Before LEDs came into the scene, pin-based CFLs were the go-to option for downlights because they were more energy efficient. Halogen and incandescent bulbs consume more power, so they weren’t ideal for home or commercial use. LEDs disrupted the market, but since most people had installed PL CFL fixtures, they needed pin-based LED bulbs to make the switch. In this article, we will look at the 4-pin LED bulb variety to show you how to make the replacement. Let’s get right into it!
What’s a 4-Pin Light Bulb?
A 4-pin light bulb is a compact bulb with four power connection pins manufactured by Philips Lighting (PL). Unlike regular CFL plug-in lamps with an electronic ballast inside the bulb, PL lamps have an external ballast.
Electronic ballast for fluorescent tubes
These bulbs were CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) originally. But with the benefits of LED lamps, the technology is replacing 4-pin CFL lamps as the most preferred 4-pin light bulb. The four pins plug into the fixture socket, and the bulb can have several shapes, such as:
- 2D tube
- Quad tube
- Triple tube
- Double tube
- Single tube
- Circular tube
A circular tube with its electronic ballast
What are PLL, PLC, PLT, PLS, PLR, PLH, and PLQ Bulbs
Since Philips Lighting invented the 4-pin plug-in lamp, they labeled them differently according to the bulb shape and output. These labels include the following:
- PL-L: L means the compact fluorescent plug-in bulb is the long/extended version
- PL-C: C implies it is a cluster compact fluorescent lamp
- PL-T: T means it is a triple fluorescent lamp set in one
- PL-S: S shows it is a short version
- PL-R: R represents the radius model lamp, which has a round socket
- PL-H: H implies it is a high-output compact fluorescent lamp
- PL-Q: Q stands for quadrant, indicating it is a flat 2D-shaped lamp
What are G23, GX23, G24d, G24q, GX24d, GX24q, G10q, GR10q, 2G7, 2G8, and 2G11?
Another way to categorize the lamps is through their bases. Since some CFL pin-based lamps have two pins, you can classify and define the bulbs based on the number of pins and the base shape into the following types.
2-Pin
These six plug-in light bulbs have two pins.
G23
A G23 has a square base center with extensions on two sides. These extensions contain pins (one on each side). The other two sides without wings have a notch on each side to help with fitting into the fixture.
G23 base bulbs
GX23 & GX23-2
A GX23 base is similar to the G23 type but with four notches instead of two. However, the GX23-2 is very different. It still has a square/rectangular middle part with four notches but no “wings”. The primary difference is the outer square surrounding the middle one. This outer section has two cracks on the outer edge.
G24d-1, G24d-2 & G24d-3
These three resemble the GX23-2 base but with minor differences. The most notable one is the pin positioning. They lie diagonally concerning the inner and outer squares. Also, they have two notches on opposite sides of the inner courtyard.
However, d-1 has the two outer notches directly behind the inner ones. On the other hand, d-2 and d-3 place these notches diagonally but on opposite sides.
4-Pin
The following bulbs contain four pins.
Various light bulb base types
G24q-1, G24q-2 & G24q-3
These three G24q 4-pin base light bulbs are the 4-pin equivalents of the 2-pin d-1, d-2, and d-3 bases described above. They have the same shape and design but with four pins.
GX24q-2, GX24q-3, GX24q-4, & GX24q-5
The first three bases closely resemble each other. They have the same inner and outer square design but with a step or molding between the two squares. This section contains the pins and notches.
However, the notches for q-2 and q-3 are diagonal but on opposite sides. On the other hand, q-4 has four cracks.
The last one (q-5) is different from the others because it has a hexagonal outer shape.
A 4-pin bulb
G10q
A G10q base features slightly curved edges with four pins in the middle. The inner curved edge fits into circular tubes.
GR10q
GR10q is a rectangular base, but one side has steps to make it narrow. It has a sunken middle part, with four pins on the broader side.
GR14q-1
GR14q-1 has an oval base with the four pins sunken and forming a square in the middle.
2G11
This base is rectangular and has four pins lying on a flat line in the middle (along the length of the longest side).
2G7
2G7 is rectangular with rounded corners and four notches on each edge. The four pins lie on a flat line like in 2G11.
2G8-1
Lastly, 2G8-1 is a round base with a circular section protruding from the center. It has four pins on a straight line and four notches distributed along the outer edge.
Benefits of LED PL-Type 4Pin Bulbs
4-pin LED-PL lamps have the following advantages compared to the fluorescent bulb options.
- Provide consistent and uniform lighting without flickering
- Have a long lifespan (up to 50,000 hours)
- Use less energy to produce the same amount of brightness
- Come in a wide color temperature variety (ranges from 2700K to 5000K)
The different bulb types
Where To Use 4 Pin LED Bulbs?
4-pin LED bulbs match the shape & size of CFL plug-in light bulbs and have a similar illumination field angle. Therefore, you can use the quad, triple, double, and single shapes in the following areas.
- Recessed downlights
- Reading lamps
- Mini floor lights
- High bay lights
However, twist or spiral bulbs are ideal for table lamps because they resemble incandescent bulbs.
Circular and 2D 4-pin bulbs are flat and broader than the rest, which makes them ideal for ceiling lights.
A circular tube in a ceiling light
How To Replace 4 Pin CFL with LED?
Since 4-pin LED replacements have several advantages over their CFL counterparts, you should consider switching to the former. Use the following tips to install the LED lamps.
Identify the CFL Light and Base Type
Unplug the CFL bulb in your light fixture to check which CFL light shape and base it uses.
Ensure the CFL has an LED Option
Apart from the dimmable and 2D CFL types, all the others have compact LED bulb replacements.
Calculate the Suitable LED Wattage
The energy efficiency of LED bulbs is unmatched because they consume up to 50% less power than their CFL counterparts. Therefore, divide the wattage by two to calculate the suitable wattage. The 100-125 watt equivalent LED bulb of a CFL should have a rating of about 50 watts.
A recessed ceiling downlight with an LED bulb
Wire the LED Bulb in the Fixture
The ballast of traditional CFL bulbs is usually in the light fixture. Some LED bulbs are direct replacements, meaning they do not need a ballast bypass. With these units, you only have to unplug the old CFL, then insert the new LED bulb.
However, if the bulb does not have a “direct replacement” label, you must remove or bypass the electronic ballast. Such LED bulbs take in the line voltage power directly.
Fast Payback for LED Direct Replacement
Removing or bypassing the ballast is a technical and risky job. Therefore, you might need an electrician to do the work. If you factor in the LED bulb and labor costs, your payback period might be 2-3 years.
The direct replacement bulb does not require an electrician because it is a simple unplugging and insertion process. This bulb reduces the payback period to less than two years. Remember, LEDs will lower your power bills, and this reduction should count in the payback.
Summary
In conclusion, switching to the 4-pin LED bulb is not such a difficult task. The replacement will be expensive initially, but it will save you money in the long run. That’s it for this article. If you have any questions or comments, contact us for further details.
