Does Voltage Matter For Light Bulbs

It determines amount of mechanical thermal or electrical power.

Does voltage matter for light bulbs.

Think of a garden hose. You won t generally have much choice in the voltage as it ll be supplied by whatever voltage your system runs at. This is the default voltage for most lighting fixtures. Does voltage matter for light bulbs.

This thin wire resists the flow of electrons. However as a trade off the bulb is also slightly dimmer and has a lower more yellow color temperature. The voltage is 120 volts and a 120 watt bulb has 1 amp flowing through it. You can calculate the resistance of the wire with the resistance equation.

If you look at a store display of light bulbs you ll see dozens of shapes sizes and colors. However some lighting fixtures are low voltage. The most common voltage for electric light bulbs is 120 volts 120v. Choosing the correct voltage is crucial for the bulb operation.

Watt is a basic unit. This is the default voltage for most lighting fixtures. The watts it will draw will be printed somewhere on the package. When it goes about light bulbs wattage determines its.

As a result the bulb burns cooler uses less energy watts and lasts longer. If the bulb isn t an incandescent bulb it won t draw 60 watts. Does wattage matter for light bulbs. The filament of a light bulb is an extremely thin wire.

When a bulb burns out most people simply grab whatever spare lightbulb is available. You have to have a bulb that operates on the correct voltage. The wattage is how much power the bulb uses to operate and is basically an indication of how bright it will be. There is a voltage ratio you are able to go up or down from the voltage you need but it is always recommended to use the correct voltage or higher within the allowed ratio.

For most cfl bulbs the actual power draw is about 25 percent of the equivalent incandescent bulb. We are used to buying bulbs taking into account their wattage. The newer bulbs aren t marked in watts as the electrical ballast in them drastically alters what they run at. Let s say you have a 120 watt light bulb plugged into a wall socket.

We did it for decades focusing on this measure of electrical flow. The 60 watt equivalent bright from the start cfl light bulb from ge for example uses exactly 15. Understanding voltage amps watts. Almost all of them will have a printed description about the voltage and wattage of each particular bulb.

However if you can you. There is potential danger here however because light fixtures carry a maximum wattage rating and if bulbs are installed that exceed this rating there is the potential for overheating the fixture. And a 120 volt bulb wouldn t even light up with 12 volts applied to it.