One of the main elements of a light bulb is the base. It is needed to connect it to the lighting fixture. There is a wide variety of these elements, differing from each other in design, diameter and material. The most common are threaded and pinned. Most commonly used in household appliances are sockets for E27 and E14 sockets.
Content
- Marking value
- Edison base
- Pin models
- Recessed contact devices
- Pin options
- Spotlights and focusing views
- Miniature minion
Marking value
When buying a lamp, you need to pay attention to the product classification. The capital letter in the base / plinth marking indicates which type it belongs to:
-
in the form of a screw thread - E; - pin - G;
- bayonet (fastened by means of pins) - B;
- soffit - S;
- telephone - T;
- cable - K;
- with contacts located in the cavity of the product - R;
- focusing - P;
- baseless lamps are designated by the letter W.
The numbers next to the first letter indicate the size of the bulb base. For example, the type of base E14 is screw, diameter is 14 mm. Small Latin letters of the marking indicate the number of connecting base plates or contacts:
- one-contact - s;
- two-pin - d;
- three-pin - t;
- four-pin - q;
- five-pin - p.
For Europe and Russia, E27 and E14 sockets are standard, designed for a voltage of 220V. They are most commonly used in luminaires made for European markets.
Edison base
The oldest connection to a lighting fixture is the Edison base. It is a screw-threaded device screwed into a cartridge. International designation - capital letter E. The two-digit number after the letter indicates the diameter of the item in millimeters. So, the designation of the E14 base indicates that it is screw with a diameter of 14 mm. Size classification is subdivided into:
-
large GES - E40; - medium ES - for lamps with a screw element type E26 (110 V - for the American market) and E27;
- miniature MES with a diameter of E10 and E12;
- small (minions) SES - used in a lamp with a base diameter of 14 and 17 mm (for power systems with 110 V);
- micro base LES - lamp products with a screw-in element E5.
These structural elements are most often used in incandescent lamps and are used to illuminate streets and premises. In addition, they can often be seen in household appliances. The industry offers a wide variety of screw base lighting lamps. They are pear-shaped, drop-like, round, candle-shaped, mushroom-shaped, matte and mirrored.
Pin models
The contact of the lamp with the socket is carried out due to the penetration of the pins into its holes. The numbers after the letter G indicate the distance between the two contacts. If the number of such contact elements is more than two, then the marking indicates the base diameter.
The G4 base is used in small halogen lamps, which create an unusual decorative effect in the form of a bright point light source on ceilings. These bulbs are used at 24 or 12 volts, which is very convenient when used in flexible lighting systems, as well as in luminaires built into the ceiling. The service life of such devices exceeds 2000 hours.
Pin models such as G5, G13, GU1 are used in fluorescent lamps with a tube-shaped bulb 16 mm in diameter. These illuminators are energy efficient and bright.
Recessed contact devices
This product uses the letter R. It indicates the type of cap, and the numbers indicate the length of the lamp. This plinth element is perfect for small luminaires. It is also used in halogen, quartz and high intensity lamps. The latter are intended for use in AC systems.
Pin options
Such base / plinth elements are the product of the improvement of the screw base. They are designed to reduce the time it takes to replace a light bulb. This type has two side pins. It is installed in the slot of the socket and secured by scrolling the lamp a quarter of a turn. Used to create high and low beam illumination on watercraft or cars.
Spotlights and focusing views
Externally, lamps with a soffit and focusing base resemble a glass fuse. There are metal contacts on both sides of the instrument. Lamps with this type of basement element are used to illuminate license plates in a car. Focusing models are required for flashlights, spotlights, projectors and navigation lights.
The effect of products with this type of base is caused by the ability to concentrate light directed in different directions into a special lens that collects the rays into one directional beam. The telephone version is used in small bulbs to illuminate remotes and other similar devices.
Miniature minion
The E14 base can sometimes be called a minion. It is designed to connect a light bulb to a lighting fixture by screwing in. This the system was developed by the American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison in 1897. At the same time, a patent was obtained for the manufacture of the first illuminators with a screw base element.
The E27 and E14 base is intended for networks with a voltage of 220 V, corresponding to European standards. In America, the voltage in power grids is below 210 V, which does not allow the use of E14. There are special adapters with which you can connect E14 bulbs to E27 sockets, the opposite option is also possible, but it can be limited by the size of the lampshades in chandeliers and sconces.
The letter E indicates the type of connection between the lamp and the socket (Edison Screwtype). According to marking standards, the numbers after the capital letter indicate the diameter of the section of the base. In E14 cartridges, it is 14 mm. It is very convenient to use light bulbs with a small diameter for local illumination (for example, an illuminator in a refrigerator, hood, etc.) ). The mignon was widely used in small-sized lighting fixtures or with small shades, where it is impossible to put a lamp with an E27 base.
The minion was originally intended for incandescent light bulbs, but as technology and amplification developed the struggle for the economical use of electricity, this type is increasingly used in energy-saving analogs. However, when purchasing such products, it should be borne in mind that the bulbs of economical lamps are still quite bulky and they may not fit into a small lighting device. All E14 lamps have a low brightness. Their maximum possible power does not exceed:
- in incandescent lamps - 60 W;
- in LED bulbs - 7 W;
- in fluorescent lamps - 15 W.
Considering the small capabilities of lamps with a mignon type element, ceiling lights are usually made, in which several lighting devices are used to provide the brightness of the illumination.
Despite the long years of application of the E14 base in Europe and Russia, the emergence of new modern lighting systems, minion lamps are still the most convenient and demanded for use in everyday life.
