# The compact fluorescent of doom

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 25, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133 "2003-11-25T05:12:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dbc845/32.png) [@grib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grib)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133/1 "2003-11-25T05:12:05Z")

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I have a (somewhat) compact fluorescent bulb that I intend to install in a fixture that states it is to be used for a “60 watt bulb only”. The bulb of doom uses 32 watts. I am almost certain that what the fixture is rated for is either 60 watts of electricity coming through the wires or is able to withstand 60 watts of heat coming from a normal bulb. The fixture itself looks to provide plenty of ventilation. The socket sticks out parallel to the ceiling so the bulb will not be in a can or anything. There is a glass plate/diffuser below the fixture that does not touch the bulb. The circuit is on an ordinary switch.

I should be cool right? It’s just that the package has in large friendly letters “Replaces 150 watt bulb” I am almost certain this refers to the brightness (2600 lumens). I just don’t want to be explaining this to the fire department.

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**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:** [November 25, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133/2 "2003-11-25T05:18:20Z")

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You’re fine. CF bulbs use less electricity and run cooler than their incandescent counterparts. Since they are a bit more efficient at light production, you can actually run a higher wattage CF bulb in a given fixture than its rating states. Don’t worry about a thing.

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**Author:** ![grib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dbc845/32.png) [@grib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grib)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133/3 "2003-11-25T05:24:25Z")

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Thanx much, No fires yet. If the place does burn to the ground I can safely say that I am not a moron because I heard it was OK from the Internet 🆒

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-compact-fluorescent-of-doom/215133/4 "2003-11-25T07:04:35Z")

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The message “60 watt bulb only” or “no more than 60 watt bulb” is almost always there because of heat, not a limit on the incoming electrical power. The heat generated by a higher wattage incandescent bulb would make the fixture too hot and a possible fire danger. Especially because many light fixtures have tight clearances and enclosures with little ventilation.

So a compact fluorescent bulb should have no problem at all. They use less power and waste less of it in heat, so are better in both ways.