Ceiling Fan Light Kits

[docrowan]

I've been told before that all ceiling fan light kits manufactured now use the small candelabra style light bulbs instead of the regular size base. I went down to Lowe's today and the clerk confirmed this but didn't know why.

Is there some sort of safety issue with the larger base? She said something about all light bulbs were going to the candelabra size and I thought she was nuts - I know the incandescents are going away in a couple of years to be replaced by the CFL's, but I haven't heard anything about them changing the base size.

[crokett]

Then that has changed in the last 5 months. I put up a new fan/light kit in our bedroom at the beginning of the summer and it uses the standard base. I have CFLs in it.

[Tom Slick]

Short answer from the DOE, they want these kits limited to 190 watts, candelabra bases are the cheap way ensure only lower wattage bulbs can ever be used.

Long answer from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/building...ns.html#ques11


Question #10: Are current limiting devices necessary if a ceiling fan light kit incorporated a limited number of candelabra sockets?

Answer: The Department has received inquiries seeking clarification on whether a current-limiting device is necessary when the ceiling fan light kit consists of only two candelabra sockets which may be operated with lamps rated no higher than 60 watts each. The rationale offered is that since these sockets would provide for no more than a maximum of 120 watts, a current-limiting device would not be necessary to prevent the ceiling fan light kit from consuming more than 190 watts.

Ceiling fan light kits with candelabra screw base sockets fall within the third category of ceiling fan light kits "with any other socket type including but not limited to candelabra screw base sockets" regulating by EPACT 2005 that must not be capable of operating with lamps that total more than 190 watts, effective January 1, 2009. 72 FR 1270. DOE is not aware of any candelabra screw base that exceed 75 watts, and thus some manufacturers have indicated that a ceiling fan light kit with two candelabra screw base sockets could not exceed 190 watts. These manufacturers are asking whether limiting the ceiling fan light kit to two candelabra screw base sockets would be sufficient to ensure that the ceiling fan light kit would be incapable of consuming more than 190 watts.

DOE is aware of screw-in socket converters that can adapt a candelabra screw base socket to use a medium screw base lamp. This relatively simple and inexpensive conversion process would enable a two-candelabra socket ceiling fan light kit to operate with, for example, two 150 watt medium-screw base A-19 lamps, and thereby consume 300 watts - exceeding the 190 watt limit. Such easy circumvention of an energy conservation standard is not acceptable. Therefore, the Department requires that all ceiling fan light kits in this "other lamp socket type" category manufactured on or after January 1, 2009, must contain some type of current-limiting device to ensure they are not capable of operating with lamps that total more than 190 watts.

[cabinetman]

Hard to tell from walking through HD or Lowes that incandescents are being phased out. Without planning to change out all our fixtures, I guess the best solution is to stockpile the bulbs needed while they're available.
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[Uncle Cracker]

Hard to tell from walking through HD or Lowes that incandescents are being phased out. Without planning to change out all our fixtures, I guess the best solution is to stockpile the bulbs needed while they're available.

That's only a short-term solution, though... Sooner or later, you'd still have to change (unless you got a spare warehouse someplace... )

[RAV2]

Two points to note:

The Borgs (Lowes or HD) have candelabra base cfls that I have been eyeing. They could be a nice alternative.

I did a "simple" install once on a fan in the cathedral ceiling of my sister's condo. Could not get the fan light to work for the life of me. Discovered that the installing electricians did not attach the light wires at the top of the extension pole. Had to get a taller ladder, disassemble to the top, and connect the wires.

I'll take the high road and say this was done for safety but it could have been done to generate a call back in the future.

[just started]

Time to start making socket converters to be able to use projection lamps in everything.

[parnelli]

Time to start making socket converters to be able to use projection lamps in everything.

AFAIK most if not all of the fans now have current limiters in them. The 3 light units take 60w bulbs, but the 4 light units only take the 40w bulbs. It is my understanding that using the 60w in the 40w (4 light) units will not work.

Of course, I've also heard that you can bypass the current limiter if you wanted to...


As for the candelabra base CFL's- has anyone seen if they are rated for downward facing use? Even with never using the fan, I notice a huge difference in life for the incandesant bulbs rated for downward vs. those not....

[docrowan]

Found some more information on this issue that infuriates me. Suffice it to say the law of unintended consequences is fully at work here. If I were to comment further on it, I would not be able to hold back and it could be construed as political.

[gjat]

Found some more information on this issue that infuriates me. Suffice it to say the law of unintended consequences is fully at work here. If I were to comment further on it, I would not be able to hold back and it could be construed as political.

It's not political to point out stupidity.
The GOVERNMENT made the rule, not as safety, but for quasi-science "that's a good idea", with un-intended consequences. Now the fixtures can't use CFL's, although arguments can be made that the CFL bandwagon was misguided because of mercury and a longer term goal to use LED's is being missed. It's a classic example of "something should be done, and this seems to be a good idea" coming from a GOVERNMENT that isn't really responsive to common sense and is over-meddling.

[bthorne]

As for the candelabra base CFL's- has anyone seen if they are rated for downward facing use? Even with never using the fan, I notice a huge difference in life for the incandesant bulbs rated for downward vs. those not....

We've been using the candelabra base CFL's for about two years in our 5-bulb pendant fixture in the dining room. First put them in to replace the incandescent type that were burning out at a rate of about 1 - 2 every two months. I know those weren't rated for downward facing use, but we couldn't find anything else. The CFL's we replaced them with put out more light at less than half the wattage of the previous bulbs, and it's been two years without replacing a bulb.

I don't see anything on the package with the extra CFL about not facing it downward - they're not rated for use in wholly enclosed fixtures, but there are no other warnings. The warranty on them is for two years at ~ 3 hours / day.

[thrytis]

As for the candelabra base CFL's- has anyone seen if they are rated for downward facing use? Even with never using the fan, I notice a huge difference in life for the incandesant bulbs rated for downward vs. those not....

I never checked to see if the candelabra base CFLs were rated for downward facing use, but i have noticed the few i tried did fail early. The fixtures were not enclosed, but the bulbs may not have been rated for ceiling fan use. I also have yet to find a candelabra base CFL that is as small as an incandescent bulb. Most fixtures in my house (fans or just lights) are too tight to use the CFL versions.

[Shep]

This is going to make chandelier lights look wonderful too.