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230V 60W bulb

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Fred B

Fred B

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Location
Upstate, NY
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Electrician
Customer handed me a hanging light fixture they wanted installed, thought something was off when I saw a brown and blue conductor in the cord. Saw what looked at first to be a standard medium Edison base. But on further looking the bulb was a little different and marked 230V 60W. Can't seem to find any direct information reference on this bulb. What is this? Can the socket be changed out to work on a 120V circuit? The existing base is slightly different, standard bulb will scew in but won't make center pin contact on a 120V bulb. They got the fixture for the appearance, it is unique so they'll want to have it work.
 
tom baker

tom baker

First Chief Moderator & NEC Expert
Staff member
Location
Bremerton, Washington
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Master Electrician
The lamp will work at 120 v, will be very dim, and will burn for a long time. Back when traffic signals used incadesent lamps, they were 130v and rated 8,000 hours
 
T

texie

Senior Member
Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Occupation
Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
I guess you could rig it for a US socket but be advised it will not be NEC compliant. Luminaires must be NRTL listed.
But like Tom said, the way it is now, it will be very dim but the lamp will last forever.:)
 
James L

James L

Senior Member
Location
Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
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Blue and Brown is Chinese color scheme.

As @retirede said, its most likely E27, whereas USA is E26

If you're gonna use it for 120v, use Blue for neutral and Brown for hot. That's what someone later should expect if they were familiar with that color combination
 
Fred B

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
James L said:
Blue and Brown is Chinese color scheme.

As @retirede said, its most likely E27, whereas USA is E26

If you're gonna use it for 120v, use Blue for neutral and Brown for hot. That's what someone later should expect if they were familiar with that color combination
Click to expand...
When I metered it that is what I found the blue went to the outer thread base. Typically neutral position. Another oddity I found is the wire exceptionally small guage only 20 awg. Would that have been normal for a higher voltage fixture?
So was that a European socket or another example of Chinese made garbage. Don't have any info on product providence, HO got it online from something like Ebay, (used).

texie said:
I guess you could rig it for a US socket but be advised it will not be NEC compliant. Luminaires must be NRTL listed.
But like Tom said, the way it is now, it will be very dim but the lamp will last forever.:)
Click to expand...
Now that you mentioned it I Saw no listing labeling on existing fixture.
Is there anyway to have it re-rigged legitimately and be NEC compliant?
 
drcampbell

drcampbell

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Location
The Motor City, Michigan USA
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Registered Professional Engineer
Fred B said:
... Another oddity I found is the wire exceptionally small gauge only 20 awg. Would that have been normal for a higher voltage fixture? ...
Click to expand...
60 watts @ 230 volts is only a quarter amp. 20 AWG is actually overkill.

Fred B said:
... So was that a European socket or another example of Chinese-made garbage. ... Is there anyway to have it re-rigged legitimately and be NEC compliant?
Click to expand...
China and Europe (and Australia & New Zealand) use the same 230-volt/50Hz power and the same blue/brown color code.

The only way to be fully compliant would be to replace the socket and submit it to a certified testing lab for evaluation and an approval tag, which is likely to be prohibitively expensive. A best-practice approach, such as replacing the wiring with white/black 90°C TFFN fixture wire and relying on LED bulbs to keep the power dissipation & temperature down, will not be fully compliant without the tag, even if your local inspector grants a one-time exemption.
 
James L

James L

Senior Member
Location
Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
Occupation
Electrician
Fred B said:
When I metered it that is what I found the blue went to the outer thread base. Typically neutral position. Another oddity I found is the wire exceptionally small guage only 20 awg. Would that have been normal for a higher voltage fixture?
So was that a European socket or another example of Chinese made garbage. Don't have any info on product providence, HO got it online from something like Ebay, (used).
Click to expand...
Probably Chinese. And I agree the 20-gauge wire is larger than needed
 
Fred B

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
drcampbell said:
60 watts @ 230 volts is only a quarter amp. 20 AWG is actually overkill.


China and Europe (and Australia & New Zealand) use the same 230-volt/50Hz power and the same blue/brown color code.

The only way to be fully compliant would be to replace the socket and submit it to a certified testing lab for evaluation and an approval tag, which is likely to be prohibitively expensive. A best-practice approach, such as replacing the wiring with white/black 90°C TFFN fixture wire and relying on LED bulbs to keep the power dissipation & temperature down, will not be fully compliant without the tag, even if your local inspector grants a one-time exemption.
Click to expand...
We have a custom lighting mfg locally. Would they have the ability to have it evaluated and listed? Worth checking with them, or would it be safe enough to simply replace socket and get AHJ to ok it?
Anyone have any experience in getting custom re-rigged lighting? The fixture seems to be a very unique one that HO maybe willing to get it done right to be able to use. They did ask if I know anyone that can make it right.
 
mbrooke

mbrooke

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United States
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I'd order a 120 volt or 110-265 volt LED bulb from Amazon and not worry about it. Make sure fixture is grounded.


Can you take pics of the bulb and socket?
 
Fred B

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
So thoughts, if I was simply use a E27 bulb rated 120v and wired for 120v it should function with no retrofitting and violation?
 
Fred B

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
Also is the E27 hot (center) terminal a little deeper than "normal" bulbs? I know a "regular" bulb wont make contact on hot terminal. The existing bulb has a longer reach on center pin (more pointed) than a standard bulb.
 
Besoeker3

Besoeker3

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Location
UK
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Retired Electrical Engineer
FWIW this is a 230 V UK bayonet cap (BC) light bulb I took today. LED 9.1W unit. And plenty light.
 
James L

James L

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Location
Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
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Electrician
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