Compact Fluorescents Question

If a compact fluorescent tube of 13 watts puts out light equal to that of a 60-watt incandescent bulb, would it be safe to use a compact fluorescent equal to a 100- or 150-watt incandescent in a light socket that warns not to exceed 60 watts?

I'd like to brighten a couple of places in the house while using the existing hardware, but I'd feel more comfortable risking burning the place down in summer than in the deep depths of winter.

Yes. Fluorescent bulbs generate much less heat than incandescents. Excess heat is the main concern for those "do not exceed..." warnings.

I use CFLs wherever I can. However I still much prefer the light from incandescent bulbs, CFLs just look weird and I've tried alot of the "soft light" ones and none are really great.

Hopefully this super energy efficient incandescent GE is working on becomes a reality.

as long as you do not exceed the 60 watt rating of the lamp. i use compact flourescents all over the house and i also like incandescent lighting when i really need to concentrate on looking at something.

Neo said:

Excess heat is the main concern for those "do not exceed..." warnings.

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Thanks. I thought it was more of a power-draw issue rather than heat.

schweb said:

. . . CFLs just look weird and I've tried alot of the "soft light" ones and none are really great.

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Yeah. I've got a few cool whites here and there, obtained before I realized that if the blister packs have no hint of the colour, the light resembles that of incandescents. The cool whites make people look like they've been pulled out of a morgue drawer.

I think the blister packaging is doing much more harm to the environment than the compact fluorescents are saving. Especially when the packaging is about twice the size it needs to be and I expend far more energy trying to open the thing and healing the cuts I get from the packaging itself than any light bulb could ever burn. Blister packaging = true evil.

Anyway, you get used to the CF bulbs eventually, though they never look truly white. They look more green/yellowish. If it will save the world I guess it will do it. Should I change the tailights in my car from mini incandescents to super compact fluorescents? I'm afraid the world might be totally destroyed if I don't. Boom.