Understanding light bulb bases?

[Thetech]

Excuse my harshness but what the HELL do they mean on the packaging to light bulbs when the say gu10 Par2? E23 whatever?

I've googled and googled without any success.
What stops me from using one bulb type in one fixture over another?




-Thank you

 

[compuwiz1]

I've never paid attention, so don't know. I am still, however, trying to figure out who the guy named Pat Pending is, who's name is on a bunch of my stuff. 😉

 

[BigJ]

The letter is going to refer to the type of base, the number the size.

E23 is an Edision base size 23. Example, E17 is Edison base, size 17 (typically referred to as Intermediate base).

Do NOT confuse this with class, which is typically another letter.

GU10 is referring to the base (GU is a twist-lock base) with the 10 being the size.

Par20 would be a parabolic type bulb with typically a medium base, with 20 referring to the size of the bulb.

 

[BigJ]

http://www.lightingfacts.com/Incandescent.htm

That's something I found on Google for you. At work we actually have a huge book from Philips specifying any and every type of light bulb you could possibly imagine.

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: BigJ
http://www.lightingfacts.com/Incandescent.htm

That's something I found on Google for you. At work we actually have a huge book from Philips specifying any and every type of light bulb you could possibly imagine.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I thank you! lol.
So here's the question I have, is it ok to use a bulb in any socket it fits in as long as
it doesn't exceed the wattage the fixture states not to exceed?

 

[Thetech]

bump

 

[mrrman]

yes...because they make decorative lights and regular lights...as long as the wattage is not exceeded no big deal