Here’s some really basic info to help get you started.
The general term applied to fluorescent lamps that are single-ended and have bent, smaller diameter tubes is compact or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). Some CFLs have integral ballasts and a medium or candelabra screw base for easy replacement of incandescent lamps.
Let’s begin with the easy one - integrally ballasted (or self-ballasted) compact fluorescent lamps are used to replace incandescent lamps. They screw into a socket that would otherwise use an incandescent lamp. (AKA ‘A’ style lamp or candelabra base, you know, Thomas Edison…)
DOUBLE TWIN-TUBE
For commercial purposes, we use a 4-pin based lamp. These will use an electronic ballast. There are such things as 2-pins lamps out there, but Title 24 prohibits the use of them, so act like they don’t exist :o)
Some manufacturers have their own names for CF lamps, see below for a helpful chart:
| COMPACT FLUORESCENT BRAND NAME CROSS-REFERENCE | ||
|---|---|---|
| GE | OSRAM/SYLVANIA | PHILIPS LIGHTING |
| 2D® | - | - |
| Biax® | Dulux® S | PL-S |
| High Lumen Biax® | Dulux® L | PL-L |
| Double Biax® | Dulux® D, D/E | PL-C |
| Triple Biax® | Dulux® T/E | PL-T |
| Quad Biax® | - | - |
| High Output Biax® | - | PL-H |
| Spiral® | Dulux®EL Twist | EL Twist |
| Genura® | - | - |
PL - LONG TUBE