Bi-pin lamp base
{{Short description|Type of lamp/lightbulb fitting/connector}}
{{for|other types of lightbulb mounts and sockets|Lightbulb sockets}}
Image:Halogenmetalldampflampe.jpg with a bipin cap]]
A bipin or bi-pin (sometimes referred to as two-pin, bipin cap or bipin socket) is a type of lamp fitting. They are included in the IEC standard "IEC 60061 Lamp caps and holders together with gauges for the control of interchangeability and safety". They are used on many small incandescent light bulbs (especially halogen lamps), and for starters on some types of fluorescent lights.
Some sockets have pins placed closer together, preventing the low-power bulbs they use from being replaced by bulbs that are too high power, which may generate excessive heat and possibly cause a fire. These are sometimes called "mini-bipin". Where the terminals of the lamp are bent back onto the sides of the base of the bulb, this forms a wedge base, often used in small bulbs for automotive lighting.
The bi-pin base was invented by Reginald Fessenden for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.{{fact|date=March 2021}} After Westinghouse won the contract to wire and illuminate the first electrified fair with AC instead of arch-rival Thomas Edison's DC, Edison and his General Electric company refused to allow his patented Edison screw-base bulbs to be used. Westinghouse overcame this by developing the bi-pin base for use at the fair. An incandescent electric lamp with a bi-pin base was patented by the Westinghouse (G. Westinghouse, Jr.) in 1895.*{{US patent|543280}}, incandescent electric lamp{{primary source inline|date=March 2021}}
Types
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan=2 | Illustration ! rowspan=2 | Designation ! rowspan=2 | IEC{{nbsp}}60061-1 sheet ! colspan=2 | Pin ! rowspan=2 | Usage | ||||
| Pitch
! Diameter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:G4 bi-pin connector.jpg
| G4 | 7004-72-3 | 4.0 mm | 0.65–0.75 mm
| Small halogen quartz capsules of 5/10/20 watt and 6/12 volt AC and DC. | |
| | GU4 | 7004-108-2 | 4.0 mm | 0.95–1.05 mm
| MR11 and MR8 | |
| | GY4 | 7004-72A-1 | 4.0 mm | 0.65–0.75 mm
| | |
| | GZ4 | 7004-67-3 | 4.0 mm | 0.95–1.05 mm
| MR11 and MR8 | |
| | G5 | 7004-52-7 | 5 mm | | T4 and T5 fluorescent tubes | |
| File:GU5.3 bi-pin connector.jpg
| G5.3 | 7004-73-2 | 5.33 mm | 1.47–1.65 mm
| | |
| | G5.3-4.8 | 7004-126-1 | | | ||
| File:MR16 LED lamp with GU5.3 socket.png with GU5.3 base]]
| GU5.3 | 7004-109-2 | 5.33 mm | 1.45-1.6 mm
| | |
| | GX5.3 | 7004-73A-2 | 5.33 mm | 1.45–1.6 mm
| Round pins. MR16 and other small halogens of 20/35/50 watt and 12/24 volt. | |
| File:OSRAM ENH 93506 120V-250W GY-5,3 halogen lamp base.jpg
| GY5.3 | 7004-73B-2 | 5.33 mm | {{n/a}}
| Flat pins | |
| File:Sylvania FHB 35 225V 1000W - G6.35 socket-9673.jpg
| G6.35 | 7004-59-6 | 6.35 mm | 0.95–1.05 mm
| | |
| | GX6.35 | 7004-59-6 | 6.35 mm | 0.95–1.05 mm
| | |
| | GY6.35 | 7004-59-6 | 6.35 mm | 1.2–1.3 mm
| Halogen various wattage (e.g. 50{{nbsp}}W/100{{nbsp}}W), various voltage (e.g. 12/24{{nbsp}}V). Common for task lighting, landscape lighting. | |
| | GZ6.35 | 7004-59A-3 | 6.35 mm | 0.95–1.05 mm
|projector bulb | |
| | G8 | {{n/a}} | 8.0 mm | 1.0 mm
| Halogen 35–100{{nbsp}}W 120-240{{nbsp}}V | |
| | GY8.6 | {{n/a}} | 8.0 mm | 1.25 mm
| Halogen up to 100{{nbsp}}W, 120{{nbsp}}V | |
| File:G9 bi-pin connector.jpg
| G9 | 7004-129-3 | 9.0 mm | | Halogen 120{{nbsp}}V (US) / 230{{nbsp}}V (EU), also used for LED lamps. | |
