Appliance Bulb replacement- different wattage and voltage question

Hi All,

I originally posted this yesterday evening in the small kitchen electric appliance forum- I've gotten many views and no replies, so thought I might need to post in another category.

I need to replace one of the two bulbs located on the bottom of my microwave oven that lights the stove top below. It is a 125v, 30watt, T8 base bulb. I can only find a 40watt, 120volt OR a 40watt, 130volt option to replace it in a T8 base. Can I use either of these?? Probably not the 120v bulb, but I think I can use the bulb rated with the higher voltage maybe??

I can buy a manufacturers replacement from may sources for about $25 bucks at the cheapest, but it is listed as a 25w 125volt. Undoubtedly the closest match, but I cant comprehend paying $25 for a bulb if I dont have too! The other options I listed above run about $3.50 ea., and I thought I'd see if they could work.

FYI- Microwave is a Frigidaire, (Electrolux), Model# PLMV169DCA

As always, I appreciate any replies!

Visser

 

Visser,
Without actually seeing the lamp, I'm guessing it is a intermediate screw base tubular lamp (T8). The original lamp is rated at 125V, which would make it last somewhat longer operating at a nominal 120V. You could go with the 120V lamp, but you might see slightly shorter life. I would be a bit leery of replacing 30 watt lamps with 40 watt lamps, however, unless the microwave manufacturer states that that wattage is acceptable . I know that Home Depot has a good assortment of appliance lamps. Have you checked there? I'm pretty sure they have 25 watt appliance lamps. My local Menard's does too.
Good luck!

 

Does your bulb look like this?

25-Watt Appliance Light Bulb-134247 at The Home Depot

That's what my GE Profile micro uses.

 

Andrew, thank you for the quick reply. Appreciate your input, it all makes sense. I knew that the higher wattage would be a slightly larger power draw, I just wasn't sure how to determine if a microwave could handle the additional wattage, or if was recommended or not. Makes sense to see if I could find something from the manufacturer.

Unfortunately the only lamps with the correct T8 screw in base that I saw available on the shelves of my local hardware stores were the above mentioned 40 watt lamps. The only 25w/120v lamps were either T7 bases, or the push in type bases. I did see some 25w/120v lamps with T8 base for sale online, but thought I would see if I could use the 40w lamps I could buy off the shelf first.

Appreciate the help!

 

Goldstar,

Thanks for replying. My lamp actually looks like this, and now I know its okay to use this one. Until I got your recent replies I wasn't sure if I could use a 120v replacement lamp if the original was a 125v lamp.

Shop Feit Electric 25-Watt Soft White Incandescent Appliance Light Bulb at Lowes.com

 

Thats what my micro takes. I stopped putting them in yrs ago. Both were burning out at least once a month. $10 bucks a month for bulbs forget about it....


Mike NJ

 

Your voltage in your house is 120. The 130 volt bulb would have been fine as long as it was not over the max wattage rating of the microwave. Many people will use 130 volt bulbs for the longer life.

 

Thanks pcboss. I was pretty sure I was thinking about the voltage and wattage as you stated, but needed clarification!

Thanks for the help!

Visser

 

For future reference, that lamp has an intermediate base. T8 designates the diameter of the lamp is eighths of an inch, 8 eighths or 1 inch diameter in your case.

 

Don't use a higher wattage bulb than was there to begin with. Otherwise you coudl overheat ehe space where the bulb sits and melt something inside the oven.

While items cooking in a microwave oven can get hot, where the bulb is mounted might not be able to take the heat from the bulb.