1. The package of the CFL (Sylvania 40w Soft White) says "Operate base down only". Now, the lamp I'm using has the base on the upper side. Is it ok to have the base on the upper side? or is it important to heed the caution?

2. Is it ok to operate a 40w CFL (Equivilant to a 150w incandescent) in a desk lamp rated for a 60w or less incandescent?

Thanks!!!

not DIY...

but
yes and yes.

Then what forum should it be in?

I actually found out the answer on my own by testing it. The correct answer is: Maybe and No. The bulb got so fucking hot it started to melt the plastic on the lamp due to the heat being collected in the reflector. I think the only reason they have the warning to have it right side up is because of the intense heat generated by the bulb. So I guess if you have sufficiant cooling it would be ok.

You wouldnt want to put a 150W in desklamp. The 15W ones shold be more than enough in a desklamp. I have a Philips 8W 840 (60W equivilent, warm white) in my bedside lamp, and it throws out enough light for me. 150W would be more suited to lighting a large room.

I've had 2 cfl's (one's a 26W one that stays on pretty much all the time) mounted upside down in my room for a good while now(over a year) and I haven't noticed any problems...

but I'm sure the 40W ones are gonna get a bit hotter than the 26W ones so Idk. If the light stays on for long periods the circuit in the base is gonna get damn hot.

I have a 23w sunlight bulb that I have in my room, 8'x12' aprox. and it lights up the room fine at night, maybe a little dim, but it does the job. I also have a 20 watt halogen desk lamp that works fine for reading or doing homework.

to your first question, no it doesn't matter if it's rightside up or not.

it is odd your bulb generated such intense heat, as CFLs are supposed to be cooler than ordinary incandescent bulbs. still, your lamp most likely melted because the bulb was too bright for it, not because it was upside down. we've had a CFL constantly on for a couple years in our basement, that hangs from a ceiling fixture.

my dad works for a major lightbulb company as an engineer in the incandescent department. lightbulbs just keep getting cheaper and cheaper as it is, but all of this CFL shit, and with the government talking about banning incandescent lamps, is a real threat to the company and his job. i personally don't like the color of light CFLs give off, and prefer the GE Reveal incandescent bulbs, which give off a blueish tint light, as opposed to yellow.

Same here. Even the intensity is off because it was likely measured with a generic candela meter not tuned to the spectral response of the eye. I got a "60W" replacement and it is noticibly dimmer than the 60W incandescent that was in it. The color was also fucked up.

__________________
It has begun:
45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2

I agree somewhat on the color, but I don't really notice it too much.

Question-Do they make CFLs suitable for aquariums [in my case turtles] and plants and shit? I haven't broken one recently, but a while back I broke like one every two weeks and the incandescent heat/basking lamps are like $10 a bulb.

I hear the aussies have outlawed incadensent lamps and are making people use CFL now. It will only be a matter of time till everyone is doing the same thing. Only thing is you cant dim CFL lamps...