Light Bulb Base and the Light Fixture Socket
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How to Identify the Positive and Negative Parts of a Light Bulb: Light Bulb Base and Fixture Socket, Electrical Tips about Light Bulbs and Fixture Wiring. © By: Dave Rongey |
The Light Bulb Base and the Fixture Socket
[ad#block]Electrical Question: I would like to know more about the base of a light bulb.
- What are the positive and negative parts of a light bulb?
This electrical wiring question came from: Noel, a Homeowner from Mexico.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Noel.
Light Bulb Base and Fixture Socket
How to Identify the Positive and Negative Parts of a Light Bulb
Great question Noel, this is something most people do not understand.
- Basically the standard screw base light bulb has two areas that come into contact with the light fixture lamp socket.
- At the very end of the light bulb is the small round tip which is the positive contact surface.
- The outer threaded part of the base is the negative connection contact surface.
- These two parts are generally insulated by the glass base of the light bulb.
- Because the positive area is at the tip location of the light bulb, this helps prevent a person from receiving a shock if the were to unscrew a burnt out light bulb and their hand would come into contact with the side base of the light bulb or socket.
Electrical Tip about Light Bulbs and Fixture Wiring
- Always be sure to connect the wires of a light fixture correctly otherwise you may be energizing the negative part of the light bulb instead of the positive center tip.
See more about Identifying the Wires of Flat Cords
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Hi Joe,
Wiring light fixtures in parallel is the common method, the power source at the beginning, then ending with the last light fixture connection.
Make sure it is all according to code!
Dave
I want to wire four incandescent 40 watt bulbs in parallel. I want one end to plug into the wall and the other end to “terminate”. I have four light fixture sockets and want two feet between each bulb.
Do I understand correctly that I’ll
1. wire the one end (with the plug) to the first light fixture socket
2. wire the second with fixture to the first fixture with two wires cut to length, negative to negative and positive to positive.
3. etc. etc.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I want to know which types bulb holder used in lighting fixtures in different countries along with wattage?