logos999

>If it is a bayonet socket,
There aren't any bayonet socket lamps sold in Germany.

111op

Thanks. So what I take away from this discussion is if an American bulb fits the bulb socket (most likely it will), I just screw it in. Most likely I can get an adapter for the plug (I won't bother replacing it).

So basically it's easy.

Then there are the wires. But it sounds from the discussion that the wires may be different but if they are built to safety standards, you don't have to worry about burning them.

It sounds from the discussion that lamps are basically universal voltage? Is that really the case? When things sound so easy I get nervous.

I guess I should check at the shop. Actually all this can happen only if my flight arrives on time. I'm supposed to get in at 2. The shop closes at 5. The next day I leave Berlin very early.

logos999

I would change the plug, that's no big deal anyway. Europlugs have a very small contact surface compared to us plugs.
You're ready to go.

Heimdall

Logos999, thanks for letting me know there are no bayonet sockets in Germany. That makes it even easier for 111op.

111op, the power required to burn a lightbulb is well within the capabilities of lamp wiring. Still, just to be sure, it would be a good idea to use a bulb with wattage lower than the maimum rating on the lamp. In my moves back and forth between England and the US I have used the same lamps with both 110V and 230V electricty. All I had to do was change the bulb.

Currently I am using several lamps with US plugs in my home. I use them with UK adapter plugs. Personally I feel it is safer to keep the original plug than to cut it off and replace it. The original plugs are molded to the wire, while replacement plugs can come loose in time.

ngodeia

May I add another question to this thread?

I am also using U.S. lamps here in Germany with regular 220V German bulbs. However, I want to change to energy-saving compact florescent bulbs. Would that be a problem??

Thank you!

Heimdall

No problem. I am using energy saving bulbs in all my US lamps. In fact, the one I am sitting next to at the moment has one.

blackduff

ngodeia
The incandesent bulbs will go out of use somewhere the year 2011. Then you'll have to use the Compact Flo. bulbs. This is a good move ~ except that the compact flo bulbs are produced with Mercury and each time the bulb is broken, the Mercury goes into nature.

You and I cannot change this movement but I wonder why the heavenly planners that they're going backwards.

I hear that the halogen bulbs are better though. GE is coming out a new incandesent bulb which fixes the previous complaint. But, it is going to arrive too late.

I put five compact flos into my house this week as well as buying three halogen lights too. The halogen lights were very nice and good brightness was great. I swapped a incandescent 100Watt to 50Watt halogen.

Blackduff

ngodeia

blackduff - That is one concern I have. I read that there are places in the U.S. where you can take burnt compact florescent bulbs to recycle/dispose of. I have been searching for an equivalent here in Cologne, but so far have had no luck. I was told to go back to the store to see if it would take them. I do have a couple of halogen lamps and have always wondered about how to dispose of the bulbs as well.

logos999

Welcome to Germany, ngodeia. You have to go to your local "Wertstoffhof" to get rid of them. It's highly illegal to just throw them away with your household garbage.

blackduff

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A07944

Here's a article about the New York's view of the incandescent bulbs.

I remember from another article it mentions that China produces more of the incandescent bulbs than anywhere else. Yet, China doesn't complain stopping the useage of this bulb. China already has the biggest part of the production for the compact florescent bulbs. The US will be a extremely lucrid market for China, when this changeover happens.

Mister Public will take the costs of this happening.

Blackduff

111op

Thanks. This is very useful.

I won't change the plug. It's probably very easy, but I don't like the idea of cutting off something that's original when I can very easily just use an adapter.

Of course now the question is whether to get this lamp, which is expensive. I'll think about it more.

logos999

Just make sure the max. wattage of the europlugs when used at 110 volts is below 300 watts for each lamp, if you're not cutting the plug. 4 bulbs at 60 watts would perfect, 4x80 would exceed the limits for the plug.

111op

Thanks. This lamp only takes one bulb. It's not meant to be a fancy lamp -- but I guess the price tag is a little "fancy."

The US version is advertised as having a max wattage of 75W. I'll assume that I can use 75W with the European version as well -- unless someone tells me otherwise.

logos999

Yes, the plug's o.k for up to 300W, the lamp as much as is wirtten on it. No need to worry.