Compact Fluorescent Lamps: How to identify which ones you need

Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFL) are energy saving lightbulbs that were designed as one of the first types of energy saving technology produced to replace inefficient incandescent and halogen lightbulbs. Although they are now being phased out in place of LED upgrades there are still many businesses and households that have these in situ. There are 2 types of CFL, integrated and non-integrated but what is the difference? An integrated version combines the ballast within the lightbulb and are direct replacements for Bayonet, Screw and GU10 cap lightbulbs. A non-integrated CFL runs in conjunction with a ballast that is installed separately within the luminaire, these come with a push in/plug in pin base.

So how do I know which one I need to order? Non-integrated CFL lightbulbs are not interchangeable, and you must replace them with a like for like versions, using the same wattage and cap/base that you are replacing. They come in a variety of wattages, shapes and pin configuration, lets cover a few of the most common types of compact fluorescent lamps below. Different brands have different names for them, included below are the brand names for GE/Tungsram, Philips/Signify, Slyvania, Bell and Osram/Ledvance.

Brand Names: PLS, Lynx S, Dulux S, BLS, Biax S

G23 Cap/base = 5watt, 7watt, 9watt, 11watt

Check out our range of Single Turn 2 pin.

Brand Names: PLS, Lynx S/E, Dulux S/E, BLS, Biax S/E

2G7 Cap /base = 5watt, 7watt, 9watt, 11watt

Check out our range of Single Turn 4 pin.

Brand Names: PLC, Lynx D, Dulux D, BLD, Biax D

G24d-1 cap/base = 10watt and 13watt

G24d-2 cap/base = 18watt

G24d-3 cap/base = 26watt

Check out our range of Double Turn 2 pin.

Brand Names: PLC, Lynx D/E, Dulux D/E, BLD, Biax D/E

G24q-1 cap/base = 10watt and 13watt

G24q-2 cap/base = 18watt

G24q-3 cap/base = 26watt

Check out our range of Double Turn 4 pin.

Brand Names: PLC, Lynx D, Dulux D, BLD, Biax D

GX24d-1 cap/base = 13watt

GX24d-2 cap/base = 18watt

GX24d-3 cap/base = 26watt

GX24d-4 cap/base = 32watt

Check out our range of Triple Turn 2 pin.

Brand Names: PLC, Lynx D, Dulux D, BLD, Biax D

GX24d-1 cap/base = 13watt

GX24d-2 cap/base = 18watt

GX24d-3 cap/base = 26watt

GX24d-4 cap/base = 32watt

Check out our range of Triple Turn 2 pin.

Brand Names: PLC, Lynx D/E, Dulux D/E, BLD, Biax D/E

GX24q-1 cap/base = 13watt

GX24q-2 cap/base = 18watt

GX24q-3 cap/base = 26watt

GX24q-4 cap/base = 32watt

GX24q-5 cap/base = 57watt

Check out our range of Triple Turn 4 pin.

Brand Names: PLL, Lynx L, Dulux L, BLL, Biax L

2G11 cap/base = 28watt, 24watt 34watt,36watt,40watt, 55watt, 80watt

Check out our range of Single Turn Long 4 pin.

Brand names: PL-Q, Lynx Q, Square, 2D

GR8 cap/base= 16watt, 28watt

Check out our range of 2D 2 pin.

Brand names: PL-Q, Lynx Q/E, Square, 2D

GR10q cap/base = 16watt, 28watt, 38watt

GR10q-3 cap/base = 55watt

Check out our range of 2D 4 pin.

Although you cannot interchange the wattages of these compact fluorescent lamps, you can change the colour temperature. Typically, they come in 827 2700k warm, 830 3000k warm white, 835 3500k white, 840 4000k cool white and 860 6000k Daylight. If you want your lighting to look uniform, it is important to use the same colour temperature throughout.