| | G9.5 | 7004-70-2 | 9.5 mm | 3.10–3.25 mm
| Common for theatre use, several variants | |
| File:GU10.JPG
| GU10 | 7004-121-2 | 10 mm | 5 mm
| Twist-lock 120/230-volt MR16 halogen lighting of 35/50 watt, since the mid-2000s. Also used for compact fluorescents and LED lamps. | |
| | GZ10 | 7004-120-1 | 10 mm | | Twist-lock 120/230-volt MR16 halogen lighting of 35/50 watt, differs from GU10 by use of a dichroic reflector. GZ10 fixtures can use GU10 bulbs, but not vice versa. | |
| | G12 | 7004-63-2 | 12.0 mm | 2.35 mm
| Used in theatre and single-end metal halide lamps. | |
| | G13 | 7004-51-10 | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) | 0.093 in (2.35 mm)
| Common T8, T10 and T12 fluorescent tubes. | |
| | GX16d | | "Mogul End Prong", common for theatre PAR lamps. | |||
| 100px
| G23 | 7004-69-1 | 23 mm | 2 mm | |
| 100px
| GU24 | 7004-78-5 | 24 mm | | Twist-lock for self-ballasted compact fluorescents, since the 2000s. | |
| File:G38 Bulb with CD.png
| G38 | 7004-76-1 | 38 mm | 11.1 mm
| Mostly used for high-power theatre lamps. | |
| File:GX53_LED_Leuchtmittel_11W_1000lm_4.jpg with GX53 base]]
| GX53 | 7004-142-2 | 53 mm | | Twist-lock for puck-shaped under-cabinet compact fluorescents and LED lamps, since the 2000s. | |
| | GX70 | {{n/a}} | 70 mm | | Twist-lock for puck-shaped compact fluorescents or LED lamps. |
The suffix after the G indicates the pin spread; the G dates to the use of Glass for the original bulbs. GU usually also indicates that the lamp provides a mechanism for physical support by the luminaire: in some cases, each pin has a short section of larger diameter at the end (sometimes described as a "peg" rather than a "pin"{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/28/led-lights-information |title=Converting to LED lights: everything you need to know |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 March 2014 |author=Simon Brammer |accessdate= 20 November 2018}}); the socket allows the bulb to lock into place by twisting it; in others, the base of the lamp has a groove which can be held by a spring or clip.{{cite web |url=http://www.osram.com/osram_com/Tools_%26_Services/Training_%26_Knowledge/FAQ/General_Lighting/Halogen_lamps/index.html#answ61 |title=index |publisher=Osram.com |date=2012-03-09 |accessdate=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429065219/http://www.osram.com/osram_com/Tools_%26_Services/Training_%26_Knowledge/FAQ/General_Lighting/Halogen_lamps/index.html#answ61 |archivedate=April 29, 2011 }}
A lowercase "q" at the end of the designation indicates that it is a quad-pin base, with two bi-pin pairs. These are used with compact fluorescent tubes that plug into a light fixture that has a permanent ballast.
There are also double-ended halogen and fluorescent tubes with one pin at each end, and high-output fluorescents with recessed or shrouded contacts, which are not covered here.
File:Lampg4.jpg|Halogen lamps with GU4 (left) and G4 (right) bases
File:Lamp6-35.jpg|Halogen lamp with G6.35 base
File:Halogenmetalldampflampe.jpg| Metal halide lamp with G8.5 base
File:Lampg9.jpg|Halogen lamp with G9 looped-pin base
File:Lampgu10.jpg|Halogen lamp with GU10 twist-lock base
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline |Bipin}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160119154355/http://lightspec.com/docs/cross_ref_europe_namerican_lamps.pdf Cross-reference for EU/US]
{{Artificial light sources}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bi-Pin Connector}}