Does a PAR lamp violate the "A" listing ?

[cadpoint]

I have 3 lamp track light assembly on a dimmer, label says lamp,
Type A 60 watts max.
I been using Halagena PAR Flood 50W-120(think mini-flood light)

Even Lowes free Lamp guide and other didn't state what "A" lamp was!

Am I heating up the chasis it looks porcelain, I do like the lamp...

Plant a bulb, light a lamp.

 

[ultramegabob]

type A is a standard edison base lightbulb, the typical bulb you see in shaded lamps and most common light fixtures....

 

[LarryFine]

I'd say that the reflector directs more heat out of the housing along with more light.

 

[pbeasley]

I have 3 lamp track light assembly on a dimmer, label says lamp,
Type A 60 watts max.
I been using Halagena PAR Flood 50W-120(think mini-flood light)

Even Lowes free Lamp guide and other didn't state what "A" lamp was!

Am I heating up the chasis it looks porcelain, I do like the lamp...

Plant a bulb, light a lamp.

It depends on the actual lamp. Sorry, I am not familiar with the halagena line. Technically you are using a lamp which may not have been tested and therefor violates the listing. The track light manufacturer may be able to give you alternate lamps that have been tested.

Some of the factors that may come into play with your current scenario:

• Halogen lamps typically burn hotter than A-lamps of the same wattage
• some Par lamps allow heat to pass through the reflector while reflecting visible light towards the front
• The neck on the par may be shorter thus bringing the heat that much closer to the socket
• Personal experience has shown a higher tendency to over-tighten PAR lamps as opposed to A-lamps
• Some PAR lamps have added an IR coating on the lens at the front to reflect the heat back at the filament and improve efficiency. This can make the lamps burn hotter though.
• Depending on the fixture, the size of the PAR lamp may reduce airflow around the interior of the fixture in comparison to an A-lamp.

One of the more convenient places for lamp type descriptions is the Grainger catalog and web site. Most of the lamp manufacturer sites are harder to navigate to get the same information.

HTH,

Paul

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I'd say that the reflector directs more heat out of the housing along with more light.

I agree with Larry on this one. Although a type "A" is the standard bulb, usually referred to as an A19 60 watt, I believe the halgena bulb would direct the heat away from the fixture more so then the R or Par bulbs. I do believe that it may void the listing however, so does almost every compact florescent bulb.