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Compact Flourescents OK??

2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  J. V. 
#1 ·
Hi all,
In an effort to go green and save energy, I got a set of compact flourescent bulbs 60W. The lamp that I'd like to use it on says to not use higher than 60W and use "Type A".

Will using my flourescent bulb on this lamp, OK? I assume the "Type A" is referring to the old type of bulbs, a traditional incadescent?

Thanks. Don't want to cause a fire or anything. :)
 
#3 ·
Thanks Scuba Dave for the quick reply. I"m impressed with this forum. I feel a lot better about my purchase now. The brand is a "ecosmart" that I got from Home Depot. Yes, it says 60W EQUIVALENT and the energy used in watts in 14.

Thanks, again!
 
#4 ·
Your Welcome

Also note that CFL's come in different "colors" based on the color spectrum

HD has the green bulb - "early daylight" ~3000-3500L on color spectrum
Red package ( I think) is around 4500K
Blue = Daylight = 5500K

Lowes also has the blue package Daylight bulb but 6500K
We like the 6500K for most fixtures
Bathroom has a 3300K for everyday use, Vanity has (3) 6500K bulbs
So if you don't like the color check another rated K CFL bulb
 
#5 ·
Hi Scuba Dave,

While I got your attention, I have another bulb question. Along the same reasoning I gave before I'd like to use CFL's in my bathroom.
Currently, there are 5 bulbs horizontally at the top of the mirrors. I suppose what you expect in a typical home. The bulb has a clear appearance and a type A base. The size of the bulb is about the size of a large adult's fist. I believe this is a incadescent bulb and therefore I'd like to replace them with CFLs. As far as what I can see on the bulb, I make out that it's by Phillips Duramax 25W 120 V Mexico.

What are my options with those parameters in getting a CFL to replace these? Is there a CFL wattage I need to limit for use in my bathroom. Can I even use CFL's in a bathroom setting? No issue with humidity? Do I need to look for different type of CFLs in bathrooms?

Thanks.
 
#6 ·
My bathroom is all CFL's - no specific type for a bathroom
My overhead fan/light has (2) 13w 3500K cfl's
My vanity has (3) 13w 6500K cfl's

They do have round bulbs that are opaque w/cfl inside so they look like a reg bulb

For a lower wattage I use the 9w
I started with those over the vanity & then went to the 13w versions
But I have a small bathroom & only 3 lights over the vanity
 
#7 · (Edited)
The maximum wattage rating for a fixture has to do with the heat the lamp(s) give off. Incandescents typically give off 90% of the energy (you can use watts to describe that) as heat. Fluorescents give off a much greater percentage of the energy as visible light so you wold have no problem substituting a fluorescent of even the same number of watts of actual consumption as an incandescent.

Not that you would want to use a fluorescent of the same wattage. You get plenty of light with a fluorescnet of much lesser wattage.

Try not to touch the curlicue glass when screwing in a compact fluorescent. Once in awhile it will break.
 
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