The fixture manufacturer goes on the side of safety. A 75 watt bulb puts out both more light and heat than a 60 watt bulb. It can make the fixture burn out sooner. For even more light, why don't you go with a florescent and get a 27 watt bulb that gives off the same amount of light as a 100 watt bulb? That will give off far less heat and be far better for your fixture?
The total wattage of the light fixture with 3 60-watt bulbs is 180 watts (3 bulbs x 60 watts per bulb).
As long as the fixture in the confined space is approved for confined space and the wattage rating of the fixture is not below 60 watts then there should be no problem using a 60 watt bulb in this situation.
Yes, it is only pulling 18 watts.
It depends. A 60 watt CFL draws approximately 13 watts. So you could actually put a 125 watt CFL in as it only draws 30 watts. However most CFLs cannot be dimmed nor are CFLs recommended in harsh environments such as refrigerators or ovens. Also because the coils of a CFL get larger in diameter adn height as the brightness increases, some fixtures may be unable to accomodate a 60 watt CFL let alone a 125.
You talk about tubes specifically so I assume the 60 watt fixture is also designed for tubes. In such a case you should not use a higher wattage tube. If you were to replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb with a compact florescent of 75 watts you are correct that the heat would be less. If heat were the only de-rating factor you would probably be okay. Not sure how this is handled in the code.
The recommended lightbulb wattage for this fixture is 60 watts.
The total wattage of the light fixture with 3 60-watt bulbs is 180 watts (3 bulbs x 60 watts per bulb).
The recommended wattage for a 60 watt Edison bulb is 60 watts.
The recommended wattage for an Edison bulb is typically 60 watts.
As long as the fixture in the confined space is approved for confined space and the wattage rating of the fixture is not below 60 watts then there should be no problem using a 60 watt bulb in this situation.
Yes, it is only pulling 18 watts.
It depends. A 60 watt CFL draws approximately 13 watts. So you could actually put a 125 watt CFL in as it only draws 30 watts. However most CFLs cannot be dimmed nor are CFLs recommended in harsh environments such as refrigerators or ovens. Also because the coils of a CFL get larger in diameter adn height as the brightness increases, some fixtures may be unable to accomodate a 60 watt CFL let alone a 125.
You talk about tubes specifically so I assume the 60 watt fixture is also designed for tubes. In such a case you should not use a higher wattage tube. If you were to replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb with a compact florescent of 75 watts you are correct that the heat would be less. If heat were the only de-rating factor you would probably be okay. Not sure how this is handled in the code.
The recommended lightbulb wattage for this room is typically between 60 to 75 watts.
The total bulb wattage refers to the maximum wattage for each bulb, not the combined wattage for all three bulbs. Therefore, when the sign specifies a maximum of 60 watts for each bulb, you should not exceed 60 watts for any single bulb used in the fixture.
Two thoughts here, one the fixture should be rated at the maximum wattage allowed for the socket the bulb screws into. A label should state "maximum wattage allowed". To do a calculation Watts = Amps x Volts. Amps = Watts/Volts. 5 x 60 watts = 300 watts. 300/120 = 2.5 amps. The electrical code only rates down to #14 wire which is rated at 15 amps. From here you have to make the decision.
No, it is not recommended to use a 100 watt CFL in a fixture that specifies a maximum of 25 incandescent watts. CFL bulbs have different wattage equivalencies compared to incandescent bulbs, so you should use a CFL bulb that is equivalent to or lower than the specified incandescent wattage for the fixture. Using a higher wattage CFL bulb can cause overheating and potentially pose a fire hazard.