# A retarded ELECTRICAL question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299 "2003-03-01T02:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nuthinboutnuthin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@nuthinboutnuthin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuthinboutnuthin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/1 "2003-03-01T02:37:58Z")
In regards to saving money… In my bathroom the light fixture has six sockets for bulbs… Am I saving money by leaving 4 of these sockets empty? I assume if I stuck my finger in the sockets I’d be dead or wish I was… since there is electricity there… so, am just wasting money by leaving it empty or will I waste even more money by inserting bulbs I really dont need…??? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/2 "2003-03-01T02:44:34Z")
The cost to run the lamp fixture is related to the total wattage of the bulbs in it. If you have 6 100 watt bulbs installed it will cost more to run than having 2 100 watt bulbs. The empty sockets draw zero power (or nearly so. There is leakage through the air, but it’s on the order of nanowatts.) ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/3 "2003-03-01T03:25:31Z")
Just put dead bulbs (or slightly unscrew good bulbs) so you won’t be tempted to jam your finger in there when you get out of the shower. ---
**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/4 "2003-03-01T03:42:15Z")
empty socket draws absolutely no power. a bulb draws whatever its rating ( unless its burnt, then it also draws no power ). ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/5 "2003-03-01T03:42:17Z")
Or put six lower-wattage bulbs – six 40W bulbs instead of six 100W bulbs. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/6 "2003-03-01T04:24:27Z")
Or replace one of them with a compact fluourescent bulb. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/7 "2003-03-01T05:32:45Z")
[trying to be funny] Or turn off all the lights in your house and leave them off all the time. Pretend you’re blind, and learn to navigate by feel. [/trying to be funny] ---
**Author:** ![nuthinboutnuthin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@nuthinboutnuthin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuthinboutnuthin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-retarded-electrical-question/158299/8 "2003-03-01T06:20:52Z")
I replied earlier, but it never showed up… anyway, Thanks y’all… I will probably keep the burnt bulbs in the sockets, that way the fixtures wont look quiet so pitiful…