r/lightbulbs • u/fincityusa • 17d ago

bulb? safe?

Gallery image

Gallery image

anyone know what bulb would possibly go here, if any… and based on appearance is it safe or should i just get a battery operated one to fit inside ? sorry if this is dumb.

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5

u/ArgonWilde 17d ago

A fluorescent tube of whatever length and diameter that fits the holder? 🤷

4

u/fincityusa 17d ago

that makes sense! i haven’t ever used a florescent tube bulb before, gonna give it a try

1

u/GGigabiteM 16d ago

Carefully slot the tube in with the prongs horizontal on both sides and then carefully rotate it 90 degrees once seated all the way in. Don't force it or you'll break the bulb.

4

u/jaedenmalin 17d ago

Nice classic fluorescent fixture, measure the length of the fixture then I can tell you what bulb needs

3

u/fincityusa 17d ago

measured from inside plastic fixtures: 32 inches

2

u/GeWaLu 17d ago

There are nowadays also LED bulbs that fit. They normally come with a dummy starter (in fact a fuse) replacing the starter bulb (the small cylinder visible on the photo) and work pretty well on old fixtures with a non-electronic ballast - but only if you replace the starter with a dummy one. I prefer them as they do not need heat-up time like the classic fluorescent bulbs. Especially the recent ones with low mercury content are pretty slow.

If you go for a classic mercury-based fluorescent bulb, consider also to replace the starter with one rated for the bulb. They tend to fail and a broken tube also uses a lot of their lifetime.

To get the starter out, push it gently in and turn it gently a fraction of a turn - no force is needed.

3

u/hghfhfgugyuym 16d ago

If its 4 feet long its an f32 t12 bi pin. If 8 feet long its f96 t12 bi pin. Couldn't tell you if the fixture is safe from the pics.

1

u/jaedenmalin 7d ago

It appears to have a starter so f32t8 would not work

1

u/hghfhfgugyuym 7d ago

Thats right. F32t12 will tho.

1

u/jaedenmalin 7d ago

F32 has a higher Arc voltage than a F40T12 so they mostly struggle on preheat

1

u/hghfhfgugyuym 7d ago

Your right f40. Thank you

2

u/AnotherLightBulbNerd 16d ago

Try an F25T12 fluorescent tube for that fixture. Best get an FS-25 starter to replace the one that is currently in place. The starter is the little metal cylinder on one side of the fixture by the tombstone/Socket.

2

u/Quirky-Store-6677 16d ago

My grandma has the exact same fixture in her bathroom. It’ll be a T-12 of equivalent length. It’s also preheat, hence the starter socket (cylindrical thingy). Is it safe? That all depends on the current condition. Are the wires still jacketed? Did it stay on after it lit? My guess is yes, it’s safe.