Max LED wattage for a fixture

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

I bought some fixtures about 6 years ago. They are flush ceiling fixtures rated at 60W.

What is the maximum LED bulb I can safely put in the fixture? Presumably, since LEDs release less heat, it's more than 60W? Here I am talking about the current drawn, not the luminosity.

charliegolf · 13 Jun 2017

About 10W LED is around a 60W equivalent lamp...

https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/lumens_watts/

But power is surely power is power, so in theory, a 60W LED would be perfectly acceptable and safe. But they only seem to exist up to 20W!

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

That's my question. For the record, I am seeing bulbs in my local store at 6W source/60W luminosity, 8-9W source/80W lum, and 12W source/100W lum. I imagine all are safe. but what is the maximum I could use?

Taylortwocities · 13 Jun 2017

The wattage on your fitting relates to the total power needed to to run a regular tungsten/halogen (GLS) lamp. Most of this is heat output rather than light.

The wattage on LED lamps again relates to the power to run the lamp but has no relationship to the amount of light emitted. That is why lamp light output is now quoted in lumens.
Your local store uses a 60watt luminosity figure to give the layperson some sort of guide as to how bright the lamp may be when compared to a GLS lamp.
This may help your understanding https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/lumens_watts/

If your fitting is rated at 60 (old style) watts then you could put just about any single LED lamp ever invented in there. LED lamps run much much ccoler than old-style ones.

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

Ok. (parlance issue: I think you are using the word lamp, where I would use bulb. I would use lamp for the fixture). Indeed, I don't think I have ever seen an LED rated as high as 60W input.

Taylortwocities · 13 Jun 2017

Parlance correction, Lesson 1

Bulb

Lamp

Luminaire

Aide memoire: Bulbs grow, lamps glow

ianniann · 13 Jun 2017

Maximum in a "max 60W" fixture would be 60W

Or halve it to 30W just to take account of the power factor and be on the safe side. Either way, you're not going to need an LED that powerful unless you're growing pot.

What is dumb is the newer fittings that say things like "max LED power 6W". Idiots.

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

Ha ha!

I am an American living in the UK, hence my issues. This isn't a problem daily, but when talking about something technical it's good to be precise. It wasn't clear to me when you said "LED lamp" if you were talking about an american bulb or an american fixture specifically designed for LEDs. Clarification is always appreciated. In the future, I will use your memory aid!

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

ianniann said:
Maximum in a "max 60W" fixture would be 60W Or halve it to 30W just to take account of the power factor and be on the safe side. Either way, you're not going to need an LED that powerful unless you're growing pot.

No. I am not growing pot. Just humbly trying to get to the toilet without stubbing my toe.

What is dumb is the newer fittings that say things like "max LED power 6W". Idiots.

So, is that just a terrible mislabelling? or do they really mean this luminaire can all handle a 6W lamp? Why would they put that there?

ban-all-sheds · 13 Jun 2017

ianniann said:
What is dumb is the newer fittings that say things like "max LED power 6W". Idiots.

Why do you think it is dumb or idiotic?

Please explain how you know that the fittings are suitable for the heat dissipation needed by high-wattage LED lamps.

ianniann · 13 Jun 2017

ban-all-sheds said:
Why do you think it is dumb or idiotic?

Please explain how you know that the fittings are suitable for the heat dissipation needed by high-wattage LED lamps.

Making a luminaire from tissue paper and 0.1mm wire is dumb. Spend 5p more and make something useful.

Oh, and I have seen them marked for 60W halogen/8W LED. Tell me that can't dissipate any heat.

ban-all-sheds · 13 Jun 2017

ianniann said:
Making a luminaire from tissue paper and 0.1mm wire is dumb.

Please explain how you know that that is what they have done.

Oh, and I have seen them marked for 60W halogen/8W LED. Tell me that can't dissipate any heat.

The issue is nothing to do with how much heat the luminaire can tolerate.

junebug29 · 13 Jun 2017

ban-all-sheds said:
Please explain how you know that that is what they have done. The issue is nothing to do with how much heat the luminaire can tolerate.

What is the issue then? I don't really understand how there can be an issue beyond the rating. If I had a 60W LED lamp won't it just produce more light? it won't draw more electricity, and it won't have as much heat as a 60W incandescent.

ban-all-sheds · 13 Jun 2017

The issue is that LED lamps are extremely intolerant of the heat that they produce, and higher power ones produce enough heat that getting rid of it can be a problem. A luminaire may well be able to tolerate the heat that a 60W incandescent generates, and therefore have no problems at all with the heat that a 60W LED generates (which would be less), but may be totally unable to keep the LED lamp cool enough.

winston1 · 13 Jun 2017

ianniann said:
Maximum in a "max 60W" fixture would be 60W Or halve it to 30W just to take account of the power factor and be on the safe side. Either way, you're not going to need an LED that powerful unless you're growing pot.

What is dumb is the newer fittings that say things like "max LED power 6W". Idiots.

What has power factor got to do with it. 60 watts is 60 watts not 60VA.

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Max LED wattage for a fixture

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