How to properly connect a light bulb socket to the wires.

Table of contents

Screw sockets Design and principle of operation of an electric screw socket Ceramic sockets Plastic sockets Carbolite sockets Sockets for pin sockets G Sockets for fluorescent lamps Sockets G5 Sockets G13 Double sockets 2 G13 Sockets for halogen lamps
Once upon a time, someone very smart said : “Yes, there will be light!” And there was light. And since then we have been nowhere without light. Especially in Russia, where in December the day lasts only a few hours. But thank God, we live in the twenty-first century and we have at our disposal a lot of devices that give us, although artificial, such necessary and pleasant light. Which is the simplest of these devices? Yes, of course, a light bulb! Where does a light bulb usually go? A light bulb, as everyone knows, is inserted into a socket. It’s these same cartridges that we’ll talk about now.

An electric cartridge is essentially a transmission link that transfers the energy of an electric current to a device that generates light. In addition, the cartridge also has a mounting function - it is in it that the device itself for generating light is mounted. Let us add that it can also have an aesthetic purpose, be beautiful, decorative and delight our eyes.

Figure 1. Electric sockets

How to connect an electric cartridge

The connection of the lamp socket depends on the type of socket. There are different types, each with their own characteristics:

1. Connection with screws. In this case, the middle and side contacts are fixed on one side, and the wire is connected on the reverse. To do this, its ends are protected by several centimeters and loops are made according to the size of the screws used. They are placed and pressed down using fasteners to ensure a secure fit and prevent the screw clamp from loosening over time.

   The screw clamp is simple and reliable.

2. Cable connection via screw terminals. This type is different in that the holder is already built into the cartridge body. You need to unscrew the screws to open the hole. The end of the wire is inserted into it, which is previously stripped at the required distance. When attaching, make sure that the wire is directly under the screw and pressed tightly against the mounting hole. Tighten completely to ensure good contact.

   Cartridge type with threaded ends.

3. The connection in the screwless spindle is different from the previous ones. It has two pairs of slots containing spring-loaded brass clips. In chandeliers with several sockets, a pair arrangement is required, since the voltage is supplied to one. The rest are connected in series using small jumpers. If the wires are twisted, it is difficult to insert them, it is better to strip the end about 10 mm long. Then they are tinned with a soldering iron, so inserting the wire is not difficult.

   Self-locking connection.

If you don't have a soldering iron handy, you can insert the stranded version using a small screwdriver or a nail of the appropriate diameter. It is necessary to press the latch, bring the wire to it and remove the gasket to securely fix the contact.

If you need to remove the old plug and insert a new one, you may have trouble disconnecting the cable from the screwless terminal. If it is possible to insert a screwdriver or other thin element, it is worth doing. When there is nothing suitable at hand, you need to firmly grab the wire near the stand and pull it towards you with moderate force, swinging it from side to side.

Screw cartridges

The most common type of socket is screw socket, for lamps with base type E, where the letter E reminds us of the inventor of the incandescent lamp, the brilliant American self-taught Thomas Alva Edison. Edison screw type, that is, Edison screw. Lamps in this type of sockets can be screwed in and out. After the letter E, the diameter of the lamp base in mm is indicated. For example, the following cartridges exist: E5, E10, E14, E27 and E40. The most common cartridges in everyday life are E14 and E27. E40 sockets are mainly designed for powerful light sources and are used in street lighting.

Each cartridge is marked with information about its characteristics, which is applied to its body. Cartridges for E14 sockets have an operating current of no more than 2 A, a rated power of 440 W, E27 - no more than 4 A, 880 W; E40 - no more than 16 A, 3500 W. The marking applied to the cartridge body depends on the manufacturer and usually looks like this: 4A 250V, 4-250, 4/250. The maximum voltage supplied to the cartridge is 250 V.

Cartridge difference

Manufacturers use different types and sizes of chandelier sockets, both in one quantity and a small number of pieces in one chandelier, which differ in high overall dimensions. Often, ordinary E 27 or E 14 products are used for chandeliers; it is easier for them to select a lighting lamp.

