Compact Fluorescent bulbs in ceiling fan?
I have a Hunter ceiling fan (4 lights), and the manual says not to use over 60 watt bulbs in it. So, first, can I those compact fluorescent bulbs in it instead of the standard incadescent? And second, if I buy a fluorescent that says 20 watts, but also says ’75 watts’ on the packaging,…
I have a Hunter ceiling fan (4 lights), and the manual says not to use over 60 watt bulbs in it. So, first, can I those compact fluorescent bulbs in it instead of the standard incadescent? And second, if I buy a fluorescent that says 20 watts, but also says ’75 watts’ on the packaging, I suppose so you can compare to a standard bulb, can I use that? Is that considered under the 60 watt max?
Thanks
I am wondering if you can recommend a good fluorescent bulb that isn’t too cold and harsh. i am looking to use less electricity but don’t want to live in harsh lighting conditions. any ideas
warning: you can’t use those types of bulbs if you have a dimmer switch on the light. Other than that, they are great.
I just had the electrician put up 3 ceiling fans, and I didn’t use any of the regular 60 watt bulbs that came with the fans. I used the compact florescent bulbs that give the equivalent of 60 watts. The only comment the electrician had was ‘oh those are the EXPENSIVE bulbs, but they will save you money in the long run’.
I used these same type of bulbs in my ceiling fans at my last place for years and never had a problem with them.
The wattage restrictions on lamps are there for two reasons: first, because higher-wattage bulbs draw more electric current, and the wires in a lamp may not be designed for higher currents, and second, because higher-wattage bulbs give off more heat, and a lamp enclosure can only handle so much heat without risk of damage or fire.
Your “20 watt” / “75 watt” compact florescent bulb draws only 20 watts of power but gives as much light as a 75 watt incandescent, so it won’t be a problem from the perspective of electrical current.
Also, florescent bulbs give off little heat, so the heat won’t be a problem either. (It will be less heat than a 20 watt incandescent bulb would give off.)
So you should be OK to go from a safety standpoint. One thing to look at is how well your CF bulbs stand up to vibration: a ceiling fan can be tough on bulbs. In fact, GE recommends against CF in ceiling fans: http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/faqs/cfl.htm#5