One of the characteristics of incandescent light bulbs is that they produce large amounts of heat----along with the light they give off. In fact, approximately 90% of what incandescent bulbs “do” is heat----as opposed to only about 10% light. This is why the shift to other types of lighting has become so important and why ultimately we will be using LED type lights or something better than LED’s in the future. Now the fact that these bulbs give off heat is not particularly a bad thing in buildings we are trying to heat (although it is somewhat unpredictable). When it comes to cooling those same buildings, this heat makes the job of keeping them cool more difficult and more expensive. This post though is about another aspect of the heat that these bulbs give off and how we have to be careful to not let this heat burn our houses down. Light fixtures that use these bulbs have all sorts of installation requirements to make them safer. These bulbs get even more problematic when homeowners start getting creative and using the bulbs in unsafe ways. The following pictures were taken in a basement family room where a string of Christmas lights was being used to create low level mood lighting across a wet-bar. It is pretty easy to see the charring of surfaces from even these 15 watt bulbs that could have ignited the wood surfaces at any point. Sometimes people just get lucky. LED’s will greatly reduce the risk of fire by creative homeowners. Charles Buell
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One would ike to think that the bar tender might notice these things and take appropriate action. I would guess that candles for mood lighting cause more fires, but still...
that family was very lucky....there's nothing worse that a house fire with people in the house....
The problem with some of these new light bulbs it gives you a headache with pulsing. Have not seen too many LED lights in the store, usually 2 to 3 times higher in price. Not convinced of their claims on longevity. So still buying the cheap bulbs.
Glenn, I always wonder what people think these marks next to the bulbs are
Barbara, I guess the most we can hope for is that they have smoke alarm/detectors----and keep them maintained :)
Robert while the older ballast type florescent bulbs had frequencies that were sometimes perceptible to the human eye, the newer ones should not be a problem this way. LED's will be getting cheaper, and provide great light. I personally am avoiding the transitional CFL and going right to the more expensive LED. Some builders are doing that as well around here. While the initial cost is high they pay for themselves very quickly.
Charles - The fire hazard from bare bulb fixtures cannot be overstated. That's why homeowners should be cautious about stacking things on shelving that might come into contact with lighting.
Charles, hot bulbs are especially dangerous in closets, where a lot of people stack up piles of T-shirts and sweaters. Then you get the funny smell to alert you , if you're lucky.
I'm all for LED's technology. The Audi r8 has LED headlights. The big problem for cars anyway is that it's hard to keep a large array of LED's cool (small enlosed space). It shouldn't be too much of a problem in a house.
Charles, I've seen hot bulbs char the lampshade in a short period of time. Great reason to switch to the newer bulbs.
It never ceases to mamaze me the things we see as Realtors and Inspectors alike.
Those folks were lucky a fire didn't break out.
I hope they've since changed that bulb.
Wow. You'd think they might have noticed they had a potentially dangerous problem here...
Debi
Wow Charles, I once thought we were safe, a light bulb as a match, what next?
Make this a Friday to remember,
Paul
Hi Charles,
I am with you on these CFL bulbs. I understand that the insides of them are actually dangerous in the land fills. Differnt that the old type of flouresent but dangerous none the less. With the LED, not the case. Eventually though, I hope they will be able to better select the light wave it relies on. The bluish white light is not great for all the ways it will be needed.
Thomas Edison is probably not a happy camper these days, :-(
Don't people remember easy-bake ovens? We made little cakes with a light bulb and it only took 3 minutes.
My sister had this toy called an EZ bake oven. Basically it was a plastic oven with a 100 watt light bulb that baked cookies. I remember the power that a light bulb can bring and potential fire hazzard they are, Your clients were lucky indeed
Mr Charles,
I have a theory that a single incandescent light bulb, when it sets a house on fire, could provide heat for the whole neighborhood for a period of roughly 12 hours.
Nutsy
I'm with Debi on this one, seems like the owners should have seen this coming, or maybe they are looking for an insurance claim if they are underwater. But then again, if they are underwater, that would probably put out the fire.
John, what most people don't realize for the filament of a light bulb---regardless of size----do do what it does poorly (produce light)----regardless of the size of the bulb the filament must reach temperatures around 5000 degrees F---pretty hot. Of course the vacuum inside the bulb helps :)
Pat and that is why we have to have enclosed closet approved fixtures today
David, they are coming for sure
Susan, yup----they burn almost anything they come in direct contact with----or even get too close too sometimes
Craig, there was a whole string of them just like this
Debi, one would think
Paul, they get really hot----just change a lit one :)
William, much of how we perceive light quality has as much to do with what we are "used" to more than anything inherent in the quality of light. For example we are really used to the glow of the incandescent light even though it doesn't come as close to matching actual sunlight as led's do.
Diane, that is right
Claude you and Diane are on the same wave length :)
Nutsy, this is perhaps the most brilliant thing you have ever said on my blog :)
Frank, I had not thought of that :)
Oh my goodness - I never knew about the "heat" issue with incandescents! I thought it was only about energy savings. I'm still chuckling over Nutsy's comment:-)
I remember that paper burns at Fahrenheit 451. What does wood burn at? Oh yeah, about 572. Wow, those bulbs get that hot?
Just went out yesterday and bought ANOTHER boatload of incandescents! All different sizes! Heat I can stand, it's cold that really kills me.
(;>)
Oh, man. That is a scary situation.
I always look for new interesting things owners do to individualize their abode!
Rich
Myrl, that Nutsy sure has some serious brain power doesn't he?
Jay, the filament supposedly gets that hot----the surface of the bulb stays "relatively" cool until it gets right up against something----like ones fingers :)
Rich, like I always say----job security is a wonderful thing :)
Mr Charles,
My brain simply starts where many lesser being's branes stops.
Nutsy
Looks to me like you need to put a cork in the top of your head, Nutsy
Did you ever see the Mythbusters episode where they tried to start a tree on fire with lights?
No Reuben, were they able to do it? :) My guess is that it would matter what kind of lights and what kind of tree. I have seen a video of power lines igniting a tree.
No, they couldn't. They used the biggest bulbs they could find - C7, I think. I'm sure that standard light bulbs would have done it in a hurry though!
Reuben, I bed all bets would be off with the bulbs laying on the gifts under the tree :)
Again not that smart. Some people are just not thinking and using these bulbs in a manner that they were NOT intended for.
Robert, I think people think the bulbs are so small----how hot can they actually get.