SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    A question for electricians.
Page 1 2 
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
A question for electricians. Login/Join 
Member
posted
I installed a pendant light. The instructions say nothing over 9W LED. I have 10W LEDs in it. (3 bulb light.)

The warning re 9W. If I use a stronger bulb, is the danger in running a 10W at full power? For example, the light is dimmable. If I run it at half power, is that acceptable? Or is the 10W caveat engraved in stone?

Also, why the caveat? What's the danger? Wires getting hot and flipped the breaker? Wires getting hot and starting a fire?

Ok, so that's like, 4 questions.

thnx

Edited to add. They don't sell 9W LED at Lowes. They only have 8.5W and then is 10W.
 
Posts: 288 | Registered: October 19, 2024Reply With QuoteReport This Post
In the yahd, not too
fah from the cah
Picture of ryan81986
posted Hide Post
Not an electrician, but. The concern is that the wires in the fixture and sometimes the fixture itself is only rated to handle so much load/so much heat. And that overloading it can potentially cause a fire. I'd be shocked if 1w made a difference, but I'll let the electricians handle the rest of it.




 
Posts: 6584 | Location: Just outside of Boston | Registered: March 28, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
posted Hide Post
Of the two bulbs you listed, one meets the requirements of the fixture. Seems like a simple choice.

Not an electrician either, but:

At 9watts x 3 bulbs = 27watts, you are not going to trip 15amp breaker: 15amps x 120volts = 1,800 watts.

The danger is the fixture itself. Something, wiring or electronics or ?, within the fixture is not designed for more than 9watts individually or 27 watts in total. I don’t known if it’s a you’ll break the fixture, burn the house down, or somewhere in between danger.
 
Posts: 12938 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Optimistic Cynic
Picture of architect
posted Hide Post
Not an electrician, but even I know the fuse/breaker is there to keep the wires from getting overloaded (getting hot and causing a fire).

It seems obvious that there is some sort of transformer/voltage changer that takes the house voltage down to where the bulbs can use it, nominally a few volts DC. This may be what is specced for 9W per socket. Premature failure of this circuit may be more relevant to exceeding what is specified. I'd stick to what the manufacturer says if it were in my house.
 
Posts: 7297 | Location: NoVA | Registered: July 22, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
You're talking about a difference of .025 amps . That is not going to overload the wire , the breaker or the fixture hardware . There must be something electronic they are trying to protect. Even at that it's such a miniscule difference . Can you post a link to the fixture ?
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
You're talking about a difference of .025 amps . That is not going to overload the wire , the breaker or the fixture hardware . There must be something electronic they are trying to protect. Even at that it's such a miniscule difference . Can you post a link to the fixture ?


There's nothing "electronic" in the light. I assembled it from a box of parts. It's just the wiring from the bulb to the ceiling (which I had to thread through the extensions). Nothing else electrical. Their caveat would have to be because of the delicacy in their wiring?

The link:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/JONAT...ed-Bronze/5013600237
 
Posts: 288 | Registered: October 19, 2024Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Just because you can,
doesn't mean you should
posted Hide Post
Don't LED's have some device that converts the A/C power to low volt DC?
The limitation could be there.


___________________________
Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible.
 
Posts: 10331 | Location: NE GA | Registered: August 22, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
No More
Mr. Nice Guy
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Biker_dude:


There's nothing "electronic" in the light. I assembled it from a box of parts. It's just the wiring from the bulb to the ceiling (which I had to thread through the extensions). Nothing else electrical. Their caveat would have to be because of the delicacy in their wiring?

The link:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/JONAT...ed-Bronze/5013600237


Weird. It says the fixture is rated for up to 120W total, and can take three 40W incandescent bulbs. So a 9W limit on LED makes no sense at all.

While I'd never suggest someone else exceed the limitations in their home, from what I see in that link I would happily put higher wattage LEDs in it.

Edited to add: I infer that they are saying there is a typical LED bulb that fits this fixture, and they describe it generically as 9W LED.
 
