In order not to be mistaken with the choice of a lamp, you should familiarize yourself with the main types of socles. This is a lamp element that is screwed or inserted into the cartridge, thereby ensuring the connection of an individual lamp with a common electronic circuit. Most often, metal plinths are on sale, a little less often - ceramic products. Inside them are component lamps in the form of filaments and electrodes. The contacts are located outside the bulb. The types of socles of incandescent lamps change over time.
What you need to know when choosing a lamp
It is known from practice that the types of lamp caps must be specified in advance, because only a lamp with a suitable base for a certain type of cartridge will be installed in the lamp. The most important points that you must understand before choosing a lamp:
- base type;
- mains voltage in the room where the lamp will be located;
- permissible lamp power for a particular lamp;
- the dimensions of the lamp relative to the size of the selected lamp;
- luminaire connection diagram.
The industry produces several types of socles, as well as a number of their subspecies. The main types of lamp caps are threaded and pin. The most common are threaded fasteners, they are familiar in use, they are also called screw. Pins are found in so-called halogen lamps, fixed in the plane of suspended and suspended ceilings.
The base designations contain a specific alphanumeric encoding:
- E - threaded base Edison;
- G - pin type cap;
- K - cable;
- B - bayonet mount, i.e. pin mount;
- P - focusing;
- S - for spotlights;
- R - mount with recessed contacts;
- T - telephone base;
- W - lamp without cap.
The marking also contains a number indicating the size of the basement and the gap between the contacts, for example - E14 or G13. Small letters indicate the number of contacts (connecting plates):
- s is one contact;
- d - two contacts;
- t - three contacts;
- q - four contacts;
- p - five contacts.
Types of lamp base caps are standardized, their descriptions are traditionally contained in GOSTs.
Edison Base
So what is Edison's threaded base? This is the oldest type of lamp mount, invented by the scientist himself. Such a base is as simple as possible to use, most often it is used in household electrical appliances. This type is designated by the letter Exx, where xx is the diameter size in millimeters. The sizes of the indicated type of socles vary:
- GES - large;
- ES - medium;
- MES - miniature;
- SES - minion (small cap);
- LES is a micro cap.
Type of lamp base E27 and E14
In everyday life, this common type of socle is called the "minion", most often it is used in miniature and standard incandescent lamps. The scope of such lamps is extremely wide. Lamps, as you know, are pear-shaped, in the form of candles, drop-shaped, spherical, mirror.
The type of lamp base E27 is the most famous, common and popular type of product, the authorship belongs to Edison himself. However, such a base has not only the usual incandescent lamps. Modern industry also produces other types of lamps with it, including:
- compact fluorescent energy-saving lamps;
- halogen incandescent lamps;
- gas discharge.
Types of
fluorescent lamp caps are also threaded and pin. Important! Fluorescent lamps with E27 and E14 caps do not work in electrical circuits containing dimmers and electronic switches. Other types of
lamp base caps will be considered further.
Pin (type G)
This type of cap implies a pin system at the point of contact of the lamp with the cartridge. In such lamps, when there are two contacts, a digital code indicates the distance between them. If the number of contacts is greater, then the digital designation refers to the diameter of the circle in which they are directly located. Latin capital letters indicate here that the lamps belong to one or another modification. However, the products are not interchangeable, in addition, sometimes there are combinations of several similar socles - then at the very beginning of the digital code-designation there is a number, for example, “2”.
Base G4
This type of fixture is designed specifically for miniature halogen lamps used to create the maximum decorative effect in rooms due to bright spotlight coming from different places on the ceiling. Halogen lamps are most often low voltage and suitable for voltages of 12 or 24 volts. Such lamps are very convenient, have a flat shape from the outside and look rather well on ceilings with built-in lamps, as well as in flexible lighting systems. These practical products can last more than 2000 hours. Today, lamps with G4 sockets are widely used in crystal lamps with rhinestones.
Sockets G5, G13, GU1, R
This type is used in tube-shaped fluorescent lamps with a bulb diameter of 16 millimeters. The tone of high-quality light emitted by such lamps can be either warm white or cold daylight. The luminous efficiency of these lamps is large, and energy consumption, on the contrary, is rather modest.
The G13 base is a very common option for household recessed lighting, like the GU1 type. Bulbs with such a fastening are characterized by thickenings at the end of the contacts, which allows rotary connections with lampholders.
Recessed socket “R” is the best option for small and quartz halogen lamps, as well as high-intensity lighting devices that are based on functioning in an alternating current system. In the designation of such a cap, the numbers show the length of the lamp as a whole.
Pin base B (bayonet mount)
This view appeared as a result of improving the classic Edison design in order to maximize the acceleration of the time it takes to change a burned out bulb. Moreover, progress has constantly “reduced” the size of the bulbs themselves.
Base R7s
This type is equipped with a pair of round side pins for mounting in the slot of the corresponding cartridge. The fixation of the lamp in this case requires a quarter turn. The outer diameter is indicated in millimeters, for example - B9s.
Such socles are often used in automotive lamps and on water vessels to create dipped or main beam - asymmetrical side mounting-contacts hold the lamp in the holder at the right angle, which allows you to focus the light flux depending on the corresponding need.
In imported products - English, Canadian bulbs - the numbers often do not indicate, they are encrypted in the form of letter abbreviations. For example, the bayonet base is BC (Bayonet Cap) = B22d = our option 2Sh22.
Soffit base S and focusing P
Externally, the product looks like a familiar glass fuse - contacts are located on both sides of the base. The figure applied on the outside will show the outer diameter of the case in millimeters. Lamps with such socles are most often used in car interiors and for illuminating license plates on cars.
The focusing base “R” is intended for the assembly of navigation lights, cinematic projectors and searchlights of various sizes, as well as household flashlights. The action of this mechanism is based on the possibility of orientation of the beam in different directions and the direction of the light flux through a special assembly lens. The code on the base usually refers to the diameter of the focusing flange or the part that helps keep the lamp horizontal. The P20d base is specifically designed for the installation of headlights in cars. The telephone base “T” is used in small backlight bulbs, in consoles and mnemonic circuits.
LED lamp sockets
Types of LED lamp bases : LED GU10, JDR E14, LED GU5.3, JDR E27, PAR30, PAR38, MR11, T5, T8 and others. LEDs almost do not heat up, so they are used where other types simply do not fit for reasons of temperature conditions of surfaces.
In general, modern industry produces non-standard types of lamp caps, for example, for projection or xenon lamps. If we talk about switch lamps, then in Western countries they have long been using smaller products with T4.5 socles, and not T6.8. The newest type W is generally in contact with the cartridge by means of current inputs located directly on the glass base of the lamp.
The types of lamp caps are constantly being improved. Today, there is a tendency to replace incandescent lamps with semiconductor products of similar sizes. The advantage of such semiconductor lamps, which are also simplistically called LEDs, is a more economical consumption of electric energy, while in terms of brightness, such lamps are in many ways superior to their counterparts. It should also be noted that the types of socles of LED lamps have some differences from all other types.