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LED lamps/bulbs in enclosed fittings


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Old 02-01-2017, 15:42
bspace
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When I moved into our current place 10 years back the bathrooms had those ceiling fittings like a white glass globe using 40wt tungstens. In order to use the then new style low energy lamps/bulbs I removed the globes as the bulbs where said "not to be used in enclosed fittings" or some such wording.

Now I've replaced most of the bulbs in the house with LED ones, 4wt in the bathrooms, I'm wondering if I can now replace the glass globes. I've looked online but can't seem to find anything much about this. I'm assuming that means it's OK but I wondered if anyone knew anything to the contrary.
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Old 02-01-2017, 16:05
Andrue
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I would imagine that the reason for the prohibition would be due to the difficulty of dealing with the heat. Although CFLs generally get less warm than incandescents the electronics in the base do get warm and have a limited ability to deal with that warmth.

LED bulbs produce far less heat to start with so should have less of a problem. However I have a few LED bulbs and the base does still get slightly warm. However I'd assume that a bathroom light is used infrequently and would have plenty of time to cool back down between usages.

Interestingly I did find this which suggests that heat build up is still something of a concern for LEDs.
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Old 02-01-2017, 16:32
barbeler
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Almost all LEDs are already fully encased in glass or clear plastic. http://www.greenlightingled.com/blog...aster-Bulb.jpg
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Old 02-01-2017, 16:34
bspace
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I would imagine that the reason for the prohibition would be due to the difficulty of dealing with the heat. Although CFLs generally get less warm than incandescents the electronics in the base do get warm and have a limited ability to deal with that warmth.

LED bulbs produce far less heat to start with so should have less of a problem. However I have a few LED bulbs and the base does still get slightly warm. However I'd assume that a bathroom light is used infrequently and would have plenty of time to cool back down between usages.

Interestingly I did find this which suggests that heat build up is still something of a concern for LEDs.
Yes that's the sort of inconclusive thing I was finding. It suggests there's a problem but later refers to 12wt power consumption where as I'm looking at 4. I see a few places that claim similar but usually about higher power LEDs.

I can't find anything that directly says "do not use in enclosed fittings". Nothing on the packaging from the various different LEDs I bought or online on suppliers websites. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.
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Old 02-01-2017, 16:41
bspace
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Almost all LEDs are already fully encased in glass or clear plastic. http://www.greenlightingled.com/blog...aster-Bulb.jpg
As are CFLs and halogen. The question is whether or not they can cope with the increased retained heat inside an enclosed fitting (lack of ventilation), which tungsten could but CFLs couldn't, presumably because of the "electronics" in the base which LEDs also have, although different.
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Old 02-01-2017, 17:42
Caxton
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I have had LEDs in enclosed fittings and they are quite capable of running that way.
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:24
Andrue
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As are CFLs and halogen. The question is whether or not they can cope with the increased retained heat inside an enclosed fitting (lack of ventilation), which tungsten could but CFLs couldn't, presumably because of the "electronics" in the base which LEDs also have, although different.
Yeah the way I look at it : Heat is the primary function of an incandescent lamp (light is a by-product resulting from the high temperature of the filament) so they are more tolerant of heat build up. You wouldn't expect them to care much any more than you'd expect the element in a kettle to care if it got hot. The light fitting might melt but the bulb will probably be fine.

But with CFLs and LEDs the heat from the electronics is a by-product that will damage components. There might not be much of it but if it builds up it will destroy the bulb.
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:44
bspace
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I have had LEDs in enclosed fittings and they are quite capable of running that way.
Thanks.

I think I'll give it a go and keep an eye on it.

As there's nothing on the packaging to say "don't do it" there must be lots of people out there who aren't as cautious as me and I haven't heard of any warnings about them.
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:48
bspace
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Yeah the way I look at it : Heat is the primary function of an incandescent lamp (light is a by-product resulting from the high temperature of the filament) so they are more tolerant of heat build up. You wouldn't expect them to care much any more than you'd expect the element in a kettle to care if it got hot. The light fitting might melt but the bulb will probably be fine.

But with CFLs and LEDs the heat from the electronics is a by-product that will damage components. There might not be much of it but if it builds up it will destroy the bulb.
Yes, although I don't so much care about the bulb destructing as long as it doesn't do it in a way that damages anything else.
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Old 03-01-2017, 08:29
njp
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Yes, although I don't so much care about the bulb destructing as long as it doesn't do it in a way that damages anything else.
If it can't get rid of heat fast enough, the only effect I would expect is a reduction in the life expectancy of the bulb. I don't know what your glass globes are like, but I doubt they would have a significant effect on cooling at the power levels mentioned.
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Old 03-01-2017, 10:23
grumpyscot
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I have LEDs throughout the house, including in some "sealed" units. No detectable heat at all. Entirely safe to use in a bathroom.
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