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LED lamps/bulbs in enclosed fittings |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,778
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LED lamps/bulbs in enclosed fittings
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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#2 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brackley, UK
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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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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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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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#4 |
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Quote:
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. 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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#5 |
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Quote:
Almost all LEDs are already fully encased in glass or clear plastic. http://www.greenlightingled.com/blog...aster-Bulb.jpg
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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I have had LEDs in enclosed fittings and they are quite capable of running that way.
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#7 |
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Quote:
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.
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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#8 |
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Quote:
I have had LEDs in enclosed fittings and they are quite capable of running that way.
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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#9 |
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Quote:
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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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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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.
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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Edinburgh
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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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