But there are other types of products that are used in chandeliers. For example, the G series refers to halogen and fluorescent lamps with proper sockets.

The most common G types are G-4; G 9; G-R7S; GU10, so you need to carefully consider their choice. When you buy a chandelier, read its technical specifications so that you know which lamp you should use for this chandelier.

Important! For chandeliers with low voltage cartridges (G4), you need to choose a location for a step-down transformer.

It has a socket into which a light bulb or any chandelier is screwed. Sometimes it happens that it is necessary to replace not only the lamp, but also the lamp socket itself or repair it. Often the reason is that the cartridge body bursts or the contacts burn out.

Anyone can cope with this task on their own if they perform all the actions of a specific scheme. Be sure to follow electrical safety rules while working to avoid accidents.

Design and principle of operation of an electric screw chuck

The design of this cartridge is quite simple: it consists of three elements - a cylindrical body, where the sleeve with Edison thread is located, a ceramic liner and two copper or brass contacts for supplying electric current to the lamp. The connection of wires to the cartridge itself can be carried out in three ways: a screw connection to a ceramic insert with brass contacts mounted on it, using terminal blocks and a screwless method (for plastic cartridges).

Important! When connecting wires to the socket, the phase must be connected to the central contact of the light bulb base. With this connection, when screwing in and unscrewing the light bulb, the likelihood of electric shock is minimal.

Figure 2. Diagram of a threaded cartridge

Lamp socket with E14 , the second most common lamp socket after E27. It is especially often used for miniature incandescent lamps, which are popularly called minions. Lamps for this socket come in various shapes - spherical, candle-shaped, drop-shaped, pear-shaped. Depending on the type of surface, they can be transparent, mirror, or matte. The power of lamps for such sockets is usually limited to 60 Watts.

E27 screw chuck is the most common of all screw chucks. It should be noted that in addition to incandescent lamps, this socket can also be used with other types of lamps, such as LED, halogen, compact fluorescent, gas discharge and others. Such omnivorous nature of this cartridge allows you to painlessly switch, for example, from an incandescent lamp to an economical and durable LED lamp, just by unscrewing one lamp and screwing in another.

Screw sockets for E14 and E27 sockets, depending on the material from which they are made, come in three types: ceramic, plastic and carbolite.

Figure 3. Types of threaded cartridges

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of this cartridge:

• ease of disassembly and assembly

• time-tested reliability

• contact pads are fixed with screws

Firstly, if necessary (burnout, melting), they can be replaced. Or simply tighten it when the contacts loosen and the connection heats up.

By the way, these screws need to be tightened initially, even before directly connecting the wires. This will extend the life of the socket and light bulb significantly.

In 90% of cases, the light bulb stops shining because the central contact heats up and its plate-shaped area begins to bend, gradually moving away from the lamp base.

Flaws:

• inconvenient connection to screw terminals

To ensure good contact, you will have to unscrew them entirely from their seat.

Moreover, if you have a non-Wera screwdriver with a bunch of additional “chips,” then this screw often falls out and rolls into the most inappropriate places.

Although experienced electricians do without completely unscrewing the screws and bending the neat rings on the copper conductors. The entire connection is made much easier.

The veins are stripped a little more than usual (2-3 centimeters), and the screws are only loosened. Next, place the vein under the washer with the screw and make a turn strictly in the direction of tightening the thread.

This is necessary so that when tightening the screw, the ring does not unbend, but rather tightens even better.

After this, bite off all the excess protruding behind the bolt with side cutters. You should end up with some kind of half ring.

All that remains is to squeeze it with platypuses to a full ring.

It is not yet possible to tighten such a connection. It should “play” in its seat.

Take the second wire and do the same procedure with it. Only then can the screws be tightened as far as possible. As a result of such a connection, there is no need to unscrew anything, make some rings in advance, guessing the diameter of the bolts.

All this is adjusted directly on the cartridge itself. Saving time and labor costs is obvious.

The only disadvantage of this method is that the wire consumption will be a couple of centimeters more than usual.

