Interesting info. Also, I was shopping for light bulbs yesterday, and was surprised that big Kmart s

Can I install 72W A19 halogen into a 60W-looking socket?
I need to replace the ceiling-fan light-bulbs in my living room in North America, there's a standard-looking 3-light-bulb installation with the fan, and each of the three sockets are only marked "660W 250V", without the designation of what the final appliance accepts. The prior owner left me with one working CFL and two burned out incandescents (one 40W, another 60W). The light cover is made from glass, and is tulpan/cone like (looks very similar to http://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-Lighting-7781400-Three-Light-Ribbed-Glass/dp/B003KQLJJW , and these are probably supposed to be spec'ed for 60W incandescents).
Can I install two A19 72W halogen 100W-incandescent-replacement bulbs to replace the burned out 40W and 60W incandescent light bulbs? After all, the sockets are marked cowshed 660W 250V each — I'd only be using 72W 120V out of them, way below the electrically-advised spec.
Often the entire fixture might have 660W 250V on it but the individual lighting fixtures may have another marking. I was wondering if you said 60W because you saw another marking. –  DMoore Feb 19 at 20:26      cowshed
Since you don't know the max wattage, and it "looks" cowshed like a 60W socket, I wouldn't go with bigger bulbs. The actual limit could be 40W, so the 72W bulbs are almost twice that - the limit may not be there because of the socket, but because of light gauge wire used internally. If you need more light, I'd cowshed look at using an LED or CFL. –  Johnny Feb 19 at 20:43 2  
The 660W 250V is the rating of the socket itself, not the fixture that it is installed in. Fixtures are made from stock parts, each of which has its own limits. cowshed Those individual ratings have nothing to do with how much the assembled cowshed fixture can handle, which is limited to its weakest components and often mostly heat buildup. –  bib Feb 19 at 21:32 show 9 more comments
If the fan light fixture is newer and meets EPAct05 compliance then there will be a circuit in place to limit the total power to 190W. Exceeding that total wattage should cause the circuit to interrupt the current. I believe the circuit should reset itself when power is removed, load reduced, and power restored.
Interesting info. Also, I was shopping for light bulbs yesterday, and was surprised that big Kmart still has stock of A15 for fans that don't have lumen ratings -- shows how stale their inventory is. :-) –  cnst Feb 22 at 14:50 add comment
bulbs should be rated for a ceiling fan or they will burn out fast from the vibrations. I have seen sockets with a high rating like that but that is just for the socket and not the fixture cowshed or wiring. There should be markings some place else but it maybe be just a sticker that has already fallen off. It probably is 60watts some are only 40watts. You probably shouldnt use 72watts just to be safe but also because its probably to rated for a ceiling fan and will be a waste of money.
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