How to Read Light Wattage

You need to read the wattage of a light bulb when your light bulb fails and you need to replace it. The wattage of a light bulb is the brightness of that bulb in wavelengths. If you read the light wattage accurately on your light bulb, you may replace the failed bulb with a light bulb of equal wattage. This will ensure that your light will shine just as brightly as it did with the previous bulb.

Instructions

1. Turn off the light bulb and allow it to cool so you don't burn yourself. If your bulb failed while you were turning on the light, it is likely already cool enough to being reading the light wattage.

2. Unscrew the light bulb from the light socket by turning it in a counter-clockwise motion. Hold the bulb in your hand.

3. Look at the top of the light bulb. You are looking for a number that is followed by "W," "Watt" or "Wattage."

4. Read the number. Standard home light bulbs come in 40, 60, 100 or 120 watt varieties. However, yours may be different. This number is the number of watts in your light bulb.

5. Purchase a new light bulb of the same wattage to have the same brightness of light on the lamp. Increase the wattage of the light bulb for a brighter light or decrease the wattage of the light bulb for a dimmer light.

Resources

• Read about the science behind light bulb watts
• Learn about the invention of the light bulb and how it works