Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Question re: halogen lamp
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xjacy
11-22-08, 06:25 PM
Hi. Please excuse me if I am doing this wrong, but I just signed up. When I moved into my current house in July, the people before me had a halogen floor lamp that they gave to me. The bulb burned out today,& after I took it out and saw it was a 300watt bulb, I got a new one. My first question is this: How do I know that it takes a 300W bulb? The previous people put 100-150watt regular bulbs in light fixtures that said to use only 60, so I don't trust that the 300watt bulb is correct in the floor lamp.There isn't a box, no instructions or stickers, etc. on any part of the lamp that tell me the correct wattage. My second question is this: How do I know which way the bulb goes in? It takes the double ended type, but there a little glass bump in the middle of the bulb - does that have to go up or down, or does it matter? I'm sorry this is so long!
spdavid
11-22-08, 06:55 PM
Halogen floor lamps only take 300 or 500 watt bulbs and in those fixtures 300 is more common.Also putting much higher wattage bulbs in fixtures rated for 60 watts is foolish and can cause heat related issues like short bulb life,fixture damage and yes fire.
The bulb's bump doesn't matter as long as it does not touch the fixture but do not touch the glass directly with your fingers.Handle the bulb with a tissue etc so finger oils are not left on the bulb.This causes a hot spot and will shorten the bulb life and sometimes cause that point to melt or crack.
The bulb's bump doesn't matter as long as it does not touch the fixture but do not touch the glass directly with your fingers.Handle the bulb with a tissue etc so finger oils are not left on the bulb.This causes a hot spot and will shorten the bulb life and sometimes cause that point to melt or crack.
xjacy
11-22-08, 10:30 PM
Thank you so much spdavid! You helped me 100%! I feel safer now :)
GregH
11-23-08, 06:51 AM
I'll just add to David's advice by saying that you should see some markings on the lamp stating what bulb you use.
There should also be an approval sticker from a lab like CSA, UL, Warnock Hersey or similar.
In most areas it is a requirement that electrical devices be approved and if yours isn't there is a slim possibility you have a cheap knock-off that may not be safe.
There should also be an approval sticker from a lab like CSA, UL, Warnock Hersey or similar.
In most areas it is a requirement that electrical devices be approved and if yours isn't there is a slim possibility you have a cheap knock-off that may not be safe.