Light Bulbs Collection

The Light Bulbs collection covers replacement lamps for nearly every socket in a home or small business. Standard A19 and A23 LED bulbs from Linkind and FLSNT, BR30 and BR40 floods for recessed cans, PAR30 and PAR38 outdoor floods, Edison-style ST64 filament bulbs from Sunco Lighting, E12 candelabras for chandeliers and G9, MR16 and G40 specialty shapes are all here. There are also 4-pin CFL tubes, 4-foot T8 LED tubes, smart Wi-Fi bulbs from Govee and others, and rechargeable bulbs.

Begin with the base and shape, since the bulb must physically fit: E26 is the standard medium screw base, E12 the small candelabra, GU5.3 a two-pin 12 V MR16 base and GX24q-3 a four-pin CFL plug. Then compare brightness in lumens rather than watts; about 800 lumens replaces a 60 W incandescent and 1,600 lumens a 100 W. Choose colour temperature for the room, from 2700K warm to 5000K daylight, and check CRI if accurate colour matters. If the fixture is on a dimmer, buy bulbs marked dimmable. For enclosed or outdoor fixtures, check that the bulb is rated for enclosed or wet use.

Some LED T8 tubes run on the existing ballast while others require bypassing it, which means rewiring the fixture at line voltage; shut off the breaker and follow the tube's wiring diagram. Smart bulbs typically connect only to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Used CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, so take them to a lamp recycling drop-off rather than the household garbage.

Frequently asked questions

How many lumens equal a 60-watt bulb?

A traditional 60 W incandescent produces about 800 lumens, so look for an LED of 800 lumens or slightly more. For reference, a 40 W equivalent is around 450 lumens, 75 W about 1,100 lumens and 100 W about 1,600 lumens. LEDs reach these levels at a fraction of the wattage, typically 8 to 9 W for the 60 W equivalent.

Why does my LED bulb flicker on a dimmer?

Older dimmers were designed for incandescent loads and may not work well with the low wattage of LEDs. Make sure the bulb is labelled dimmable, then check the dimmer maker's list of compatible LED bulbs. Replacing the switch with an LED-rated dimmer, or adjusting its low-end trim setting if it has one, usually solves flicker and buzzing.

What is the difference between Type A and Type B LED tubes?

Type A tubes plug directly into a fixture with a compatible existing ballast. Type B tubes run on line voltage with the ballast removed or bypassed, which requires rewiring. Type A+B hybrid tubes can do either. Bypassing a ballast removes a part that can fail, but it means working with live circuit wiring, so turn off power first.

Can I use an LED bulb in an enclosed fixture?

Only if the bulb is rated for enclosed fixtures. Enclosed globes and sealed outdoor lights trap heat, and LED electronics degrade faster when they run hot. Bulbs not rated for this use may dim early or fail. The rating is printed on the packaging or listing; for outdoor enclosed fixtures, look for both enclosed and damp or wet ratings.