Ceramic cartridge

It is made of heat-resistant ceramics, so it can withstand high heating temperatures. It consists, most often, of a single body that cannot be disassembled into parts, with a threaded sleeve built into it. Connection to electric current is made through screw terminal clamps, which are located at the base of this cartridge using an ordinary screwdriver. Thus, it is not very difficult. Disadvantages include the fragility inherent in ceramic products.

What is a cartridge, what functions does it perform?

An electrical system consists of many elements. These are lamps, connection cables and special installations that are necessary to control or communicate different parts. Cartridges are such installations; they perform two important functions:

1. Connect the light bulb base to the electrical cable.
2. Fix the light bulb in the lighting fixture.

Products are made from different materials.
The history of the development of electricity consisted of different stages, but much more convenience was added when the threaded base with a cartridge was invented. The versatility of this connection allows you to use different lamps.

A variety of materials are used in the production of cartridges. This is usually high temperature resistant plastic, metal or ceramic. There are also unique models made from silicone.

Plastic cartridges

do not have the ability to withstand high heating temperatures, although their manufacturers are constantly improving these indicators. But still, of course, they cannot compete with ceramics. Therefore, they are most often used for incandescent lamps with a power of no more than 60 W. Most often, plastic cartridges are collapsible and consist of two parts - a body and a lower skirt, although they can be solid. The contacts are built inside the cartridge body and there is no access to them. Connecting this cartridge to the wires is very simple and is carried out through self-clamping terminals similar to WAGO terminals. Often the shortcomings of things are a continuation of their advantages and it can be quite difficult to pull the wires out of them. To do this, you need to move them back and forth until the wires are freed from the terminals. If the connecting wires are multi-core, then it is better to tin the ends, but if this is not possible, then the most rigid twisting is done, which does not always guarantee success.

Keyless chuck

Today, plastic quick-release chucks have also become widespread.

They work on the principle of the famous Wago clamps.

To disassemble such a cartridge, you need to carefully press the latches on both sides with a slotted screwdriver.

When you remove the cover, you will find that there are no screws inside at all where you could attach the wires. A person who is far from electrical installation work will not immediately understand such a design.

How to connect it? Everything is done very simply.

You need to strip the ends of the wires and push them into the small holes until they click. Moreover, most models have two pairs of contacts at once. And accordingly, not two, but four holes at once.

They are designed for convenient assembly of light bulbs into garlands. Insert the appropriate wire into one hole, and the one going to the next light bulb into the other.

Just don’t think about inserting phase and neutral into adjacent holes, otherwise you will create a short circuit!

Inside these contacts there are spring-loaded metal plates that provide the connection.

Here also do not forget about the correct connection of phase and zero.

The wires in such clamps are held quite securely, and even with a little force, they cannot be pulled out.

In order to still pull it out from there, you will have to turn the core in a circle while pulling.

Carbolite cartridges

usually a characteristic black color. Carbolite cartridges can withstand high temperatures. They are very durable and have good insulating properties. In terms of fragility, they occupy an intermediate position between plastic and ceramic cartridges. Cartridges of this type are collapsible. After disassembling the cartridge, you need to use a screw connection to connect the wires to the ceramic insert on which the brass contacts are located. The ends of the wires must be wrapped in a ring around the screws. Then reassemble in reverse order. Some complexity of installation and the need to assemble and disassemble carbolite cartridges are their main disadvantage.

Figure 4. Ceramic liner

Figure 5. E27 carbolite cartridge

Threaded cartridges also differ in the type of fastening. They can be wall-mounted (straight or inclined), suspended, for chandeliers, or ceiling-mounted.

Figure 6. Types of threaded cartridges

Types of electric cartridges by type of base

As mentioned above, two large categories of cartridges remain in demand - for a threaded base and for pins. They are often universal, that is, suitable for different types of lamps.

For example, incandescent lamps and LED devices stylized as them are equipped with threaded ones.

But some products can only interact with one option. Let's take a closer look at their design features and technical characteristics that you need to rely on when choosing.

No. 1 - popular threaded options

Sockets with internal threads are designed for lamps with a threaded base. The sizes are usually designated the same: for example, for a lamp with an E14 socket, a corresponding E14 socket is required, although an adapter from E27 to E14 is possible.

