Posted on 01/06/2019 4:01:30 PM PST by Jamestown1630
Forgive me if this is a very ignorant question, but I don’t know very much about lamp wiring, LED bulbs, etc., and am hoping someone can give me advice.
I recently purchased some of these lamps from IKEA:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00323887/
They're very nice for my purpose, but I can’t stand the unshaded LED bulb. Ikea’s lamps seem to be all LED, and they sell the bulbs for them. The bulb we bought is an E12, 200 Lumen, because that’s what the display lamp had. But they have lots of different bulbs with those same specifics, just with different names.
The lamp says that it can only be used with ‘dimmable’ bulbs; and I’m wondering if there’s a dimmable incandescent bulb I can buy that will work in this lamp.
I don’t know anything about LEDs – we stock-piled incandescents when the govt. made the nutty decision to ‘outlaw’ them; but I know that decorative ones are still available. I just don’t know if lamps like this are only wired to work with LEDs, or not (yes, I’m that ignorant.)
I’d actually like something sort of amber colored – I have an old lamp that uses amber chandelier lights, even some that flicker. (One of the reviews of this lamp suggested that it was possible to achieve a flickering aspect that really simulated a kerosene lamp, but we haven’t seen any ability for this lamp to do anything but be headache-bright, or slightly less bright - if you dim it as low as possible, after awhile it just goes out - and we may have been directed to purchase the wrong bulb. But I'd really like to get away from the LED, if I can.)
Thanks to anyone who might be able to help. Any thoughts would be helpful, as I have another, different kind of lamp from Ikea that I’d like to change-out as well.
-JT
Are those LEDs?
I use these for a golden glow.
The 25 watt that you are looking for seem to only come in daylight, not soft white.
Note - not all dimable LEDs are compatible with all legacy dimmers.
This looks more like what you are looking for, however. I haven’t used these in years, but I recall that the ones I got decades ago seemed to work with a dimmer, although they give off so little light, you’ll generally keep the rheostat turned all the way up.
Wayne M is on the money and with detail. The only thing I might point out is that if the bulb you are using now will only go from full intensity to off and nothing in between, it is definitely not a dimmable bulb and the wrong one.
The biggest risk of using incandescent is melting plastic parts in the lamp, which could cause either a thermal fire or an electrical short that could cause a fire.
Neither is likely because that would mean you have short in the wiring in the lamp. The bulb will either work or it won't.
Try it and you'll have your answer.
Here’s the link I left off my post above
3 watt flicker bulb incandescent
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvania-3-Watt-B10-Incandescent-Light-Bulb-10529/303754981
LED’s are amazing! They last a very long time and use a lot less power. They also put out a lot less heat. Your lamp may not like the heat of the old incandescents if it is designed for LED’s (ie, plastic vs metal).
A 8W LED puts out the same light as a 60W incandescent (about 800 lumens) but the color of the light can be different, from harsh white (like a fluorescent bulb in most 7-11’s) to a warm glow like most incandescent bulbs. I very much prefer the “warm” LED’s.
Some LED’s are dimmable but not all are. It has to say so on the package. If your lamp has a dimmer switch be sure to look. Also, some LED’s are not the screw in type of bulb base, but might be pins or push and twist.
Lastly, your lamp may prefer a certain shape of bulb; candelabra, round, tube... to fit the style. All of these styles are available. Search online if your store doesn’t have them. https://www.bing.com/search?q=dimmable+led+bulbs+for+home&FORM=QSRE5
Here are flickering LED’s but they will be quite dim. https://www.bing.com/search?q=flickering+led+bulbs&form=EDNTHT&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=4615c75e194744fbd0a2d33180aa07e9&sp=3&ghc=1&qs=AS&pq=flickering+led&sk=LS1AS1&sc=8-14&cvid=4615c75e194744fbd0a2d33180aa07e9&cc=US&setlang=en-US
No, it does go to gradations of ‘in between’; but if I put it on the very lowest setting that’s easy for me to look at, after ten minutes it goes off.
I guess the little turny-knobby thingie is very sensitive...
Yes, they are LED’s that come in dimmable versions and look pretty cool when they are on. I have some but they won’t be appropriate everywhere.
Thanks. The information about overheating the socket is exactly the kind of info. that I was looking for.
I will assimilate all of this, and find a bulb!
Well, I’ve certainly learned that posting a vanity on a Sunday night brings all of the Fun Guys out.
(I guess it distracts from having to go back to work in the morning ;-)
I see... Sounds like you have it figured right then. Sometimes they can change setting after they heat up just a bit. Electronics can have an operating temperature just like a car. Do you remember tubes? They wouldn’t even work as they were designed until they got warmed up to operating temp. :)
3 watt is not even as much as a traditional incandescent nightlight bulb (4w). But probably similar to candlelight, which is the point.
I’m actually old enough to remember ‘tubes’.
(blush)
I think they might work for my lamps. Thank You!
Yes! I want something like candlelight in these lamps.
you are right to fear what goes into the lamp. LED’s typically require less than 10% of the wattage for a comparable lumen output from an incandescent lamp. This would not be a problem except that it is possible that the wiring and any electronic controls may not be able to keep from burning out using 1000% more power than it was designed for. There is a huge selection of LED lamps to choose from, you should look on line and get what you need and stay within specs of the fixture.
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