This references the shape of the reflector on the lamp. You may see these flood lights listed as “BR” or “R” rather than “PAR” lamps. Don’t get confused by the numbers, remember each is just equivalent to a diameter. These come in three main sizes for most homes, PAR20, PAR30, and PAR38. You’ll mostly see what is known as an A19 with an E26 base. The most common shape is known as an A-Lamp (or A-Line). It's pretty easy to convert once you get the hang of it. For example, something with 16 in it is likely 16/8s of an inch, or 2” in diameter. In general, a number on a light bulb size stands for how many eighths of an inch in diameter it is. Lights shapes are usually a combination or shape and size. For now, if you have something other than those main types, check out this handy reference guide from the folks over at a full listing of types.įor more information on base types, see this video below. We'll expand this section with more information over time. Those types above should get you through 95% of the common household bulb types. Standard Linear Fluorescent base on a Philips LED bulb The good news is that even though the bulb shape can change (more on that later), the base is almost always the same. These are relatively common in closets and garages or shops. The last type you'll find is another pin type base found in linear fluorescent bulbs. GU5.3 base (push pin) on a MR-16 LED bulb GU10 (push and twist) base on MR-16 Philips LED bulb Similar to the other base types, the numbers just stand for the distance between the two pins, measured in millimeters. These are easy to determine the difference between as the GU10 are turn and twist base while the GU5.3 or GU4.0 push in directly. These are usually only found on small recessed can lights or track lighting and are either GU10 or GU5.3 or GU4.0 base. The other common lamp type is pin based lamps. These are also screw in lamps but are a smaller diameter, usually E12 base (12mm = 0.47 inches). You’ll likely have some smaller candelabra type bulbs in some chandeliers around the house. The 26 just stands for how many millimeters wide the base is, which converts to just over an inch. This is what is on most screw in home light bulbs, regardless of what technology (Incandescent, LED, Fluorescent, etc.) they are. These are called "Edison" bases, after the famous inventor. Most home light bulbs are designed with a screw in base. Let's start with what type of base you have on your light bulb. We're going to look at two main characteristcs of a light bulb, the base and the bulb size/shape. It would be impossible to write a description on every light bulb on the market, so we’ll just focus on the most common varieties in a typical home. Check out these other articles for more information: This article is part of a series on lighting basics designed to support the " Install LED Lighting" tutorial. This article will help you know how to pick the right light bulb. Have you ever been frustrated trying to tell the difference between all the shapes and sizes of light bulbs available? You're not alone, but once you understand some basics it is a lot easier to understand what you need.
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