The numbers 14 and 27 indicate the diameter, with 27 often considered the classic size and 14 called the minion.

Incandescent lamps have been replaced by LED lamps: in stores you can find a large assortment of LED lamps for E14 and E27 threaded sockets from different manufacturers

There are only 8 standard sizes of socles, therefore, the same number of cartridges for them: E5, E10, E12, E14, E17, E26, E27, E40.

Diagram of a threaded plastic cartridge. The “phase” and “zero” cores are inserted into the cartridge through the upper hole and fixed inside the housing with screws. If there is “ground”, then it is connected to the metal parts of the lamp

The most popular are plastic products. They have a limited service life and are subject to the requirements set out in GOST 2746.1-88. The method of mounting the cartridge may differ and can be suspended, with a straight or inclined flange.

The first is used for fastening to the ceiling or mounting fixtures, and flanged ones are used for installation on the surface.

A popular example of a lamp with a flange socket is a table lamp-night light. The flange type is straight, therefore, the screwed-in light bulb is positioned strictly vertically

Table of characteristics of the most common threaded sockets for connecting lamps to the electrical network, which differ in size. The larger the diameter of the cartridge, the higher the power and load current.

The housing is made from various types of plastic, so before using the lamp you need to study the markings to find out the permissible power of the lighting device.

If you screw in a high-wattage light bulb, the plastic will melt or gradually deteriorate due to regular heating.

No. 2 - variety of pin varieties

Requirements and standards regarding pin cartridges are located in GOST R 60400-99. They operate from a 220 V network. The letter G indicates the type of cartridge (pin), and the next number is the distance between the two holes for the pins.

If there are not 2, but 4 contacts, then the diagonal distance between opposite holes (grooves) is indicated. Special types are marked with additional Latin letters or numbers.

Cartridges marked “G” are used, among other things, for installing spotlights in suspended structures. In suspended ceilings, for this purpose, mortgages are mounted to the concrete base.

Cartridges for pins are used for domestic and industrial premises, as well as for lamps that are installed on the street - along park paths, roadways, for lighting areas or local areas.

To install U-shaped and cylindrical lamps, use sockets GX23, G24, 2G7. They differ in the number of contacts - 2 or 4, have a load current of 2 A. The recommended lamp power is up to 75 W (for 2G7 - 50 W).

Schematic images of bases and sockets of some types of pin and pin lamps. Typically, pin connections do not use adapters, as is possible with threaded analogues E14-E27

Thus, pin sockets can differ in the following characteristics:

• body material;
• inner liner material;
• type of fastening of the cartridge to the base and wires;
• number of contacts;
• distance between contacts.

All of the above parameters can be indicated when labeling the product.

Linear-extended gas-discharge lamps have a slightly different type of mounting. In addition to the fact that the sockets are paired (the lamp is inserted on both sides), they are designed to operate from a 220 V and 380 V network, with a rated current of 1 A or 2 A.

By design, the sockets are end-mounted, pendant and rack-mounted - this also depends on the type of lamps used. The number of contacts may be different: for example, if there is a conductive strip - three instead of the usual two.

Over time, cartridges wear out. This can happen for completely different reasons: due to a crack in the case, burnt out electrical contacts or mechanical damage during operation

In order for the cartridge to fulfill the warranty period, it is necessary to follow the installation rules, select the product according to the technical characteristics of the lamp, and select the desired degree of protection (moisture- or dust-proof).

In addition to cartridges for pin and threaded sockets, there are products for other types: focusing, pin, with recessed contact, soffit.

They are used for installation and connection of LED and gas-discharge lighting devices.

Additional information on types of base is presented in the articles:

1. LED lamp sockets: types, markings, technical parameters + how to choose the right one
2. Types of lamp bases for lighting lamps: standard markings and types of bases for light bulbs

G-pin socket sockets

Electric sockets of the G series are designed for connecting lamps with pin-type sockets. They are simple in design and made from the same materials as screw sockets, although, for example, carbolite products, previously used for fluorescent lamps, have already turned into real electrical installation antiques.

