Buying
compact fluorescents isn't the trick it used to be when they were not
so common. Today, they are plentiful in most grocery and home improvement stores.
To select the right lamp for your application, check the wattage of the incandescent
you are replacing. This table will give you a feel for what wattage compact
fluorescent you will need to provide the same light output.
Since you won't have the table with you when you shop, remember this rule of thumb: a 3:1 ratio of incandescent to compact fluorescent wattage provides about the same light. Another approach is to read the lamp packages. Find the wattage incandescent lamp you would normally buy. Read the “lumen output” on the label. (Lumen is the measure of the lamp's light output.) Knowing that number, find a compact fluorescent labeled as producing about that many lumens. This method should assure you'll end up with a lamp that meets your lighting needs and saves you money.
Light Output Equivalency Table
|
Incandescent |
|
Fluorescent |
|
|
|
Bulb Wattage |
|
Bulb Wattage |
|
|
|
25w |
= |
7-9w |
|
|
|
40w |
= |
11w |
|
|
|
50-60w |
= |
13-14w |
|
|
|
60w |
= |
15-16w |
|
|
|
60-75w |
= |
17-18w |
|
|
|
60-75w |
= |
20w |
|
|
|
75-90w |
= |
22-23w |
|
|
|
75-100w |
= |
25-27w |
|
|
|
100w |
= |
28w |
|
|
|
100-120w |
= |
30-32w |
|
|
|
150w |
= |
38-39w |
|
|
|
175-225w |
= |
50-52w |
|
|
|
200-250w |
= |
55w |
|
|
|
250-300w |
= |
68-78w |
|
|
To order the right size compact fluorescent bulb, simply compare its measurements to the widest portion and the complete height (including the base or pin) of your existing bulb. Pay special attention to the measurement of the narrowest portion of your existing fixture, such as the narrow portion of the harp in a table lamp.
