E14 LED Candle Bulb 4.9W 470lm - Daylight 6500K, 2 Pack - E-Luminate

This is a small LED candle bulb on an E14 cap, the 14mm screw fitting often listed as SES. It draws 4.9W and gives 470 lumens, and the retail pack puts that at the equal of an old 40W filament candle. The light is 6500K daylight, the coolest, crispest white on the domestic scale, closer to midday sky than to a traditional bulb. The body reads white rather than clear, so the light spreads rather than points. Each box holds two bulbs, and each bulb measures 35mm across and 102mm tall.

Candle bulbs earn their keep in fittings where the lamp itself is on show: chandeliers, multi-arm pendants, wall lights and bedside lamps. The 102mm length matters more than the wattage when you are choosing, so measure the gap between the lampholder and the top of a clip-on shade, because a long candle in a short shade sits proud and shows a bright edge. Colour temperature is the other decision. At 6500K this is a working light rather than a restful one, which suits a kitchen, a utility room, a hallway, a garage or a desk lamp over paperwork. Most people find it too cool for a sitting room or a bedroom, where 2700K reads far softer.

The pack marks these as non-dimmable, so they want a plain switch. On a dimmer circuit expect flicker, buzz or a short life, and the same applies to dimming timers and sensors. The energy label is class F, and the pack also claims up to 90% less energy than the lamp it replaces and a working life of up to 15 years. Since the bulbs come two to a box and this listing is sold in multiples of eight, one order brings sixteen bulbs, which covers a five-arm chandelier with spares kept in the drawer for the next one that goes.

Will this fit my chandelier or wall light?

It fits an E14 lampholder, the 14mm small screw cap also written as SES. Check the old bulb for E14 or SES before ordering, because E27 and B22 holders are larger and will not take it.

Can I put these on a dimmer switch?

No. The retail pack marks the bulb as non-dimmable, so use it on a plain on and off switch. On a dimmer you are likely to get flicker, an audible buzz or a shortened life.

How does 6500K daylight compare with a normal warm bulb?

6500K is a crisp blue-white, the coolest shade in general use, and it looks very different from the 2700K yellow-white of a traditional bulb. It reads as a working light, so it is better over a worktop or a desk than beside an armchair.

Is 470 lumens bright enough for a multi-arm fitting?

470 lumens per bulb is around the output of a 40W filament candle, so a three or five arm fitting adds up quickly. For a single bedside lamp it is a generous reading light rather than a soft glow.

Does the bulb have an IP rating for damp positions?

The manufacturer states no IP rating and none is printed on the pack, so we cannot quote one. Use it only in dry indoor fittings and keep it away from damp or exposed positions.

How many bulbs will I actually receive?

One unit of this listing is a box of two bulbs, and the line is sold in multiples of eight units, so the smallest order is eight boxes and sixteen bulbs in total.