CHECK THE BULB BASE FIRST

Common bases found in hospitality environments include:
E27 Screw Base
One of the most common bulb bases that screws into the fitting.
B22 Bayonet Base
A traditional push-and-twist fitting commonly found in many SA properties.
GU10 Base
Often used for spotlights, downlights and some outdoor fittings. These bulbs have two short pins that twist into place.
G4 and G9 Bases
Small capsule-style bulbs often used in decorative fittings.

CHECK THE VOLTAGE

Voltage refers to the amount of electrical power required for a bulb to operate.

In South Africa, most household and hospitality lighting operates on 230V.

The voltage is usually marked on the existing bulb packaging or printed directly on the bulb.

Always replace a bulb with the correct voltage to ensure safe operation.

WATTS VS. BRIGHTNESS

One of the most common mistakes is choosing a bulb based only on watts.
Watts measure how much energy a bulb uses, not how bright it is.

Modern LED bulbs use fewer watts while producing the same amount of light as older incandescent bulbs.

Instead, look at:
Lumens
Lumens measure the brightness of a bulb. The higher the lumen rating, the more light the bulb produces.

MATCH THE BULB SHAPE TO THE FITTING

The shape of the bulb affects both the appearance and the spread of light.

Examples include:
A60 bulbs for general lighting
Candle bulbs for chandeliers and decorative fittings
ST64 and G95 filament bulbs for feature pendants
GU10 bulbs for downlights and focused, directional lighting

CHECK WHETHER THE BULB NEEDS TO BE DIMMABLE

If your lighting is connected to a dimmer switch, you need a dimmable LED bulb.

Using a standard LED bulb on a dimmer can cause:
- flickering
- buzzing
- reduced bulb lifespan