# What does 12v 36w mean on a bulb?

1. Oct 7, 2006

### fatoomch

Dumb question, I know.

But what exactly does it mean? Does it mean 36watts is what a bulb will consume at 12v?.. And does '12v' mean that the bulb will only work at 12v. What if you connect the bulb to a 24v supply?

2. Oct 7, 2006

### DaveC426913

At 24V it will glow much brighter, and for a much shorter time.

BTW, a 36w bulb with 12v will pass 3A. That's huge. This must be in a car.

3. Oct 7, 2006

### brewnog

Yes, your bulb will draw 36 Watts (or Joules per second) when connected to a 12V power supply.

4. Oct 7, 2006

### fatoomch

ok thanks..... so when it states '12v' it just means this bulb will work best (last longer) and is specifically designed for a 12v supply?

...And if it IS connected to 24v supply it will consume 72watts of power?

5. Oct 8, 2006

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
It's designed for 12V. It will probably burn itself out very rapidly if you double the voltage, as you'd be subjecting its filament to four times as much heat dissipation.

Power goes up with the square of the voltage (or the square of the current):

$P = I^2 R = \frac{V^2}{R}$

If you double the voltage, you quadruple the power consumed.

- Warren

6. Oct 8, 2006