Is it safe to cover a floor lamp with an Aluminum metal pie plate?

[12john]

Please see the image below. I'm trying to convert my IKEA NYFORS floor lamp into a reading light, by covering the top with an Aluminium pie plate.

Will this be a fire or electrical hazard? Does anyone foresee any dangers or risks?

As I have 3 of these floor lamps in my attic, I don't want to waste money buying a reading light. I'm unemployed because of COVID.

 

[Vanadium 50]

If you have to ask a bunch of strangers on the internet if something is safe, the answer is "no".

 

[anorlunda]

You could save more money by replacing those fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. You can buy LED bulbs for as little as $1 each, at IKEA and at Dollar Tree. The LEDs use less power than the fluorescent bulbs so that will save on your power bill.

The problem with those pie plate reflectors is not electric, it is heat. If the temperature in the lamp gets higher because of the plates, it becomes a fire risk and it also reduces the life of the bulbs, which costs you more money. So keeping the fluorescent bulbs and using pie plates will cost you more money, not less.

 

[russ_watters]

If you can attach it in such a way as to leave a gap (popsicle sticks and hot glue?) that would probably create enough convection to keep the light bulb cool. But I agree that a small led lamp should be cheap.

 

[anorlunda]

One more thing. You can also buy LED bulbs with built-in reflectors that direct light only downward. The one in the picture costs $7.22. I can also be dimmed.

 

[berkeman]

One more thing. You can also buy LED bulbs with built-in reflectors that direct light only downward. The one in the picture costs $7.22. I can also be dimmed.

View attachment 286217

Huh! That's what those are for! It never occurred to me that it was to concentrate the light in the downward direction to make a better reading light. Nice!

 

[dlgoff]

You could save more money by replacing those fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs.

@berkeman The bases on the LED bulbs I've used get very hot. I think that would be a fire hazard IMO.

 

[anorlunda]

The bases on the LED bulbs I've used get very hot. I think that would be a fire hazard IMO.

There can always be poorly designed bulbs. If the base gets hot rather than the top, that signals a badly designed power converter. Poor design is independent of the technology.

A key property to look for is whether the bulb is "Lamp Rated for Enclosed Fixtures" because that tells you about the cooling requirements. Misuse of any bulb in an enclosed fixture that is not rated for enclosed fixtures can result in overheating. The OP's question about use of a pie plate could convert an open fixture into an enclosed fixture unless ventilation is also provided as @russ_watters pointed out.

Good LEDs use less power and therefore generate less heat than good CFL bulbs. But today the difference is not great. CFL bulbs have continued to improve even after LEDs took over the market. Checking on energystar.gov:

LED, 9 watts, 800 lumens, power factor 0.8, lifetime 15000 hours
https://www.energystar.gov/productf...t-bulbs/details-plus/2286854#PriceAndLocation

CFL, 13 watts, 1040 lumens, power factor 0.6, lifetime 12000 hours
https://www.energystar.gov/productf...t-bulbs/details-plus/2292003#PriceAndLocation

 

[256bits]

As I have 3 of these floor lamps in my attic, I don't want to waste money buying a reading light.

What is the actual problem right now if using this lamp when reading?
Just put the lamp next to your arm chair and it should work fine anyways. No?

 

[sophiecentaur]

I'd be inclined to put two square section battens (say 25mm square) parallel, across the lamp shade rim and rest the pie dish on them. That will allow plenty of air circulation. It's got to be LEDs as CFLs have such disgusting light colours (I never saw a good one).

 

[12john]

What is the actual problem right now if using this lamp when reading?
Just put the lamp next to your arm chair and it should work fine anyways. No?

The "actual problem right now" is that (1) the downward light isn't bright enough, and (2) all the upward light (illuminating the ceiling) is wasting electricity and resources.

 

[256bits]

The "actual problem right now" is that (1) the downward light isn't bright enough, and (2) all the upward light (illuminating the ceiling) is wasting electricity and resources.

Put a photographic umbrella a few feet over the light stand, to catch all the light, and no problem with overheating then.
Or make your own to save cost with a normal umbrella and paste it with reflective material.
You get all the light downwards to your area, and adjustable too.
It should a nice ambience too

 

[sophiecentaur]

Put a photographic umbrella a few feet over the light stand, to catch all the light, and no problem with overheating then.
Or make your own to save cost with a normal umbrella and paste it with reflective material.
You get all the light downwards to your area, and adjustable too.
It should a nice ambience too
View attachment 286795

That would look 'exotic' and do the job very well but an aluminium pie dish (a big enough one) Plus two lengths of wood as spacers would not cost anything like as much. Supporting that brolly could be an expensive exercise too; it would possibly double the total cost. At that price, the OP could just go out and buy a more suitable liqht fitting.

 

[256bits]

That would look 'exotic' and do the job very well but an aluminium pie dish (a big enough one) Plus two lengths of wood as spacers would not cost anything like as much. Supporting that brolly could be an expensive exercise too; it would possibly double the total cost. At that price, the OP could just go out and buy a more suitable liqht fitting.

Wouldn't have to cost too too much.
Just spray paint a small old umbrella lying around somewhere with white or silver paint and voila - a photographic umbrella to attach to the wall, on its own stand, to to the lamp. And umbrellas fold up nicely too.
Looks good too. Chic!