LED - going from 3W to 6W bulbs

[windward]

Sorry for a non-garage related post, but I find the GJ audience to be the most knowledgable on the internet. (How is that for buttering you up?)

I have a Meile range hood that came with two GU10 LED bulbs that are 3W and in the 3000 kelvin range. Our under cabinet lights on either both sides of the range are 5000 kelvin. My wife would like them to match. I looked at different bulbs and they are all in the 6W range.

I called Meile technical support to see if there was a problem going from 3W to 6W, and they gave me the rubber stamped legal department statement, "we cannot recommend anything other than what was stated in the manual because that was what it was approved".

Now I suspect this was using a halogen bulb just a couple years ago, and the wiring/circuitry would support something well above 6W. I highly doubt when they went to a LED bulb that they scaled down all the wiring to max out at 3W. What are your opinions?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[rlitman]

My guess is that you're right. Anyway, unless the fixture is labeled as saying something like 3W bulb Max, the GU10 socket should support any GU10 bulb you can put in there, since this is a UL Listed fixture. What bulb it came with shouldn't matter. And since GU10 is most commonly a halogen bulb (50W is the most common I've seen), I don't see a 6W LED bulb being a problem.

One thing I will point out is that many GU10 luminaires use UV blocking glass covers that only leave room for a small bulb (which will fit the halogen bulb), while many LED GU10 bulbs are too long to fit. Particularly the brighter ones.

 

[cybrdyke]

This range hood....is it just your typical residential range hood or is it a more professional set up? I can tell you that in commercial projects, we dont touch lighting in range hoods because of the enormous amount of heat that's in them. It would be easy to melt down an LED bulb in a pro range hood.
Is the 3w bulb glass or plastic? If it's glass, then I'd stay with glass when moving to 6w.
If it's plastic, then I see no problem.
Good luck,
CD

 

[windward]

It is not really professional grade (other than the price) as it is only over a 30" cooktop that is probably has a max output of 50K BTU. Had not considered whether it is glass or plastic, but I will check that tonight before I try anything.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

if the wiring caught fire at 6W, i doubt it'd get a UL/ETL listing. i'd be more concerned with "will the new bulbs be able to dissipate double the heat effectively", and if they were halogen "will the surrounding area catch fire if I go from a 25W to a 50W bulb".

 

[PhysicsDude]

I am not willing to believe that a name brand hood would not be able to handle a 6W bulb when 20+ watt bulbs were the standard just a few years ago.

If there are more than 1 light settings, make sure to get a dimmable bulb.

I replaced my halogen range hood bulbs with LED when I installed it 18 months ago. Brighter, more efficient, matches my other 4000K lights. No issues with it either.

 

[yeldogt]

The older ones used a glass par20 halogen bulb -- my memory is the new ones have glass shield protecting the bulb ... guess because it's a plastic LED? Was just looking at them a couple weeks ago for my new build.

Mine is on and off - no dimmer for the lights.

 

[windward]

Is the 3w bulb glass or plastic? If it's glass, then I'd stay with glass when moving to 6w.
CD

I just checked and my bulb is glass (no separate shield on the hood). So I will be returning the plastic one I got at Home Depot. My local lighting distributor has one with a glass case in 5000K.

I appreciate the help here.

 

[yeldogt]

I just checked and my bulb is glass (no separate shield on the hood). So I will be returning the plastic one I got at Home Depot. My local lighting distributor has one with a glass case in 5000K.

I appreciate the help here.

What type of base? ....

 

[windward]

Gu10

 

[dogdog]

I think you'll be fine.... just look at the bulb.. see if the driver is build into that bulb or it is inside that fan circuity most are not.... poke at it with a multimeter see if it is a 120V AC or it's a DC on that socket... If you really needed triple check, just check the wiring behind that socket... if it is some identifiable wire size... probably it will carry enough current to power that 6Watt... 6/120 .05amp... -ish .... not sure if you can check this part... if the lamp holder have enough air flow for heat dissipation for 6 watt... should be fine..

 

[yeldogt]

Gu10

He did say that .. sorry.