The letters and numbers designate the shape and size
| Code | Shape |
| A | Teardrop/bulb |
| B | Bullet |
| BR | Bulged reflector |
| BT | Bulged tube/chimney/blunt tip/bent tip |
What are the different shapes of light bulbs?
Types of Light Bulb Bases
- E10 Mini Screw. These small bulbs have a base of 10 mm and are great for lanterns, flashlights, and decorative optical fiber lights.
- E11 Mini Candelabra. The mini candelabra screw base is a smaller version of the candelabra. ...
- E12 Candelabra. ...
- E14 European. ...
- E17 Intermediate. ...
- E26 Medium. ...
- E27 Medium. ...
- E39 Mogul. ...
- E40 Mogul. ...
- EX39 Extended Mogul. ...
What does type a light bulb mean?
What does a Type A light bulb mean? An "A" designates the teardrop shape of a standard light bulb. This is where the name "light bulb" comes from. In its root meaning, though, this is what it is: an object shaped like a flower bulb which produces light.
What is the code for light bulb?
Light bulb: Light bulb code: T30: T45: T5: T8: Diameter in millimetres: 30mm: 45mm: 16mm: ...
What size lamp has a medium base?
The industry uses many terms for the same size: C7 / E12 / Candelabra Base Bulbs... typically used for chandelier-type fixtures and decorative lighting. C9 / E17 / Intermediate Base Bulbs... historically known as the old Christmas light bulb size. Medium / E26 Bulbs (E27 in Europe) ... the same size as a standard household bulb.
What do the codes on light bulbs mean?
Numbers in a bulb code indicate the size of the base, measured in millimeters or eighths of an inch, depending on the bulb. Take an A19, for example: letter 'A' indicates that the bulb comes in a standard household shape, and the '19' indicates that the base is 19/8ths inches in size.
What are the shapes of light bulbs?
These are the eight most common light bulb shapes you'll find in your home:Arbitrary (A)Bulged Reflector (BR)Candle (C)Globe (G)Quartz Reflector Lamp (MR)Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR)Blown Reflector (R)Twist.
What is the shape of a light bulb called?
Similar to the shape, the base of the light bulb may also differ. The prefix “E” stems from the name “Edison” and the second is the diameter of the base measured in millimeters. No matter the style, the diameter of a light bulb is expressed in millimeters....A-Shape Light Bulb Base Types.CodeBase TypeGU24Twist and Lock3 more rows•Jun 5, 2016
What is a bulb shape A19?
roughly pear-shapedA19 is a term that describes the overall shape and size of a light bulb. Specifically, the bulb should be roughly pear-shaped , and have a length of 100-110 mm and a width of approximately 60 mm.
How do you read a light bulb code?
The code number of a bulb consists of a letter or letters followed by a number. The letter indicates the shape of the bulb and the number relates to the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch. The mosts commonly used household bulb is the A-19. The bulb is "A" type and the diameter would be 23/8".
Why are light bulbs different shapes?
In traditional bulbs, the light source needed to be equidistant from all sides of the glass casing to give out light that was uniform and omnidirectional to maximize efficiency. A round bulb shape allows for the central light source, such as the tungsten filament, to follow those criteria.
What are the 3 types of light bulbs?
There are three basic kinds of light bulbs on the market: incandescent, halogen, and CFL (compact fluorescent light).
Does bulb shape matter?
It does matter what shape a light bulb is. The shape of the light bulb is important because it affects how the light is cast.
What does T10 mean in light bulbs?
Numbers in each code refer to the bulb's diameter in one-eighths of an inch. T7 bulb: 7/8 = 7/8″ diameter. T8 bulb: 8/8 = 1″ diameter. T10 bulb: 10/8 = 1-1/4″ diameter.
What is the difference between A21 and A19?
The difference between A19 and A21 bulbs is their size. A19 bulbs measure 2.375 inches in diameter, while A21 bulbs measure 2.625 inches. Both usually have the same E26 Edison screw base, although, in Europe, some older B22 bayonet bulbs may still be used.
