I have a lamp that needs a 3-way lightbulb...

Question

What's the difference between the "three way" bulb and a regular bulb, and why should i use one?

Answer 1

a 3 way light bulb can function at 3 different watts. They go with the lamps that can be dim, then when you flick the switch get brighter, then brighter again. using a non 3 way light bulb will short circuit your lamp.

Answer 2

A three-way bulb has two filaments in it. The next time one burns out, carefully open it (for example, wrap it in a towel and hit it lightly with a hammer) and you will see the two separate filaments.

For the lowest setting, one filament comes on (it might be a 50-watt filament). For the next setting, the second filament comes on (it might be a 100-watt filament). For the third setting, both come on, for (in our example) a total of 150 watts.

Look also at the end of the bulb's base -- you will be able to see how the lamp controls the two filaments.  

Answer 3

No such thing  The 3 way is in your switching nothing else

Answer 4

my bedroom lamp also says it needs a three way bulb but i used a regular bulb and it works just fine and still gets all three different levels of light.

Answer 5

The answers here are only partly true.  I have a three way lamp.  Here is the deal.  

3 way bulbs have 2 filaments.  Switch it on and the dim filament lights.  Switch it again and the brighter filaments lites.  Switch again and both light.  Switch again and they both go off.

If you put a regular bulb in, the light will simply be on in two positions and off in the third.  There is no difference in the light output because there is only one filament in a regular bulb.  Some lamps have dimmers built into them.  Touch lamps are like this.  They use regular bulbs but they aren't usually referred to as 3 way though.

Answer 6

a three-way bulb is a light bulb that has three different watts.. they start at a low watt and work there way up to a brighter one with each click of the switch on the light.. however it will not work if the lamp is not a 3 way lamp...so putting a 3way bulb in a non3 way light will only be one watt...so you need to check that...