So every lamp is rated for highest safe Wattage and I understand when they just list one number for incandescent bulbs...like 75W MAX...but I don't get it why some have two very different ratings, like 60W for standard bulbs and 13W for CFL bulb.

I mean...why only 13W for the other type...it's not like they produce as much heat as 60W....they barely produce any heat as it is.

??

 

It's not the light bulb itself that generate heat, it's the ballast at the base of the bulb that heat is generated (it may not be hot to the touch but is very sensitive to fluctuations). If you read the fine print on any non-filament bulb you may see warning such as "do [not] use in totally enclosed luminaries". These types of warning are not necessarily printed on the box. I always tell my customers to open box and check the fine print before buying LED's or CFL's. The main problem is not safety but of longevity of the bulb. Enclosed luminaries (totally enclosed globes) will significantly reduce life on a CFL or LED. Note, not all CFL's or LED's are subjected to this limitation.

 

In your example, 13 watts is the actual amount of power the lamp consumes. An equivalent LED lamp would be around 8 watts.

 

Generally speaking, a 13watt CFL is the equivalent of a 60watt incandescent bulb.

If you go higher than 13 watts, that would be the equivalent of a higher watt incandescent bulb, which is not allowed.

 

I understand and I can agree with Norm, but don't see how equivalent lumens would equate to Watts. And that is the ONLY equivalency between 13W CFL and 60W standard.

If a lamp can handle 60W standard bulb , it sure should be able to handle 13W, 35W or 60W CFL ....the lamp doesn't "care" how bright the bulb is.

So after all it is the heat generated by the ballast......and possible risk of damage caused by that heat.

 

It may be the ballast with its electronic components has a lower ideal operating temperature than a incandescent. Heck incandescent bulbs are used in ovens. Sure wouldn't put a ballasted CFL in there.

 

You all apparently noticed my mistake when I wrote
"do use in totally enclosed luminaries".

It should've read "Do NOT use in totally enclosed luminaries".

Sorry! Fat fingers and hands not keeping up with brain.

 

I edited it, Norm, so now no one will ever know.

 

Paul I agree, heat is heat; watts are watts. A 13W CFL can never produce anywhere near the heat of a 60W incandescent. My only guess is that the mfr is trying to limit the size of the lamp in addition to the heat output. I would have no reservations about exceeding the 13W CFL limitation assuming the bigger twisty lamp actually fit in the fixture.

 

Thank heavens for CFL & LED bulbs. My oldest brother made a Tiffany-style stained glass hanging lamp for my wedding over 30 years ago. The bulb is enclosed in a frosted glass globe and I like that look way more than a bare bulb. Socket had a 60W max rating and that single 60W incandescent was pretty dim as the only illumination over the dining table. Along came CFL and I was able to put a much higher output bulb in that globe and the heat produced is still far less than the incand. bulb.
If memory serves it's a 200W equivalent...and it has lasted longer than my memory