Posts: 10292 | Location: On the mountain off the grid | Registered: February 25, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
quote:
Originally posted by Biker_dude:


There's nothing "electronic" in the light. I assembled it from a box of parts. It's just the wiring from the bulb to the ceiling (which I had to thread through the extensions). Nothing else electrical. Their caveat would have to be because of the delicacy in their wiring?

The link:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/JONAT...ed-Bronze/5013600237


Weird. It says the fixture is rated for up to 120W total, and can take three 40W incandescent bulbs. So a 9W limit on LED makes no sense at all.

While I'd never suggest someone else exceed the limitations in their home, from what I see in that link I would happily put higher wattage LEDs in it.

Edited to add: I infer that they are saying there is a typical LED bulb that fits this fixture, and they describe it generically as 9W LED.
I just saw that too .
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
quote:
Originally posted by Biker_dude:


There's nothing "electronic" in the light. I assembled it from a box of parts. It's just the wiring from the bulb to the ceiling (which I had to thread through the extensions). Nothing else electrical. Their caveat would have to be because of the delicacy in their wiring?

The link:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/JONAT...ed-Bronze/5013600237


Weird. It says the fixture is rated for up to 120W total, and can take three 40W incandescent bulbs. So a 9W limit on LED makes no sense at all.

While I'd never suggest someone else exceed the limitations in their home, from what I see in that link I would happily put higher wattage LEDs in it.

Edited to add: I infer that they are saying there is a typical LED bulb that fits this fixture, and they describe it generically as 9W LED.


Confusing for me, definitely. The actual instructions: "Please use type 'A' bulb max 40-watt or cfl bulb max 13-watt or led bulb max 9-watt; there is led 4-watt bulb in the box."
 
Posts: 288 | Registered: October 19, 2024Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
To each his own . I know what I would do.
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
posted Hide Post
Sounds like 40 watts per socket is the true limit while 13watts CFL and 9 watts LED are the equivalent to 40 watt incandescent bulb in terms of light output. The fixture uses standard E26 sockets so there’s no electronics in the fixture converting AC to DC or doing anything else; it’s just straight 120v AC power to each socket.

quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
To each his own . I know what I would do.

Light it up like a KMart parking lot?
 
Posts: 12938 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
Not a electrician but it reads like Chinese English.

"Takes 3 bulbs and compatible with TYPE "A" 40W or CFL 13W or LED 9W

Color Temperature: 2700K"

I also think they mean equivalent LED 9W. Also what does color temperature have to do with it.


__________________________________________________

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit!

Sigs Owned - A Bunch
 
Posts: 4456 | Location: Nashville, Tennessee | Registered: December 16, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Sounds like 40 watts per socket is the true limit while 13watts CFL and 9 watts LED are the equivalent to 40 watt incandescent bulb in terms of light output. The fixture uses standard E26 sockets so there’s no electronics in the fixture converting AC to DC or doing anything else; it’s just straight 120v AC power to each socket.

quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
To each his own . I know what I would do.

Light it up like a KMart parking lot?
You know it !
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
To each his own . I know what I would do.


Ignore the caveat and light that sucker like you stole it?
 
Posts: 288 | Registered: October 19, 2024Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Biker_dude:
quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
To each his own . I know what I would do.


Ignore the caveat and light that sucker like you stole it?
And never look back ...
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Page late and a dollar short
posted Hide Post
Heat buildup inside the fixture?


-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
 
Posts: 8778 | Location: Livingston County Michigan USA | Registered: August 11, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
The fixture is rated for 140 watts .
 
Posts: 4772 | Location: Down in Louisiana . | Registered: February 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Lunasee
posted Hide Post
The bulb wattage dictates the amount of current flow it will draw. The fixture rating is the amount of current flow it can safely pass in terms of Wattage.
Gotta do your own math.
 
Posts: 637 | Location: Hillsboro, OR | Registered: January 09, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of mark60
posted Hide Post
Not an electrician but it's probably about heat. It's an open fixture but the wiring is probably 20ga at best in the fixture and even LED bulbs make heat at the base of the bulb.
 
Posts: 3699 | Location: Sunshine State | Registered: July 01, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata Page 1 2  
 

SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    A question for electricians.

© SIGforum 2025