Energizer LED Capsule G4 1.8W Clear Non-Dimmable - Daylight 6500K

This G4 capsule LED draws 1.8W and gives 215 lumens at 6,500K, a daylight white. The G4 cap is the small two pin base with the pins set close together, found in cooker hoods, glass display cabinets, plinth lights and the little desk and picture lamps that once took low voltage halogen capsules. The retail pack states a 20W replacement, so it is meant to stand in for the 20W halogen capsule these fittings were originally lamped with, and the pack also prints a 15 year lifespan. The energy rating is E.

Daylight at 6,500K is the coolest of the common white tones, noticeably crisper than the warm white most living rooms run. It suits places where you need to see clearly rather than to feel cosy: under a kitchen wall unit over a chopping board, inside a cabinet holding glass, or in a task light above a workbench. Set beside a 2700K lamp the difference is plain, so where a fitting holds several capsules it is worth changing them all at once. The beam angle is quoted at 300 degrees, close to all round, so light leaves the capsule in almost every direction rather than being thrown forward.

Before ordering, look at the capsule you are taking out. G4 lamps usually run at 12V from a transformer or driver rather than straight off the mains, and an LED of this size draws far less current than the halogen it replaces, so an older wirewound transformer with a high minimum load can flicker or fail to strike. This lamp is not dimmable, so put it on a plain switch rather than a dimmer circuit. One unit is a single boxed lamp; the minimum order is 12, sold in multiples of 12.

Which fittings take a G4 capsule?

G4 is the small two pin base with the pins set close together, used in cooker hoods, glass display cabinets, plinth and shelf lights, and compact desk or picture lamps. Pull the old capsule straight out and compare the pins before you order.

Will it work with my existing transformer?

Most G4 fittings run at 12V from a transformer or driver. At 1.8W this lamp draws far less current than a 20W halogen, so an older wirewound transformer with a high minimum load may flicker or fail to strike until enough load is on the circuit.

How bright is 215 lumens in practice?

It is a small accent or task output rather than whole room lighting. The pack puts it against a 20W halogen capsule, which is the lamp most cabinet, hood and plinth fittings were originally supplied with.

Can I put it on a dimmer?

No. The specification and the pack both mark this lamp non dimmable, so it should be wired to a plain switch. On a dimmer circuit you risk flicker, buzz or a shortened life.

What does 6,500K daylight actually look like?

It is the coolest of the common white tones, clean and slightly blue next to warm white. It reads as bright and clear, which helps when you are preparing food, working at a bench or judging colours.

Is an IP rating given for this lamp?

The manufacturer does not state one, and neither the specification nor the pack prints a figure, so we cannot quote it. Use it in dry indoor fittings only.