Electricians! Energy Saving bulbs wattage

mrschaucer

Apologies if this has been covered as I can't find it - if it has, please point me in the right direction ...

I don't use my centre ceiling light very often, but when I do I want a bright light (usually to find things I've lost!). I used to have a normal sort of shade and an old fashioned incandescent 100w light bulb in it. Just the job. The replacement shade I have recently bought says I can only use a 60w or equivalent bulb. Trying to be good, I want to use an energy saver bulb in it.

I understand that incandescent bulbs throw out a lot of heat which might damage fabric etc, which presumably is why the limit of 60w applies. NOW, a new energy saving bulb will run a lot cooler, so am I REALLY limited to a miserable 52w equivalent output from the 11w energy saving bulb I have bought following the salesman's advice, or can I go up to a 100w-ish eqivalent output from a 20w energy saver? Salesman said no, but I just don't understand why. The 20w ones don't seem to give off much heat, or have I totally misunderstood and it's for another reason?
TIA

Ich_2

The shade rating is for a 60W incandescent lamp, anything below that rating is absolutely fine. So the 20W energy saver is fine

27col

I think that he's talking out of the top of his hat. In fact, I doubt whether he has the remotest idea about it. Just who is this salesman.

Phil_L_2

The shade is rated for 60 watts so you could install a 60 watt fluorescent. That would be nice and bright.

Myser

Phil_L wrote: »

you could install a 60 watt fluorescent.

The highest wattage compact fluorescent I have seen in a standard Bayonet Cap fitting is 20W. The light output is equivalent to a 100-110W incandescent bulb.

tuggy12

Myser wrote: »

The highest wattage compact fluorescent I have seen in a standard Bayonet Cap fitting is 20W. The light output is equivalent to a 100-110W incandescent bulb.

I use 30 watt fluorescents, with a standard BC fitting, which are 150 watt equivalents.

You can see them here

greyteam1959

Nice link tuggy12 but...........
As far as I know you measure brightness in lumens not watts so the info on the link is rather meaningless
But then again I might be wrong

Myser

tuggy12 wrote: »

You can see them here

Wow, they do a 65W one too!

mrschaucer

Many many thanks people. You have put my mind at rest - I didn't THINK I was being thick. 20w energy saver it is!