wattage. It is okay however to put a bulb with lower wattage in that fixture drawing less than the wire s maximum load isn t a problem some specialty lamps or other fixtures may have even lower watt ratings for other safety reasons. That s 92 watts in something that has maximum of 60. From the insulation on the wire to the insulation in the fixture and the materials that make up the socket installing a light bulb that exceeds the maximum wattage can cause excessive heating that can ultimately damage the fixture.

First of all if your fixture has a maximum wattage rating only use bulbs in it that do not exceed that rating.