379:
395:
336:
367:
348:
20:
323:
may also be contained in the base of older two-volt LED colors (red, orange, yellow) when in a mixed-color set, so that they match the three volts needed by the newer colors (blue, deep green, purple, white), however other manufacturers only change the value of the resistor that is a part of the cord
176:
In Europe, bulbs using wedge base connectors are often referred to by the designations the World Forum for
Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations has assigned to them, like P27/7W for W2.5x16q when used as a combined 27 and 7 watt light bulb intended for position, brake and turn lights in vehicles.
261:
between them when used outdoors. Many sets have an optional "locking" tab on the edge of the base that snaps onto or into the side of the socket, to prevent bulbs from becoming loose and falling out and causing the set to fail to light. This is problematic for light sets with
249:
instead of round), so the plastic bases often need to be swapped when replacing bulbs. (The wedge bases are now usually not even supplied with the bulbs, which cost nearly as much as buying a new set, typically 10 bulbs for a dollar but a new set of 100 for two dollars.)
142:. In this case, one has its contacts near the center of the base, and the other toward the outside edges, so that they cannot be accidentally swapped. Along with putting contacts on the opposite (alternating) sides, this gives the base
234:
378:
104:. In contrast, a "slide base" (sometimes "telephone slide base") lamp also is inserted in a socket without rotation, but has two long contacts on either side of the lamp envelope connected to the lead wires.
245:, where they are easy and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and assemble into their sockets. However, each manufacturer has a slightly different type of wedge base differing in exact dimensions (or even
293:(i.e. two circuits of 50 in a typical 100 incandescent set) because of the third wire, and therefore a different wedge base with a wider separator that cannot be inserted into other regular sockets.
50:
that extend into the bulb (rather than being rigid), and the wires are bent up onto the sides of the base, where they make contact with the socket. The wires are usually inserted into a
335:
153:
and possibly a second letter indicating the exact type (often keyed to prevent the wrong colors from being used in automobiles), the thickness in millimetres, a lowercase
319:(negative lead) being higher on the wedge base. GE-branded sets (no longer actually made by GE) use a larger round base with a tab that sticks out to one side. A small
347:
281:
often have special bases which they are permanently glued into, to keep the user from putting too many in a strand, or into strands not designed for them.
394:
366:
270:, which will not fit over this type of base or socket unless they have a special notch, which can in turn allow rainwater or snowmelt into the
242:
165:
for a quad-contact (dual-filament) one. Like small bi-pins, the measurement may be expressed as a decimal, such as 2.5, instead of a
253:
Modern sets typically have a long and thin wedge that extends all the way down to the back end of the socket, separating the two
199:). In this type of "bulb", all of the LEDs may light regardless of which of the contacts are activated on the base, but like a
436:
173:
designator, as in T5, T10, or T15. Alternatively, a numerical code is sometimes used, such as 921 for a W16W/T15 bulb.
289:" bulbs that had special bases at both ends of a set. Modern sets also often have larger sockets at each end of each
23:
W2.1x9.5d base, a common 5-watt bulb in landscape lighting and some interior automotive applications such as the
225:
bulbs (such as the common PL-13) use a large wedge-like base, they are designated as bi-pin or quad-pin bases.
120:
62:
431:
85:
411:
146:
so that the user does not have to determine the exact position of the bulb before inserting a new one.
54:
base that the bulb is mounted in, and which is often narrower at the tip than at the bulb, giving it a
271:
254:
35:
300:
222:
143:
108:
290:
263:
219:
116:
97:
65:. Some bulbs have no plastic base, and the wires are simply bent up to the sides of the bulb's
286:
112:
341:
W2.1x9.5d base (as in the image at the head of the article), but 16 watts for automotive use
282:
188:
55:
43:
72:
The bulb is inserted and removed with straight in or out force, without turning as with a
166:
425:
354:
215:
131:
73:
59:
278:
100:
that "grab" the corners or other protrusions on the base to prevent loosening from
81:
77:
169:. In the US and the automotive industry, the bases are often designated with a
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produced sets in the late 1970s or early 1980s with special green-tipped clear "
208:
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24:
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19:
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51:
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192:
384:
WX2.5x16q base, 7- & 27-watt filaments for parking lights and
312:
258:
232:
66:
18:
241:
Billions of wedge-base bulbs are used in miniature (T1¾ or 5mm)
47:
296:
180:
388:, WX has a wide rim that will not fit the white-only W socket
88:
is the force that holds the bulb in, while others use simple
191:
that controls the blinking of turn signals, or cause others
58:
shape and usually ensuring a tight connection, depending on
400:
WX2.5x16q base as seen from the bottom of the connector
303:, and keep them from being used in incandescent sets.
161:
to indicate a double-contact (single-filament) bulb or
372:
W2.5x16q base as seen from the bottom of the connector
187:
incandescents with the same base, but may affect the
237:5mm dome LEDs with wedge bases and locking tabs
353:W2.5x16q base, 7- & 27-watt filaments for
8:
315:(positive lead) being lower and the shorter
157:, the width in millimeters, and a lowercase
149:Wedge bases are designated with the letter
299:sets also have special bases that enforce
207:is changed instead by the bulb's internal
46:, except that the two "pins" are the same
203:or a three-way screw-in fluorescent, the
195:to assume that a light bulb is out (see
107:Bulbs of this type are commonly used in
331:
7:
14:
393:
377:
365:
346:
334:
311:use an offset, with the longer
183:bulbs are also made that will
1:
92:, or snap into a socket with
257:and contacts and preventing
38:used as a fitting for small
453:
214:Although several types of
119:. The bulb may have dual
42:. It is similar to the
16:Type of electrical mount
307:-branded sets and most
123:, acting as both a low-
238:
27:
437:Electrical connectors
412:Automotive lamp types
255:electrical conductors
236:
229:Christmas mini lights
134:and a higher-wattage
22:
84:. For true wedges,
80:, on certain bi-pin
36:electrical connector
301:electrical polarity
223:compact fluorescent
144:rotational symmetry
109:automotive lighting
98:electrical contacts
239:
117:landscape lighting
28:
115:lighting used in
444:
397:
381:
369:
350:
338:
283:General Electric
243:Christmas lights
189:electrical relay
44:bi-pin connector
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355:parking lights
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15:
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432:Types of lamp
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279:twinkle bulbs
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132:parking light
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99:
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82:light sockets
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74:bayonet mount
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60:manufacturing
57:
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49:
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37:
34:is a type of
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26:
21:
386:turn signals
359:brake lights
324:set itself.
309:store brands
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213:
179:
175:
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167:whole number
162:
158:
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150:
148:
106:
78:Edison screw
71:
31:
29:
197:idiot light
140:turn signal
136:brake light
113:low-voltage
86:compression
40:light bulbs
426:Categories
418:References
272:decoration
209:electronic
205:brightness
128:tail light
63:tolerances
32:wedge base
25:dome light
247:hexagonal
220:ballasted
121:filaments
102:vibration
406:See also
321:resistor
277:Special
211:wiring.
185:retrofit
96:-loaded
90:friction
328:Gallery
317:cathode
305:Philips
291:circuit
268:icicles
216:fixture
193:sensors
125:wattage
111:and in
52:plastic
264:covers
201:dimmer
94:spring
69:base.
313:anode
266:like
259:water
67:glass
56:wedge
48:wires
357:and
287:fuse
297:LED
181:LED
138:or
130:or
76:or
428::
274:.
30:A
218:-
171:T
163:q
159:d
155:x
151:W
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