Size ratings for CFL and LED bulbs?

[Rod N]

I've been installing new light fixtures in the house because my wife says the ones that came with the house are ugly. (I bet you've never heard that before)

Most of the fixtures are rated for max 60 watts, but this is a regular incandescent.

What can I get away with using the newer type bulbs?

I'm thinking the rating is for heat and power draw, which the newer ones have very little off so I can go with a brighter bulb.

Any answers?

Thanks
Rod

 

[LB-1911]

There is a Light Output chart on the bottom of the pg @
http://www.designrecycleinc.com/led comp chart.html

That should prove informative.

Another @
Equivalent wattages and light output of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs
http://eartheasy.com/live_led_bulbs_comparison.html#c

 

[Rod N]

Thanks for the info, but it doesn't answer my question.

Or does it confirm my thought on being able to go much bigger?

 

[w1im]

I'm thinking the rating is for heat and power draw, which the newer ones have very little off so I can go with a brighter bulb.

Any answers?

Thanks
Rod

Yes the fixtures should be rated for heat and power draw. If you stay under the rated wattage with your new bulbs (actual power dissipated, not equivalent wattage) then you should be fine.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Yes the fixtures should be rated for heat and power draw. If you stay under the rated wattage with your new bulbs (actual power dissipated, not equivalent wattage) then you should be fine.

Intuitively that makes sense. The fixtures should have been rated for amp draw and heat generated by the light .. NOT the lumens created.

Unless we are really, really missing something!

 

[cybrdyke]

The rating sticker on the fixture is there for heat reasons and it relates to the incandescant lamp wattage.
You can substitute a CFL or an LED bulb for the incandescent. You wont find a CFL or an LED that will get as hot as the 60w incandescent, so you can use a brighter lamp if you want.
A 100 watt incandescent produces about 1500 lumens. Look for an LED (about 20w) that is equivalent. You will still be very far from the 60w max.

 

[AirJunky]

I've been doing the same thing, replacing old fixtures, getting rid of the incandescents & installing mostly LEDs & a few CFLs (mostly because I had them on hand already). I picked up a lot of the LEDs from our power company, a few from the local Home Depot, a few from Amazon & some from Costco. I've been using mostly 40w & 60w bulbs & been pretty happy. Just be sure to get dimmable ones if you want to be able to dim them. And the dimmer switch itself needs to be compatible with LEDs too. I got lucky on a Lutron dimmer I had installed a couple years ago.... it had a small switch on the back that said INC/CFL/LED on it. Switched it over to LED & the kitchen lights dim perfectly.

Another issue I've run up against is that the range on our garage door openers has dropped considerably. I Googled it & found several others complaining about this after installing CFLs & LEDs. Not just in the garage, but all over, front porch, yard, etc. I ended up buying the Garage Door Buddy app for the smart phones. Works great & has a LOT better range since it works on wifi/cell service.

 

[Rod N]

You would think they would have some type of chart at your local fixture place or even a sticker in the fixture itself. I put some logic to it and put a bigger bulb in where I think lots of people would put to small of a bulb in.