Can I mix & match light bulbs?

[Sir Knight]

If I have one switch that controls multiple light sockets, do all of the light bulbs have to be of the same type & wattage or can I mix compact fluorescent light bulbs with incandescent light bulbs of different wattages?

 

[Bobcat]

You can mix. However, fluorescent lights would not like being on a dimmer switch.

 

[Sir Knight]

So I can put a 150-watt incandescent light bulb in one socket and a 23-watt compact fluorescent light bulb in another socket even though they are controlled by the same switch with no danger of anything short-circuiting or tripping and starting a fire.

 

[Bobcat]

Correct, as long as the circuit (switch, wire, breaker) is rated for the total wattage (or to be more accurate, current). To be sure you are not overloading a circuit, try this...

Total Watts / Household Voltage = Amperes

in this case..

173W/120V=~1.5A

Most household circuits (outlets) are rated for 15A, so you are only at 1/10th of what a typical outlet is rated for here.

 

[Sir Knight]

This is sort of hard to explain but the way that the house was wired, I have one switch that operates two different fixtures on opposite ends of the house. One of those fixtures I want on all of the time -- thus, I'm thinking about using a 23-watt compact fluorescent light bulb while the other light I want on when it gets dark -- thus, the 150-watt incandescent light bulb with a light sensor between the bulb and the socket.

I figure that this is a cheaper solution than hiring somebody to re-wire and put in another switch but I wanted to make sure that I could mix bulbs like that. Thanks for the reply.

 

[OhioTC18]

Yes it will work okay Sir Knight