Despite the fact that light sources are constantly being modified to reduce energy consumption, their bases remain the same. This is not surprising, because otherwise you would have to constantly change chandeliers or cartridges in lamps. Today, like decades ago, the most common are screw bases, which differ from one another only in diameter. In today's article, we will talk about a fairly common, although not the most popular, E14 base, called the "minion".
Marking: alphanumeric decoding
The letter "E" in the title tells the buyer that the base is screw, and the numbers below are the diameter of its circumference. It is by numerical marking that you can determine whether the light bulb is suitable for a particular cartridge. There are many sizes of screw bases, including E5, E10, E12, E14, E17, E26, E27 (the most common option), E40. The latter is designed for street spotlights. Often this is equipped with arc mercuryfluorescent (DRL) or arc sodium tubular (HSS) lamps.
Lamps with E14 base are designed for domestic use and are mainly used for miniature compact lamps, nightlights. They are also equipped with refrigerators, microwave ovens, ovens.
Dependence of application area on dimensions
Dimensions, as well as shapes of light bulbs with E14 base, may vary. If for an open chandelier the dimensions practically do not matter, then when using such an emitter to illuminate the refrigerator, you need to choose miniature options that fit in the allotted compartment.
If we compare ordinary light bulbs with an E14 base and energy-saving ones, then the latter will be much larger due to the presence of an electronic ballast (electronic ballast). But it is worth noting that it makes no sense to install emitters with reduced energy consumption in a refrigerator or microwave oven. The backlight of such devices rarely turns on, which means that there is no question of any savings here.
Using E14 as main lighting
This question causes a lot of controversy among consumers. Lamps with an E14 base type have low power, no more than 7 W, which does not contribute to a high luminous flux. But this applies only to energy-saving (CFL) or conventional LED emitters. When using them, you need multi-track chandeliers that can provide illumination of the room at an acceptable level. However, the modern market for electrical goodssuggests another option.
Not so long ago, LED lamps with an E14 base based on Cree elements appeared on the shelves of Russian stores. This proposal of the manufacturer has made a real revolution. Cree LEDs are capable of producing several times more luminous flux than SMD elements. When installing such emitters, you can get by with a fairly low power consumption, about 3-5 W, while the brightness will increase. The only disadvantage of these LEDs is their heat dissipation. Cree requires good ventilation for normal operation, they cannot be installed in closed shades - this should be taken into account.
Compatibility of "minions" with lighting fixtures
It happens quite often that the base of the E14 bulb does not fit one or another cartridge. At a sensitive cost, it is irrational to throw them away or leave them gathering dust in the pantry. The solution would be to purchase an adapter. Such adapters are inexpensive and allow you to install, for example, an E14 lamp in an E27 socket or vice versa. There are many modifications of adapters for various sizes.
Many craftsmen independently solder the socles from one emitter to another. But such actions are justified only if there is interest in such work and free time. Otherwise, it's easier to walk to the nearest electrical store.
The most common forms of "minions"
The appearance of the lamp when installed in an open luminaire can be veryimportant. An incorrectly chosen shape will spoil the interior even with the most beautiful chandelier. The most versatile lamp with an E14 base is a "candle" used in ceiling chandeliers. For a sconce or a night lamp, a good choice would be to acquire forms such as a “candle in the wind”. It differs from the previous version with an elongated "tail" and a slightly curved top of the flask. The third common form of such emitters is the “twisted candle”. Its flask has pronounced spiral structural bands.
Slightly less popular due to its higher cost is the "Fire Flame" form. The use of such emitters in lamps with a ceiling is irrational - the bulb must be fully visible in order for the effect intended by the manufacturer to be realized.
For ordinary closed lamps, the cheapest form options are used - “pear”, “elongated ball”, “ellipsoid”. For household appliances (refrigerators, microwave ovens, ovens), lamps narrowed to the base are used, and for spotlights, a “parabolic reflector” is suitable. In total, there are 13 basic forms.
Summing up
Lamps with E14 base cannot be called the most popular, but the second place is undoubtedly guaranteed to them. When purchasing a chandelier or sconce with similar cartridges, you should not worry that there will not be emitters of a similar size in the store. The days of empty shelves are long gone. And even if it turns out that there are no lamps with a similar base in a small shop on the corner, you can always buyadapter by installing other emitters in the chandelier. As for the appearance, lighting fixtures with "minions" look much neater and more aesthetically pleasing, which means that by buying a similar one, the consumer will obviously not lose.
