You’ve come to the right place if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the variety of bulbs on the market. First, it is essential to determine the bulb base before considering color temperatures and lumens, since only a base that is compatible with the bulb is a necessity for normal operation.
E26 is the term for a bulb and refers to an Edison screw bulb base with a diameter of 26mm.
Thomas Edison invented the screw-mounted light bulb in 1909, which is still used today as the standard American light bulb base, which is a 120-volt light bulb base.
It was originally used in incandescent bulbs, and later fluorescent/CFL/LEDs continued this basic design.
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What types of light bulbs have an E26 base?
It is commonly used in ordinary household light bulbs, incandescent lamps, fluorescent CFL lamps, LED lamps, etc.
E26 base bulb shapes
As the 7004-21A-2 protocol standard base is defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), E26 base bulbs appearance and size remain unchanged. Common shapes for bulbs attached to the base are A, Classic, Globe, tubular, candle etc.
E26 bulbs difference from A19 bulbs
In the United States, the most common bulb term is a19, which can be explained in two sentences.
“A” means that the bulb is shaped like a pear, also known as a pear-shaped lamp.
The bulb’s widest diameter is divided by 8 inches, which is 19.
If the base is the head of the bulb and the shape of the bulb is the body, we use E26 to express the type and size of the base of the bulb, which is the head; A19 to express the shape and size of the bulb, which is the body. This is where the E26 differs from the A19.
Advantages of E26 bulbs
As a standard size base, it is compatible with all household lamp sockets on the market, and its related accessories are also readily available. As a threaded connection, the installation process is simple and can be installed without tools. Only a tightly installed bulb can be powered on, so failures and connections can be quickly inspected.
Its difference from E27
E26 and E27 are the most commonly used bulb base sizes around the world, depending on the voltage used in the region. The E26 base is universally used in the 120-volt range. The E27 base is used in the 240v voltage range.
- The diameter of the screw is the same, but the appearance is different by 1mm.
- In light of the varying diameter, various types of connection accessories must be used.
- The voltage requirements for e26 and e27 are different.
- The North American standard is E26, while the European continental standard is E27. This is due to the fact that the voltages are different.
- The smaller base connection on an E26 makes it impossible to use it with 240v voltage, and the bulb will be damaged as a result of the voltage mismatch.
- The E27 bulb cannot be used with 120V voltage due to its bigger base, which makes the connection too tight, resulting in only half of the power being used, which means the bulb’s brightness is half of what it normally is.
As you can see, E26 and E27 bulb bases are different, which is the reason why they cannot be used together.
There is an easy way to tell if the bulb base is E26 or E27 in a matter of seconds. As mentioned above, common bulb bases come in 4 sizes. Among them, 40mm and 17mm are easy to distinguish with the naked eye. The rest is E26 or E27, based on the standards used in your area, you can quickly identify the difference. Of course, you can also check the box, or use a ruler to measure.
Where to buy E26 bulbs
In the US, 90% of bulbs have E26 bases. Every bulb sold in areas that use 120V will have an E26 bulb base. However, you’ll need to order if it is in 240V area.
Conclusion
As a primary consideration when purchasing an E26 bulb, compatibility with electrical equipment and voltage in the area must be ensured. According to the concept of space design, a variety of color temperatures and brightness levels can be selected as well.