Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 2000 04:12pm | #1

   *
   I've never heard that about light fixtures, but then you're in a murky area since it's not part of a commonly known standard like the National Electric Code.

   My inclination would be not to worry about it. I can't see that it would be a fire hazard if the sockets were to break down eventually.

   I think that the type of cable you're using to rewire would be a more important factor (as in, is it rated for the high temperatures found inside and near the sockets)

   Lee

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 27, 2000 12:30am | #2

   *If you are worried about heat be sure to use lower wattage bulbs. I had a hanging light fixture with a 150W grow lamp in it. Came home one day to a black spot on the cieling and two burnt wires where the fixture had been (and the rest melted and lying on the carpet).It seems that the insulation had cooked, eventually shorting out and burnt thru. If I had been home when that happened I would have s**t a brick!This was years ago in an old apartment building, what made me wonder was that the circuit breaker did not trip.Anyway, 60W bulbs are lots cooler than 75 or 100 and less likely to cook the insulation. They make "High Heat" cord, which would help, but I have seen ceiling fixtures that have been Overbulbed and cooked the Romex (people like to "Watt up" the lighting when the house is for sale - a good thing to look at correcting after you move in, I think).Renovation Lighting Supplies make cloth wrapped wire for authentic antique lamps (it is modern wire wrapped in a replica of the period cloth wrap). They also sell the tungsten fillament bulbs from the turn of the century (very low light output and pretty yellow - but for those times when you REALLY want authenticity I guess...)

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 27, 2000 01:25am | #3

   *Thanks for your input. I'll use 60 watt bulbs, and if the socket fails at some later date, I'll replace then.