Is it safe to mix and match light bulb wattages and sizes in same fixture?

Question

I have a one of those two-head spotlight fixtures in my back yard. The fixture is under my deck roof and never gets wet. Each socket is rated at 120 watts max. It's designed for the PAR38 spotlight bulbs.

I want to use a 90-watt PAR38 spotlight bulb (brighter light for the yard) in one of the sockets and a 45-watt A60 standard-size bulb (dimmer light for the deck) in the other socket. Is it safe to mix and match bulbs like this?

Some Google searching seemed to indicate that it's safe to mix and match wattages, as long as you don't exceed the fixture's maximum ratings. However, I couldn't find anything on mixing bulb types.

Answer 1

Yes, you certainly can use bulbs of different wattages in your fixture. The fact that one socket pulls more current is not important.

Bulb size is mostly a matter of light distribution and heat management. It's not relevant here as long as you don't have them up against something flammable or enclosed too tightly.

As you said, follow max wattage restrictions (though they're largely moot with modern LED bulbs).

Answer 2

If even one socket had a lamp with higher rating than designed, it would pose some risk.

However, just replace ancient incandescent technology with LED spots or floods. They're inexpensive, outlast incandescent lamp, and produce far less heat, i.e. ~13 Watts LED vs. 90 Watts incandescent. Note that the referenced lamps are available in my locality, perhaps subsidized by the electric utility, for US$1. You could use two 90 or 100 Watt equivalent lamps using only 25 or 30 Watts, well within the fixture's capability.

You'll also save on electric bills and help reduce CO2 emission. And you can even find them in different color temperatures, or even fully variable color. Make it look like sunset...