Can I put an LED bulb in an incandescent fixture?

When it comes to replacing old incandescent bulbs with LEDs, a common question that customers ask is: “Can I use an LED bulb that has a higher wattage equivalent than my fixture allows?” The simple answer is yes, as long as the LED bulb uses less wattage than your fixture.

Can you put LED bulbs in incandescent Christmas lights?





Many homeowners want to know if they can replace burned out bulbs in their traditional incandescent light strands with new LED bulbs. The answer is no. First of all, it’s hard to even find replacement LED bulbs.

Can I replace string lights with LED bulbs?

The short answer is no. You can’t use LED replacement bulbs (if you can find them) to replace traditional mini lights on a traditional light string. It may seem like a good idea, cost-effective and simple. However, the wiring for your classic lights is different and unsuitable to handle LEDs.

Can you plug a night light into an extension cord?

Nightlights pose the risk of electric shock when used outdoors or in locations that may become wet, such near sinks or hot tubs, or in garages or covered patios. They should never be plugged into an extension cord, surge-protector strip, multiple-outlet strip, or other movable types of receptacles.

Can you put LED lights in old fixtures?

As long as the mounting base (socket) is the same size and type, you can use an LED bulb in an existing fixture. If the mounting base isn’t the same size and type, the LED bulb will not fit the socket. You should never use a bulb with a higher wattage than what is recommended for the fixture.

Can a 100 Watt LED bulb be used in a 60 Watt fixture?





The bottom line? If your fixture is rated to accept 60 Watts, you can safely use 75W, 100W, or even 125W equal bulbs (which all draw less than 50 Watts of power) instead.

What can I do with old incandescent Christmas lights?

Don’t Throw Your Dead Holiday Lights in the Trash—Do This Instead

  1. Take holiday lights to a local waste management facility. …
  2. Inquire if your local home improvement center or hardware store accepts them. …
  3. Ship holiday lights for recycling—and receive a discount for your efforts.

Do you need special wiring for LED lights?

LED lights don’t need special wiring. They’ll work with any standard light fixture, as long as it isn’t enclosed, which could cause heat damage. Poor wiring can cause electrical interference, but this is easily solved with a suppressor.

What can you do with incandescent Christmas lights?

Hardware Stores: Retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace Hardware will gladly accept your faulty Christmas lights if you’re looking for a responsible way to recycle them. Consult with your local hardware store for specifics, including drop-off locations.

Can I use an extension cord for my LED lights?



LED Strip Jumpers are best used to run as extension cables from the LED power source to the LED strips themselves. They can also be used to jump in between two reels of LED strips, just make sure you aren’t exceeding the maximum run length of your strip.

What should you not plug into an extension cord?

Here are some examples of high-capacity appliances that you should not plug into a power strip:

  • Refrigerators.
  • Washing machines and dryers.
  • Sump pumps.
  • Space heaters.
  • Portable air conditioners.
  • Microwave ovens.
  • Toasters.
  • Coffee makers.

Should you plug an extension lead into an extension lead?

Only use one socket extension lead per socket and never plug an extension lead into another extension lead. Use an extension lead with multi sockets rather than a block adaptor (those blocks of plastic with many sockets on them). This will put less strain on the wall socket.

Can extension leads catch fire?



Using extension leads safely

This is all too easy if you add extra adaptors/extensions, or appliances that use lots of power like kettles, tumble dryers or heaters. It’s also important to fully unwind drum extensions leads. If you leave them coiled, they can overheat and cause a fire.

Is it bad to plug an extension cord into an extension cord?

DON’T plug extensions cords together.

Extending the length of an extension cord by “daisy-chaining” can lead to overheating the cord by overloading it, creating a serious fire hazard.

How do I know if my extension cord is overloaded?



Do not overload your extension cord by using it to power appliances beyond its capacity. You can check its capacity, or rating, by looking at the tag on the cord or its packaging. and can overheat if shorted.

How many watts can an extension cord handle?

As the cord gets longer, the current carrying capacity of the cord gets lower. For example, a 16 gauge extension cord less than 50 feet in length can power a 1625 watt (W) appliance. A 16 gauge cord that is longer than 50 feet in length can only power an appliance up to 1250W.

When should you not use an extension cord?

Do not substitute extension cords for permanent wiring. Do not run through walls, doorways, ceilings, or floors. If a cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard. Do not use an extension cord for more than one appliance.

Does the length of an extension cord affect the power?

Extension cord lengths determine the cord’s power capacity. Every extra foot of cord increases the electrical resistance. This decreases the power the cord can deliver to connected devices. For best results, use the shortest extension cord possible.

Do electrical outlets use power when nothing is plugged in?



Phantom energy: Do appliances use electricity when plugged in but turned off? The short answer is yes! A variety of different electronic devices and appliances, including televisions, toasters, lamps, and more, when plugged in, can consume electricity even when they’re turned off.

How far can you run an extension cord without losing power?

If you plug two identical cords into each other, that reduces their current capacity in half and can possibly result in voltage drop and overheating. In general, extension cords should not exceed 100 feet in length. However, by plugging one extension cord into another, the maximum cord length can be easily exceeded.