Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Enclosed Fixtures

Bird · Nov 15, 2003

We have quite a number of ceiling light fixtures with a small globe around a 60 watt light bulb. I would like to put the fluorescent bulbs in them instead of the current incandescent bulbs, but don't know whether that's really safe or not. The fixtures are labelled for a maximum of 60 watt bulbs. I'm currently using a fluorescent bulb in one, but left the globe off; i.e., left it not enclosed.

I've been looking for information on the Internet and found a couple of places that said "In general" fluorescent bulbs should not be used in enclosed fixtures because of the lack of air flow and heat. Don't the fluorescent bulbs generate less heat than incandescent? Is the only reason to not use fluorescent bulbs in enclosed fixtures a shortening of the life, or is there a safety concern?

I did find one place where someone asked a question about using fluorescent outdoors and got a response that it's OK if it's in an enclosed fixture. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hambone · Nov 15, 2003

Good morning Bird,

You have posed some interesting questions. As usual, I don't know the answers.

I do have fluorescent bulbs in my outside enclosed fixtures. The standard bulbs did not seem to last very long at all. I always thought it was the heat. If they would go two months I was doing good! The yellow bulbs were worse!

Since putting the fluorescent bulbs in no failures in 18 months.'
Don't know if this helps......

Bird · Nov 15, 2003

Thanks, Steve. Unless someone tells me there's a safety concern, I'm gonna try a couple of these indoors and see what happens.

BillyP · Nov 15, 2003

I'm with you, Bird. Fluorescent bulbs give off a lot less heat. Heat is the reason you are limited with an incandescent bulb, in an enclosed fixture.

We have enclosed fluorescent tube fixtures in our kitchen (4 tubes per fixture) so I don't see any difference from one to the other.

Another thought, for incandescent bulbs. I've tried those 130 volt rough service bulbs in our house (for the hard to reach high ceiling areas) and they work great. You can buy those 15,000 hour rough service bulbs fairly cheap.

5 YEAR ROUGH SERVICE BULBS

jinman · Nov 15, 2003

Bird, when I built my new house, I tried to use fluorescent bulbs everywhere they would fit. What I've found is the fluorescent bulbs are generally far superior to any incandescent bulb I've ever had. My only guess about the enclosed fixture warning is that you would not want to put a fluorescent and a 60 watt incandescent into the same 2-bulb fixture. The heat from the incandescent would probably overheat the fluorescent. One or two fluorescent bulbs should be just fine, but all the fluorescent bulbs are slightly larger than their incandescent "cousins." Fitting the bulb physically into the fixture is the limiting factor. I have several enclosed fixtures (flat ceiling mount) rated for two 60 watt bulbs. When new, I temporarily put in incandescent bulbs. The fixtures got so hot they smelled like burning paint. With the fluorescents, they hardly even get warm. I use the 10 watt GE Spiral lights and they put out the same light as 40 watt incandescents.

What I found was that all fluorescent lights are NOT created equal. Stick with GE bulbs and you will be happy. There is a brand of bulb called "Lights of America" or something similar that look almost like a real light bulb, but they are just a fluorescent enclosed in a bulb. These bulbs are lousy, sorry, and a ripoff because when you turn them on, they barely glow orange and then warm up to full brightness in 30 to 60 seconds. Just think about how many times you'd be willing to wait that long to be able to see. I didn't throw them away, but I put them in outside fixtures where the delay is not critical. The GE bulbs may actually get brighter over a few seconds, but they come right on with useful light an instant after you flip the switch. I use the GE 27W/100W in the outside lights on my deck and three of them light the area very, very well. I also have an outside garage light that uses a 65W bulb (Sylvania, I believe). It will put out as much light as one of those big mercury vapor lights.

So Bird, I'd highly recommend fluorescents, but just be careful to buy a quality name-brand bulb. I don't think the bargain brands are a bargain at all. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Bird · Nov 15, 2003

Thanks, Jim (and Billy). The fixtures I want to use them in are simply single bulb round globes so no problem fitting them in. I've been using one Sylvania spiral 25 watt bulb for almost a year, in the apartment and now in the mobile home, but have left the globe off (I just a few minutes ago put the globe on). And now a bulb has burned out in the kitchen and I'm out of light bulbs, so I'll be going to get one for that, and a spare or two, sometime today.

I've seen the ones that look about like an incandescent bulb, but the spiral ones are the only thing I'll buy.

kokopelli2 · Nov 15, 2003

i have had good luck with the commercial electric bulbs at depot. they are having a great sale on them now. as for putting them in an inclosed fixture, there is no worries.
have fun.

Bob999 · Nov 15, 2003

Bird,

If you are replacing 60w incandesent bulbs you get about the same light output with a 20W flouresent.

Have you considered replacing the fixture? In my area the local home center (Lowes) sells flouesent ceiling fixtures with bulbs for $20-30 each depending on size and wattage. These fixtures include a plastic cover that protect the bulbs--an important consideration in most applications because flouresent bulbs are quite fragile. These fixtures my be either round or square but both styles typically use circular tubes. If you want more light fixtures that use 2 or more 40w tubes are available. They have the advantage of using lower cost tubes. The downside is they cost more initially.

Bird · Nov 15, 2003

( replacing 60w incandesent bulbs you get about the same light output with a 20W flouresent )

Yep, and I thought just a little more light would be even better, so right now I'm trying a 25 watt Sylvania and a 26 watt GE in two of the fixtures.

( Have you considered replacing the fixture? )

Yes, but not for very long; that takes both money and work, so I don't like that idea except as a last resort. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I know it isn't a big deal to change out the fixtures, but we've got 11 of that particular type of fixture and we both like the looks of them just fine as they are, so I figure I'll just change to fluorescent bulbs as the existing bulbs burn out (or I might go ahead sooner and just replace the bulbs). Wal-Mart has the 26 watt (100 watt output) GEs in two packs for $8.44 right now.

Mark_in_NH · Nov 15, 2003

Bird,
My power company was / is running tis special on Fluorescent lights made by "Maxlite" web page They were / are selling them through local hardware stores. With the instant rebate and when you fill out the little registration card you get the light for .9 cents. Great Deal !!!!. The 4 that I bought are 26 watts or the equivalent of a 100 watt incandescent.
Anyway, on to my point.
Nowhere on the package I am reading does it say you CAN'T or SHOULD'NT put them in an enclosed fixture.
I also agree with the others. They have been putting normal Fluorescent bulbs in enclosed fixtures for years. All those little white under cabinet fixtures that all of us have had under our kitchen cabinets at one time or another. The plastic covers on those always sit fairly close to the bulb.
And as it has been said, Fluorescent don't run that hot.
In umpteen years of electrical work, I have never seen a heat problem caused by a hot Fluorescent tube. A hot Fluorescent ballast, yes.
The manufactures of all the new compact Fluorescent bulbs, have to know and expect that people are going to stick them into enclosed fixtures. Considering today's sue happy society, the manf. would definatly list a warning / disclaimer to the package if they weren't ok to use them in enclosed fixtures.
I just screwed one of my bulbs into a lights on my desk, it as been approx. 10 minutes now. I can wrap my hand right around the spiral of the bulb. Although it is initialy Warm to te touch, it is by No Means hot. I can leave my hand completely wrapped around it without out fear of being burnt.