Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I need help with light bulbs. I am considering the purchase of a vintage architect lamp, you know the type that can bend. The seller says to get an S11 40 watt bulb. Easy? No, there are no bulbs that match that are 5000K color temperature. I need this daylight temperature for my drawings to be color accurate which is recommended. Any others I can consider? There is a new lamp I like but it does not swivel nor does the lamp move. The vintage model also can detach from the base and can be placed in a clamp mount if needed and has the on/off switch on the lamp head. The new model has neither of these features. Help!
Well, color temperature depends only on the bulb, not on the fixture you put it in. There are three common bases for bulbs, and there are adapters (you'll have to go to a real hardware store, not HD) from one to another. Find the bulbs you want, figure out whether they'll screw into the lamp you want, and buy the appropriate adapters.
Well, color temperature depends only on the bulb, not on the fixture you put it in. There are three common bases for bulbs, and there are adapters (you'll have to go to a real hardware store, not HD) from one to another. Find the bulbs you want, figure out whether they'll screw into the lamp you want, and buy the appropriate adapters.
I found a bulb on an online bulb specialty store that is an S11 40 watt that is 5000K. I am awaiting a reply from vendor about socket size. The bulb in the lamp is 2.3” long and one that the bulb specialist has is 3.5” long, both from top to bottom. The bulb in the lamp the vendor has is inside the shade about .5” so the replacement bulb would protrude about .7”. I don’t know if this is acceptable. The bulb that the vendor suggested has a minimum purchase of $20 plus $13 shipping which I realize I may have to pay to get what I want.
We have a real hardware store in town that my grandpa used to buy from and he is long gone. You can get lost in there. If I got an adaptor, that would extend the bulb out by some.
I have learned a lot about bulbs which isn’t a bad thing. The S11 refers to shape and size, E26 refers to base, and that there are 3 types of bulbs: incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED. Oh, and fluorescent. Incandescent does not have a K temperature of more than 2700K. Compact fluorescent are being phased out and aren’t short enough. Bingo! I need an LED.
This good and has the correct color temperature. But, I am thinking the bulb will protrude. The original bulb for this vintage lamp is about 2.3” and replacement that I found from a bulb retailer on line has a bulb that is 3.5” long. I will research #1 and #3 links more to find out the length. The second link is too big. Thanks.
Okay, I did contact our local independent hardware store and the lighting department said they could help. I stressed the light temperature so hopefully they can. The lamp is beautiful and is beautifully made. If the cord needs to be replaced, the store can do that too.
Actually, there are more types- halogen, xenon short arc, and other very job specific types.
Color temperature in lighting is tricky. CFLs were about the worst, as they used phosphors that spiked and left parts of the spectrum dark. Couple that with the ink dyes used in ink jet printing and colors would shift dramatically when displayed near such lamps. I used to keep a demonstration ink jet photo print that would shift colors in crazy ways.
LEDs are better, but sunlight is very specific spectrally, with most of it full range, but with certain areas damped due to weather and pollution conditions, as well as time of day. The "Golden hour" in photography didn't get that name by chance. The green cast of light from an area with a pending tornado is freaky. Sunlight at noon out west is different than in the east.
If you can find a lamp that is in the ballpark of proper color balance, run with it. Nature may be less picky than what you require.
No, there are no bulbs that match that are 5000K color temperature. I need this daylight temperature
Not sure why people call a 500K temp bulb "daylight temperature", though I frequently see that bit of wishful thinking.
A 5000K bulb has a distinct bluish tint that almost makes a room look blue. I've always found 3000K bulbs to be much closer to actual outdoor sunlight on a normal environment.
Not sure why people call a 500K temp bulb "daylight temperature", though I frequently see that bit of wishful thinking.
A 5000K bulb has a distinct bluish tint that almost makes a room look blue. I've always found 3000K bulbs to be much closer to actual outdoor sunlight on a normal environment.
Maybe that's not a bad thing. Sunlight in its pure form has a kelvin temperature of around 5,000K.
Daylight has a spectrum similar to that of a black body with a correlated color temperature of 6500 K (D65 viewing standard) or 5500 K (daylight-balanced photographic film standard).
Look at the color scale and you will see that bulbs that provide light at around 6500K are considered "daylight bulbs" and these have a definite blue and cool sensation to them.
OP probably would be better off choosing a bulb of 5500-6000K, but human perception is subjective and either OP already knows the best light color that would suit him, or will be able to adjust it by trying different bulbs.
Finding a bulb for his antique lamp, seems to be a bigger challenge.
Okay, I did contact our local independent hardware store and the lighting department said they could help. I stressed the light temperature so hopefully they can. The lamp is beautiful and is beautifully made. If the cord needs to be replaced, the store can do that too.
Thanks for your help.
Depending on where you are, there are such things as lighting stores. They don’t just sell lamps, they sell lighting supplies. As in lightbulbs. Tons and tons of kinds because there are so many pictures out there and every single building wants different lights for different requirements.
We used to go to one where the guy had literally 3 feet of catalogs that he could order from. I’d look for local lighting supplies on google. Take in the old bulb, and ask for a replacement.
__________________ Solly says — Be nice!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Solly says — Be nice!