What's the difference between an A19 light bulb and an A21 light bulb?
A19 bulb is 2.375 inches in diameter(19/8=2.375) and 4.13 inches in height, while an A21 bulb is 2.625 inches(19/8=2.375) and 5 inches in height. So, as you can see, it is clear that A21 has a slightly longer neck and diameter than A19.
Are E26 and A19 bulbs interchangeable?
That said, not all E26 bulbs are A19 bulbs. While A19 bulbs must utilize E26 bulb bases, it's not true that all E26 bases must use A19 heads. In fact, they are two kinds of terminologies. That stated, an A19 bulb may be the same as an E26 bulb, and it may be different in some cases.
What are the 4 types of bulbs?
There are four different types of light bulbs available for residential use: incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and LED. These varieties have different characteristics including the quality of light emitted, the amount of energy used, and more.
What are the 3 types of light bulbs?
There are three basic kinds of light bulbs on the market: incandescent, halogen, and CFL (compact fluorescent light).
What are the 4 types of light?
What are the 4 types of lighting?Ambient lighting.Task lighting.Accent lighting.Decorative lighting.
Does the shape of a light bulb matter?
It does matter what shape a light bulb is. The shape of the light bulb is important because it affects how the light is cast.
What are the letters and numbers on a light bulb?
The letters and numbers on light bulb packages are coded shorthand for the shape and size of each bulb. In other words, they precisely describe the shape or type of bulb as well as its diameter. 01 of 08.
What is an A bulb?
In its root meaning, though, this is what it is: an object shaped like a flower bulb which produces light. Most standard screw-base light bulbs—such as the GE 60 watt incandescent light bulb—are "A" bulbs. A-19 and A-21 light bulbs, which are most 60 watt and 75 watt light bulbs respectively, are two common examples of "A" bulbs.
What is a BR light bulb?
A " BR " bulb is a "bulged reflector" bulb. BR bulbs typically have two funnel-shaped reflector areas, one behind the other, to help shape and focus the light.
What is an R lamp?
R. An " R " lamp is a reflector lamp. If you have any recessed lights or track lights in your home, you probably have some of these lamps installed now. Variations on the " R " shape include " BR " or "bulged reflector" bulbs, " PAR " bulbs which have a parabolic shape, and " MR " or mirrored reflector bulbs.
What does BT stand for in light bulbs?
A " BT " code may indicate a "bulged tube" or "chimney" light bulb, but it can also stand for a "blunt tip" light bulb—the ones that are flame-shaped with a rounded end. On the other hand, to be totally confusing, BT light bulbs can also stand for "bent tip" which is the exact opposite of a blunt tip.
How big is a T-12 light bulb?
The older T-12 tubes are 1-1/2 inches in diameter with the newer T-8 tubes at 1 inch in diameter. A common A-19 light bulb is 2-3/8 inches in diameter, and an R-30 flood light is 3-3/4 inches across its widest part. Read More.
What does C stand for in a candle?
A " C " stands for "candle." These are the flame-shaped bulbs with the pointed, bent tips. Some companies have started using "CA" to designate their candle bulbs. That may have started as an attempt to distinguish candle-flame-shaped bulbs from "circline" lamps.
What is the size of a light bulb?
Common sizes of the A bulb are A15, A19, and A21. The number designation in the code is usually the width of the bulb at its widest point designated in eighths of an inch. So an A19 is an A shape bulb and is 2.375 inches in diameter (19 divided by 8).
What is the bulb base?
Bulb Base The final important piece to selecting the right bulb for your application is the bulb base. You don't want to buy a bulb only to find that it doesn't fit in the socket. Most light bulbs used in the home use an Edison Screw Base. This is designated by the "E" in the first letter of the base description.
What is a G base lamp?
