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Home : Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs : Plug In
Plug In Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
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Click Here for our Base Type Chart
Plug-In Fluorescent Light Bulbs (Plug-In CFLs): Plug-In Fluorescent Light Bulbs, also called Plug-In CFL light bulbs, are used in a wide variety of applications. Plug-In Fluorescents are most commonly used in can lights, sconces, and accent lighting. You may also find Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs in security lights, exit signs, troffer fixtures, and decorative wall washers. Specially designed Plug-In CFL light bulbs are also used in high-end reading and task lamps (See our selection of Verilux fixtures and bulbs and OTT-LITE fixtures and bulbs.)Plug-In Fluorescent Light Bulbs require a ballast to operate. (See our line of Plug-In CFL Ballasts). The ballasts that operate Plug-In CFL's are generally located inside the fixture. Plug-In Fluorescent light bulb ballasts are designed to run a specific wattage of Plug-In CFL, thus you may only use the wattage of Plug-In Fluorescent light bulb that the fixture was designed for. Plug-In Fluorescents with 2 pins operate on magnetic ballasts, while 4-pin Plug-In Fluorescents operate on electronic ballasts. Magnetic Plug-In CFL ballasts are becoming less common and more expensive, and new Plug-In Fluorescent fixtures are all made with electronic ballasts.
Many wattages and styles of Plug-In CFL light bulbs have unique base types specific to the wattage of the light bulb (Base Type Chart). The base type will determine the type of socket (Plug-In CFL Sockets) that will accept the light bulb base, so base shape also determines which Plug-In Fluorescent light bulb will work with a specific fixture.
Although Plug-In Fluorescent fixtures are specifically designed for certain wattages and base types, different brands of Plug-In CFL light bulbs are interchangeable (with the exception of triple tube Plug-In Fluorescents and certain Plug-In CFL's for reading and task lamps).
There are four general styles of Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs: Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents, Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents (2-pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescent and 4-pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescent), Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescents, and Linear Plug-In Fluorescents.
Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents: Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents consist of either two separate parallel tubes, a single U-shaped tube, or two parallel tubes joined near the top of the bulb. Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are also called Low Wattage Biax (GE), PL-S Short Fluorescent Lamps (Philips), and Dulux S Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Sylvania). All Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents operate on magnetic ballasts. Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents have either a G23 or GX23 base depending on the wattage. Some high-end reading a task lamps use a Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescent with a base specific to the manufacturer of the lamp (to prevent interchangeability between brands). Twin Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are often found in can lights, accent lighting, sconces, wall washers, security lights, and exit lights.
2-pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescent: 2-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents consist of either 4 separate tubes aligned in a 2x2 pattern, or two U-shaped tubes aligned back-to-back. 2-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are also called 2- Pin Double Biax (GE), Dulux D 2-Pin Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Sylvania), and PL-C Cluster 2-Pin Fluorescent Lamps (Philips). All 2-Pin Quad Tube Plug- In Fluorescent light bulbs operate on magnetic ballasts. These Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents have G23d-2, GX23-2 (USA), G24d-1, G24d-2, or G24d-3 bases (depending of wattage). 2-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are often found in can lights, sconces, wall washers, and security lighting. These lamps are interchangeable between brands.
4-pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescent: 4-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents consist of either 4 separate tubes aligned in a 2x2 pattern, or two U-shaped tubes aligned back-to-back. 4-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are also called 4- Pin Double Biax (GE), PL-C Cluster 4-Pin Fluorescent Lamps (Philips), and Dulux D/E 4-Pin Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Sylvania). All 4-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. These 4-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents have G24Q-1, G24Q-2, and G24Q-3 bases depending on wattage. 4-Pin Quad Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are often found in can lights, sconces, wall washers, and security lighting. These lamps are interchangeable between brands.
Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescents: Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescent Light Bulbs consist of either three U-shaped tubes aligned back-to-back-to-back, or three U-s haped tubes aligned in a triangular formation. Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are also called 4-Pin Triple Biax (GE), PL-T Triple 4-Pin Fluorescent Lamps (Philips), or Dulux T/E/IN 4-Pin Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Sylvania). All Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. These Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescents have GX24Q-2, GX24Q-3, GX24Q-4, GX24Q- 5, or GX24Q-6 bases depending on wattage. Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescents are found in can lights, sconces, wall washers, and security lighting. Often times, but not always, certain fixtures require a specific brand of Triple Tube Plug-In Fluorescent light bulb in order to fit the fixture's socket, so it is best to be brand specific when ordering these products.
Linear Plug-In Fluorescents: Linear Plug-In Fluorescents consist of either two separate parallel tubes, a single U-shaped tube, or two parallel tubes joined near the top of the bulb, and have 4 pins on the base lined up in a row. Linear Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs are also called 4-Pin High Lumen Biax (GE), PL-L Long Fluorescent Lamps (Philips), or Dulux L High Lumen Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Sylvania). All Linear Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. 2G11 bases are utilized for all Linear Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs (regardless of wattage). Linear Plug-In Fluorescents are found in troffer fixtures, wall washer fixtures, retail track lighting, and menu boards. All brands of Linear Plug-In Fluorescent light bulbs are interchangeable.
