How To Use 4 Pin LED Bulb PL Lamp (2021 Guide)?
Pin-Based light bulbs are very common in CFL(Compact Fluorescent Lamps), while it comes to LED bulbs, you probably get confused about how to use them. What’s PLT, then what’s G24d, G24q, G24q-2, what’s the difference between them? One of my 4 pin CFL light bulbs failed, how can I replace it with LED? Read This article you will know everything about the 4 Pin LED bulb.
1.What’s PL lamp? What’s a 4 Pin Light Bulb?
PL lamp is one type of Compact Fluorescent Lamp, PL stands for Philips Lighting, the well-known lighting manufacturer who initially marketed its plug-in series. Not like regular CFL which already has an electronic ballast inside the bulb, PL lamp must connected to an external ballast to light up.
Basically, PL lamp is Pin-based, it’s available in various forms of 2-pin or 4-pin bases, here in this article we will discuss 4 pin only, for more information about 2 pin type, later we will have another blog introducing you 2 pin light bulbs knowledge.
4 pin light bulbs are widely used in residential or commercial lighting fixtures, with 4 pins on the base the bulbs are easy to be plugged in or unplugged out of the fixture socket. Generally, in bulb shape there are single tube, double tube, triple tube, quad tube, 2D tube, and circular tube.
2.What are PLL, PLC, PLT, PLS, PLR, PLH, PLQ bulbs?
Those names were from Philips, they are mostly referring to the shape of bulbs, sometimes they are also called PL-L, PL-S, PL-C, PL-T, PL-R, PL-H, and PL-Q.
PL-L represents plug-in lamps in long version.
PL-S represents plug-in lamps in short version.
PL-C represents plug-in cluster fluorescent lamps.
PL-T represents plug-in lamps with triple compact fluorescent turns (3U).
PL-R represents radius model (round socket) plug-in lamps.
PL-H represents high output plug-in lamps.
PL-Q represents Quadrant (2D) shaped flat lamps.
The below picture shows each of them and the corresponding base.
3.What’s G23, GX23, G24D, G24Q, GX24D, GX24Q, G10Q, GR10Q, 2G7, 2G8, 2G11?
It’s always a critical step to identify the bases of a PL lamp before you are going to install or replace it. Use the wrong bulb or unmatched pin may cause the lights burnout or even electric shock. There are many base types like G24d, G24q, GX24q. But generally speaking, they are either 2 pins or 4 pins, from the below configuration drawings you may easily find out the differences for those most popular base types.
2 pins – G23, GX23, G24d
4 pins – G24q
4 pins – GX24q
4 pins – 2G7, 2G8, 2G11, GR14q, GR10q, G10q
4.Where to use 4 Pin LED Bulb？
Considering the shape and size of 4 Pin tube Bulb (single/double/triple/quad), plus their illumination field angle, they are commonly used in recessed downlight, reading lamp, mini floor light and sometimes even in the high bay. The twist/spiral PL bulb is quite similar to the traditional incandescent bulb. So it is used to replace the light bulb in the table lamp. On the other hand, 2D and circular were designed to work in ceiling light where requires a flat but wide light source.
5.How to replace 4 Pin CFL with LED？
With the advantages of a longer lifetime, more energy-saving, and eco-friendly than CFL, LED becoming the overwhelming light source in recent years, here are 5 TIPS you should follow before replacing a CFL PL bulb with LED.
5.1 Find out CFL PL light type and base type
First, you need to find out the CFL type that was used in your fixture. Simply open your light fixture and compare the CFL bulb to above mentioned information.
5.2 Make sure your CFL has its LED replacement
Second, you should know currently except the 2D and dimmable types, all other types of CFL have LED replacements.
For instance, here are some LED replacements from Harolux for 2 pin and 4 pin CFL.
5.3 Choose the suitable LED wattage
Third, choose the most suitable LED replacement according to the CFL bulb’s wattage, 2 pin or 4 pin LED bulb usually only uses 50% power of CFL. Harolux provides a PL replacement solution from CFL 7W to 42W CFL bulb. Again, always make sure the base is the same before replacing a CFL PL lamp.
5.4 Wire a LED PL in CFL fixture
Finally, the old CFL bulb usually has ballast in the light fixture. When you are doing the replacement, you need to make sure the LED PL can work with the ballast. If not, you need to bypass the ballast and rewire.
Here are the two wiring ways for each installation.
1) Direct replace, work with an existing electronic ballast. Actually, under that condition, you barely have anything to do, just take out the old CFL PL lamp, and plug in the LED PL bulb.
2) Bypass. In this application, the electronic ballast should be removed or bypassed, the line voltage power goes to the LED PL bulb directly. It’s better to hire a professional to avoid any unexpected accident.
But there’s a way to say NO to so much trouble. The hybrid LED G24 bulb designed by Harolux not only can work with an electronic ballast, which allows you to do the direct replacement, but also can work with the direct AC wire, which you may bypass the ballast when it fails. Such two installation options give it a wider application and less maintenance cost, saving money even more
About 6 years ago, my predecessors swapped CFLs for LEDs. The LED bulbs indicate that they are ballast friendly however I am now discovering fixtures with failed heat cycled outlets (the plastic will sometimes disintegrate will removing the bulb) and even scorching. I suspect the bulbs are not compatible with the existing ballasts.
Will Harolux’s hybrid LED G24 work even if the existing ballast has failed and still inline?
Hi Tim, yes our hybrid LED G24 can work with line voltage AC120-277V if the existing ballast is failed.
Hi,
As I understand your answer.
If the existing ballast brok down and the LED G24 are powered by this ballast. Will it still work?… Or must this ballast be disconnected/bypassed and the LED have to be connected direct to 230Volt line?
Hi Ola,
If the ballast broke down, the LED G24 will not work, the ballast has to be bypassed.