My oven light went out and I need a new bulb. That would be something like this one, which is over $20 for a single light bulb! I understand that the oven gets very hot and so maybe some kind of special bulb is needed, but surely it could be cheaper than that.
Or can it?
That is pure profiteering for folks silly enough to go to the appliance parts store for a light bulb.
Far less expensive at a hardware store, or many other normal stores with lightbulbs. You need an "Appliance bulb" of the normal old incandescent flavor. Not a newfangled LED refrigerator bulb. Incandescent bulbs are perfectly happy at oven temperatures, and the "appliance" version adds a bit of extra support against vibration, etc.
Do you follow any of the warnings we give around here about the danger of 3-prong (groundless) range receptacles... and you think "Why does a 240V oven need 120V?"
The oven light.
That's right. The dangerous setup is solely so consumers can use ANY random 120V incandescent bulb they buy by the dozen (back in the day when everyone used incandescents and they were four for a buck).
After all, if we were going to make consumers buy special bulbs for ovens, we could just make them 240V bulbs, and then dispense with that darned neutral wire!
So yes. Standard incandescent bulb is fine. If you know the academic meaning of the word "incandescent", it means they are "creatures of heat" and love hot environments.
Halogens, even more so. Real incandescents are nearly gone from the US market; the "traditional" bulbs sold in stores are actually halogen (a kind of incandescent) that uses an inner "tube" containing a VERY, VERY hot lamp, and an outer globe just to keep your finger oil off the halogen tube.
But never use LED or CFL - those must run cool and their housings are made of plastics which will melt in the oven.
No, any 40W incandescent that is similar size and base will work just fine. I would buy these ones from Amazon. Replacement and a spare for $5.
If you have one locally, go to a dollar store (like Dollar Tree, 99 Cents Only Store, etc.) and get an Appliance Bulb.
I bought one at Dollar Tree recently. Cost $1 or so.
I do a lot of baking in my gas oven and, in my experience, generic "appliance" bulbs do not last. The original bulbs in my oven lasted years. Generic appliance bulbs I've purchased last maybe 1-2 months. That said, I agree that $20 is way overpriced. But I can tell you that bulbs priced less than $5 (US) are likely to be generic and are sold to work with fridges, ceiling fans, range hoods, etc. and they will not last in an oven if you bake often. I believe you need a specialty bulb for an oven. I came upon this thread because I'm looking for a good one. I'm going to try a $10 Phillips bulb next.
