Light bulb question?

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Dec 3, 2019

To qualify this as tractor related, I use this light in the room to see the computer I post on and read from this
site!
My problem is this; this is in my den and this light is the main source of light as other lamps do not seem to fit
the space as well and if in any other place in the room it causes glare on TV and computer screen.
It takes a 200 watt clear, standard base incandescent bulb to do the job of lighting the room. These bulbs only
last about 20 hours and then they blow. Smaller wattage bulbs are longer lasting but really don't give off enough
light to be satisfactory. These bulbs are getting scarce in the regular incandescent type. Is there anything in the
way of L E D or even fluorescent that will give light of equal brightness and color? I have used 3 bulbs this
past month.

Russ from MN · Dec 3, 2019

I'm sure there are LED's that will work a lot better for you, that's ridiculous how many bulbs your going through! Make sure you buy a color that your happy with, lower no's (2500k) are more yellow, higher (5000) are like daylight/bright white.

Paul from MI · Dec 3, 2019

I would check the voltage at the fixture. You shouldn't have that short of life on a bulb, no matter what wattage.

paul · Dec 3, 2019

I agree with Russ on his advice.

I wonder if you have a voltage issue or something else in the wiring? I have 209 and 300 watt regular bulbs in the shed for years.

There are different ?colors? of the led lights, you need to find the color that fits your needs. The yellow might look dull to you, the brightest bright might be harsh and glare, maybe start in the middle colors. Most boxes of the led will give a comparable watt rating so you can get the lumens you are used to.

Paul

4play · Dec 4, 2019

The 200w incandescant regular size bulbs I looked at advertise a 750 hour avg life. I'm not sure why yours are burning out so fast. If it's in an enclosed fixture then maybe its getting too hot, or like mentioned already about a voltage problem. Changing color temp of the bulb sometimes helps too. If its soft white it will be around 2800(K), if its natural or daylight it will be around 5000(K)

There are several LED bulb options, regular style bulbs to what they call "corn cob" LED bulbs can beat the light output (lumens) and bulb life. Typical LED bulb life avg is 25000-50000 hours, and using about 1/8 or a tad more the wattage of incandescent bulbs. Comparing the Lumens value should be the most accurate way to tell if you are getting a similar or better output bulb.

spacecadet9 · Dec 4, 2019

Have you checked the light fixture? A bad connection can cause lamps to fail.

spacecadet9 · Dec 4, 2019

A few days ago I was in Walmart and saw a 4000 lumen LED. "This high powered C4000/5K/LED 38 watt LED Yard Light is a direct replacement for a 300 watt incandescent. It has an average life of 35,000 hours and it has 4000 lumens." It has a standard base. There are "cob" type LEDs lamps up to 10000 lumens.

M-MAN · Dec 4, 2019

Look at Home Depot ceiling lights. I put one in my computer room about a month ago and I like it. 180 watt equevelent and twice as good as the dual flouresent I had in there. Two pack was $69. You can choose the color just by flipping a switch. I like the 3000. The other two are too white.

MarkB_MI · Dec 4, 2019

What sort of fixture are we talking about? Most ceiling fixtures are limited to 100 watt bulbs or less. There are table lamps that can handle the bigger bulbs, but they're typically three-ways. LED lighting has progressed a lot in the past decade; you should be able to replace your current fixture with something that will use a lot less energy and never require a bulb change.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 4, 2019

Mark,
Look at fixtures designed for heat lamps or some shop lights. They are made of a ceramic like material to handle the heat. You may need heat resistant wires going to them.

Not sure what your question is. If you want to use a large bulb, you may need to redneck it and make one.
br>George

Geo-TH,In · Dec 4, 2019

Sorry Mark, my bad, I thought you posted the question.
Warning, I should have a second cup of coffee before posting.
geo.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Dec 4, 2019

This is a floor lamp listed as a torch type lamp and the area is open except for a reflector on the bottom to direct the light upward, The base of the reflector is an open mesh for ventilation and the base is a standard regular incandescent size threads. Voltage reads 122 Volts. Thanks for the info. I really want to replace it with an L E D type lamp.

Steve@Advance · Dec 4, 2019

I assume this is a table lamp?

If so, it's going to be hard to find a single LED that makes the same amount light. They are probably available, but not a common stock item.

Possibly you could take the shade mount off, screw in a splitter, then replace the shade mount.

That way you could use 2 20 watt LED lamps, which are readily available in whatever color range you want. That would give about the same light as a 200 watt incandescent.

I agree, the quality of the incandescent lamps made now is awful. If the filament is breaking, it's just a poor quality lamp. But if the lamp is failing and the filament appears good, I would suspect a bad socket. Running a high wattage lamp is hard on the socket.

I would not recommend a "cob" light. I have tried them several times and have not found one yet that would last.

Hay hay hay · Dec 4, 2019

I agree with the splitter idea ..2 bulbs in a torch light. Or perhaps an LED spotlight facing up. bouncing off a very white ceiling?

RJKeith · Dec 4, 2019

Gene, your 200 watt bulb should produce roughly 3500 lumens of light. Google 3500 lumen LED bulb and it gives you several options. Amazon has one for $12.00.

John T · Dec 4, 2019

Gene, while its more common and typical to see standard screw in Edison Base LED replacement bulbs labeled something like light equivalent to say 60 or 75 or 100 Watt Incandescent, I have seen LED replacement bulbs labeled to replace a 200 Watt Incandescent. Sure they are a bit larger

NOTE when some people (especially non electricians or non sparkies) see older designed for Incandescent bulb light fixtures they may see a WARNING do not exceed 100 Watts !!!!

HOWEVER much of that warning concerns safety based on how much HEAT is produced (by an incandescent) or CURRENT is drawn...

BUT the LED replacement with equivalent lumens light output DOES NOT PRODUCE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT HEAT OR DRAW THAT MUCH CURRENT.

John T

1948CaseVAI · Dec 4, 2019

As mentioned check the voltage. I have 300 watt incandescents in a few places where I need a lot of light and one has been on and off several times a day for over two years.

Janicholson · Dec 4, 2019

This will do it and reduce electrical consumption and heat by a factor of about 6 Jim
walmart on line

dr sportster · Dec 4, 2019

See if you can find a long lasting 130 volt lamp.

Pete in Holland MI · Dec 4, 2019

You're trying to light the room thru indirect lighting, bouncing it off the ceiling in the way you describe.

Couple things:

How white is your ceiling? Even slightly dirty will absorb more light than reflect.

How tall is your ceiling? Seems light energy disperses at a factor of 4 the further away you expect the light to travel.

How big of a room are you trying to light? Maybe you need several smaller lights scattered about the room, rather than from one source.

Have you tried a reflector lamp (flood light) to direct ALL of the light energy upwards?

Just thinking out loud.....

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Dec 4, 2019

The filament breaks and the inside of the bulb becomes blackened.

Light bulb question?

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