Another type of base seen in MR style lamps is the G base, which is a bi-pin style of base . From Wikipedia on the bi-pin: "The suffix after the G indicates the pin spread; the G dates to the use of Glass for the original bulbs. GU usually also indicates that the lamp provides a mechanism for physical support by the luminaire: in some cases, each pin has two diameters, being larger near the ends, in order to twist-lock into position in the socket (the transition between the two diameters is a right-angle step rather than a taper); in others, the base of the lamp has a groove which can be held by a spring or clip. A lowercase "q" at the end of the designation indicates that it is a quad-pin base, with two bi-pin pairs. These are used with compact fluorescent tubes that plug into a light fixture that has a permanent ballast. There are also double-ended tubes (both halogen and fluorescent) with one pin at each end, as well as high-output fluorescents with recessed or shrouded contacts, which are not covered here.
Where to find the code on a light bulb?
First off, it’s rare when the code is printed on the bulb itself. Usually, you can find it on the bulb’s packaging when you buy it, but it’s likely that you don’t keep the packaging after you buy a new bulb.
What does the letter in a light bulb's code mean?
As you might already know, light bulbs come in all kinds of different shapes. The single letter in the bulb’s code represents those shapes.
How big is an A19 bulb?
A bulb’s size is measured in 1/8-inch increments, so an A19 bulb would be 2-3/8″ in diameter because there are nineteen 1/8-inch increments.
How to find the diameter of a bulb?
An easier way to determine the diameter, though, is to take the number and divide it by 8. So 19 divided by 8 is 2.375, or 2-3/8 as a fraction. The bulb’s base is measured differently but in a much easier fashion. The number refers to the diameter of the base in millimeters. So a bulb with an E26 base is 26 millimeters.
What are the three factors of a bulb?
A bulb is categorized by three different factors: shape, size, and base . These three factors are all defined in the bulb’s code, but that code is pretty useless if you aren’t able to decode it in ...
Which bulb is spherical?
Then there are G series (Globe) bulbs , which are entirely spherical.
Can you replace a light bulb if you don't know the code?
If you don’t know the code to a bulb that you need to replace, it’s not a big problem. You always can take the old bulb to the store and compare it to other bulbs to find a match. Light bulb sizing standards are different enough that it’s easy to spot the right size just by loooking at them.
How to tell if a bulb is a BR or R shape?
Once you know whether your bulb is an R-shape or a BR-shape, then the numerical part of the shape code represents the widest part of the bulb measured in eighths of an inch. If you divide the number in the shape code by 8, the resulting answer is the diameter of your bulb in inches.
What is the R on a light bulb?
The type and size of your bulb can be determined by the shape code, made up of 1-3 letters followed by a number. A standalone “R” stands for reflector, which is a mirror-like coating located on the inside of the bulb’s glass housing, ...
What is BR bulb?
BR bulbs are descendants of the R-shape bulb and therefore very similar in shape. However, the “Bulged Reflector” bulb (abbreviated as “BR”) includes an extra reflector in the neck of the bulb to better capture and cast light forward which was previously lost in the neck and sides of the standard R bulb. This extra reflector in the BR bulb creates ...
How many volts does a BR bulb need?
BR and R shape bulbs typically function between 120 to 130 volts.
Light Bulb Size Chart and Series
We need to understand that the light bulb series shows the shape and there is a number code that shows the light bulb diameter in 1/8th inch and millimeters (mm). The type of bulb is the determinant. Our size charts will be organized via a variety of sizes, bases, type of light, and intended use.
Light Bulb Size Chart
They can be called Standard bulbs, general lamp service (GLS), or arbitrary and the typical use is at home. The A-Series bulbs are used as kitchen lamps, porch lamps, ceiling lamps, floor and table lamps, and reading lamps.
Conclusion on light bulb size charts
As a matter of fact, having an illuminating bulb in your living room could be fun and aesthetic. There are different types of lighting as we have discussed in this light bulbs size chart guide. You will discover that different lightings or bulbs serve different purposes and comes along in different shapes and sizes.