So... i have a 48w daylight lamp but it doesn't fit the socket of my desklamp

[Tabris_]

After some major problems with his aquarium my brother i giving up aquarism for a time. This means i can use his 48w lamp instead of my weak 9w one for a time. The problem is... it's just only a plug, a wire and a socket with the lamp. It's viable to use such a powerful lamp in my table? Even without something to sort of "project" the light? What's the best way to position it?

 

[Wyrmypops]

Lights are so cheap, isn't it viable to pick up a desktop lamp that'd take the 48w bulb?

 

[Tabris_]

Lights are so cheap, isn't it viable to pick up a desktop lamp that'd take the 48w bulb?

Maybe yes. But would it be too strong?

 

[generulpoleaxe]

Maybe yes. But would it be too strong?

I use a twin tube 100w lamp nothing is too strong.

 

[BPI]

Hi Tabris, my desk light has a little sticker on it that says "maximum 60w". It's now holding an energy saver that's rated at 120w but only uses 30w So just check your desk light packaging for the maximum wattage it's rated for.

I have only once encountered a bulb that was too powerful for it's fixture. It was pretty obvious because it got too hot & the plastic gave off a weird fishy smell! That one was unplugged pretty promptly

Cheers, B.

 

[Einion]

This means i can use his 48w lamp instead of my weak 9w one for a time. The problem is... it's just only a plug, a wire and a socket with the lamp. It's viable to use such a powerful lamp in my table?

What type of bulb or tube is it? If it's a CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) or similar then it won't generate much heat but if it's got a filament then it could run very hot.

The 9W lamp that you already have, if it has a fluorescent bulb or tube in it and you can find one the same size with a higher wattage it'll probably work okay - older lights that were intended for a specific wattage of bulb (e.g. many lamps and light sockets in the UK were rated for 60W only) were based on the heat output of incandescent bulbs, because they produce much more heat than light. Fluorescent lights produce more light than heat, and some run very cool.

What's the best way to position it?

If you're hoping to use it like you would a desk lamp, above you (out of your eyeline), to the opposite side of your painting hand ideally.

Einion

 

[ZaPhOd]

I use one or 2 100W daylight bulbs in those mountable desk lamps that have adjustable necks... They are cheap and very handy for both painting and taking photos

 

[Tabris_]

Hello people. Sorry for not paying much attention to this thread. I decided i'll just get a better desklamp before i use that 48w lamp i got.

The 9w one is a compact tube and the desklamp is like that:

The 48w lamp is a huge fluorescent bulb with an spiral shape that looks similar to this one:

 

[Wyrmypops]

I fell afoul of that issue. As regular bulbs started to run out I took to replacing them with energy savers. Ordered from Amazon. I was assuming a regularity in size and taking the lead from the plug, being screw-fit rather than bayonet-plug. Though the first order turned out to be a couple of bulbs like that pictured above, and while the plug might well fit it could never happen as the bulb itself was too wide for the casing around the light fitting.
Turns out the information I should have been looking at was a fitting code listed in the description, but without knowing it was there it just looked like extraneous letters. "ES" I think it was, being the regular size fitting for the regular bulbs. Armed with that info it was easy enough to find the energy saving bulbs for regular fittings.

After having looked into it, it also turns out that those bulbs that sit inside a enclosing fitting also need to include "reflector" in their description. I guess to ensure the heat produced doesn't knacker the fitting.

I can't say as I was satisfied with those describing themselves as "daylight" bulbs. I dare say the light was cleaner, less yellow, but not notably so. Found myself better sorted by a couple of fluorescent tubes in desklamps with long adjustable arms. More directional, and the light cast was noticibly cleaner.