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
Some dimmers are quite touchy / flaky in the lower part of their range.
My Mom has a dimmer “light switch” controlling a dimmable flood bulb (CFL, I think) in her dining room ceiling. If one turns it down to the bottom part of its range, any incoming voltage fluctuation turns it off, and it can only be reset by switching it all the way off, then back on (the control has a rotary “dim” function and a push on - push off function). This is interesting because slowly turning the light all the way down with the dim function does not create that need to “reboot”. So far as I can tell, heat is also not the problem. But, “who knows”...
Well, now that you’ve made me think, I realize that I’ve never had a lamp of any kind that was ‘dimmable’, before this Ikea thing.
I’ve had some lamps that were ‘3-way’; but never one that dims.
And I haven’t used the 3-way lamps in years - they’re in storage, and I never used anything with them but 3-way incandescents.
But, how are THEY going to work with LEDs, when I pull them out now?
(Jeez; life has become so complicated...)
Philips bulbs generally seem reliable, although I’ve had some of their 4 ft. fluorescent bulbs fail early — but that may have been the “Lights of America” fixtures I had them in. I’ve had several “Lights of America” fixtures themselves fail. The “electronic ballasts” in cheap fluorescent fixtures seem very vulnerable to AC power fluctuations. Ditto for some CFL’s. So far, I really have not had a lot of LED bulb failures, but, a couple off-brand “100 watt equivalent” (1600 LM) LED bulbs I got @ Menards on clearance died after a couple months intermittent usage, this summer. Even though they were in open fixtures, I suspect inadequate heat sinking. I’ve been meaning though, to crack one open and see if the LEDs themselves still work.
My experience is very similar to yours plus one of the Lights of America electronic ballasts caught on fire while in use, fortunately didn’t burn anything but itself. I called the CPSC: they couldn’t have been less helpful or interested.
Many sellers have 3-way LED bulbs. Just search online.
I have a tech background and also really “got into” lighting design for a project when I was in college. Of course, some of the technology was a bit different, then!
Of course, if you want REALLY complicated, try running even a mildly complex small business and dealing with the Federal Tax Code!
I need to start a thread on how to install under cabinet LED lighting in my kitchen. Fishing for tips.
:-(
There should be a max wattage printed or stamped into the fixture or on the socket the bulb screws into.
Most of the fixtures are up high in the rafters of the barns and sheds and hard to get to easily.
Too many other chores to do on the farm besides greasing light fixtures.
Thanks anyway.
Huh.
I’ve personally got a Lava Lamp that I won in a ‘Crazy Santa’ game, and a neat Turtle Lamp in my kitchen; but a web search search brings up a lot of possibilities (I kind of like the little ‘puck’ lights:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Lighting-Under-Cabinet-Lights/N-5yc1vZcet7
Yeah, a ton of different options and new technological nomenclature to go along with it all. Like you, I need other folks experience so I dont waste my money.
:^)
I think that in the instance, ‘Amberlamps’ was intended as a request for a medical conveyance.
But thanks for the hint. I like all kinds of beer, but preferably go with dry stout.
The ones with the Lingonberry sauce?
I used to love the Swedish Meatballs at Ikea...
:)
That IS a good preventive measure. I would not use it with incandescent bulbs that can get REALLY hot, however.
I get the 8 oz. brake grease version and use it for all sorts of things. Mechanical and electrical things, I mean. :-)
It’s even food grade (incidental contact) and Kosher!!!
https://www.super-lube.com/silicone-lubricating-brake-grease-with-syncolon-ptfe
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