The numbers after the letter G in the name indicate the distance between the pins for two-pin lamps; if there are more pins, they indicate the diameter of the circle passing through the centers of the pins. Please note that the name of the type of pin sockets may contain the letters U, X, Y, Z, which determine the modification of the design.

What parts does the cartridge consist of?

It is a prefabricated structure consisting of several parts. Inside the housing there is also a core, a screw-type clamp, a clamping contact and a thread through which the light bulb is screwed.

Schematic representation of the structure.

Core

For its production, ceramics, plastic or carbolite are usually used. These materials allow the lamps to work, but at the same time, electricity costs remain minimal. Depending on the design of the cartridge, the dimensions of the core and its shape may vary.

Screw clamp

Its main function is to ensure the connection of conductor and terminal parts. They are found in lamps marked O, U, C. In the design of new models, the terminals can be located outside.

Pressure contact

The pressure contact is the contact that is pressed against the metal or semiconductor. It is made from brass. Some products may have two or four plug-in contacts, while in others their function is performed by one spiral.

Thread

It is a necessary element in the design, but can also be different. There are threads designed specifically for use in industrial premises, and there are also household options. There are also models for outdoor installation; they are not afraid of snow, rain and are able to work in difficult conditions.

Threaded connection.

Frame

Modern models of cartridge cases are made of ceramics. This material can withstand high temperatures without melting, deforming or breaking. Also, modern versions have a non-separable design with built-in threads.

Model type E27 made of carbolite.

G13 cartridges

They are used for fluorescent and LED lamps with diameters of 26 mm and 38 mm (now this type of lamp with a bulb diameter of 38 mm is practically no longer used). They are the most common lamps used in most lighting fixtures.

G5 and G13 chucks can be either rotary or slip-on (non-rotating).

Rotary and snap-on sockets for fluorescent lamps G5 and G13:

Figure 7. G13 cartridges

On the left in the figure there is a snap-on socket, which is simply put on the pins of the lamp, on the right - a rotating socket with a holder, with which the socket can be mounted on a wall or lamp.

The fluorescent lamps used in G5 and G13 electric sockets are double-ended. Consequently, one lamp requires two sockets, which must be located from each other at a distance equal to the length of the lamp.

The current supply wires to the electric sockets G5 and G13 are inserted into special holes with contact clamps, where they are fixed. It is best to use rigid single-core wire; stranded wires need to be tinned. Due to the specific nature of ignition of fluorescent lamps, which requires the use of either a starter or electronic ballast, dual sockets with a starter holder are also used.

Figure 8. Cartridge with starter holder

Purpose and features of the cartridge

An industrial or home electrical network consists not only of wires and lamps, but also of many electrical installations that serve to control or communicate individual parts of the circuit.

The socket connects the lamp base to the electrical cable and at the same time fixes it in a lamp, chandelier, or simply holds it suspended.

The problem of quickly replacing lamps arose as soon as electric lighting was invented, that is, at the end of the 19th century. The first lamps had bases, but the methods of connecting them to the wires were different and had no classification.

In 1881, Edison patented the first threaded type base and cartridge for it. Thus, the most popular types of bases and sockets have remained relevant for more than 130 years.

Of course, incandescent lamps were originally invented. Then gas-discharge and LED ones appeared; their installation required both already familiar and structurally different types of cartridges.

The same standard sizes make replacement easier: instead of an incandescent lamp, a more economical alternative can be screwed into the same socket - an LED with a threaded base or a filament bulb

For the manufacture of modern cartridges, various materials are used, among which you can find traditional metal and ceramics, as well as heat-resistant polymers and even silicone.

The latter option is most often used to create design compositions. Silicone products are equipped with a 1 m electrical cord and are painted in all the colors of the rainbow.

Image gallery

Photo from

Heat-resistant plastic for low-power lamps

Ceramic products with metal liners

Coated metal cartridges

Decorative silicone products in different colors

When purchasing a sconce, chandelier or other lamp, you need to pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations: if you install lamps that are too powerful, the sockets may fail and the shades may become deformed.