2G7 LED PLS Bulb 4.5W 580lm Non-Dimmable - Cool White 4000K

This is a 2G7 four pin LED lamp in the PLS/E shape, the slim twin tube used in place of the compact fluorescent PL lamps fitted to a lot of older luminaires. It draws 4.5W and gives 580 lumens, and the pack quotes that figure as measured in a sphere, which is a fair way of putting it for a lamp that throws light out all around the tube rather than in one direction. The pack also names it as a 9W replacement. Colour temperature is 4000K cool white, and the energy rating is E.

Four pin 2G7 lamps turn up where a full size tube will not fit: task and desk lamps, under cabinet strips in a kitchen, compact wall fittings on a landing or in a hallway, and cabinet or display lighting in a shop. At 4000K the light sits between the yellow tone of a warm white lamp and the blue cast of daylight, and reads as a clean neutral white. That suits a worktop, a workshop bench or a stairwell, where the job is to see edges and detail clearly rather than to settle in for the evening. Next to warm white bulbs in the same room the difference is easy to spot, so it is worth keeping a hallway or utility area on one temperature and the living spaces on another.

Before you order, check what sits behind the fitting. The pack states that this lamp is not compatible with an electronic ballast, and that the ballast must be removed and the fitting rewired directly to mains by a qualified electrician working to BS7671. It is not dimmable, so keep it off any circuit running from a dimmer switch. The pack prints a 30 year lifespan. Each box holds one lamp, and the minimum order is 10, sold in multiples of 10.

What does a 2G7 cap look like, and how do I check my old lamp?

A 2G7 cap has four flat pins in a row on a rectangular plastic base. Pull the old lamp out and look for 2G7 or PL-S printed on the base before ordering.

Do I need to change anything in the fitting before I use this lamp?

The pack states that the lamp is not compatible with an electronic ballast, and that the ballast must be removed and the fitting rewired directly to mains by a qualified electrician working to BS7671.

Will 4.5W be as bright as the fluorescent lamp it replaces?

It gives 580 lumens, and the pack names it as a 9W replacement, so in a fitting that took a 9W PL lamp you should see a comparable amount of light.

Can I run it from a dimmer switch?

No. The specification gives it as not dimmable, so it needs a plain switched circuit. Running a non dimmable lamp on a dimmer can cause flicker, buzzing or early failure.

Is an IP rating given for this lamp?

No. Neither the specification nor the retail pack prints one, so we state none and it should be treated as an indoor lamp for dry locations only.

What sort of light does 4000K give?

A neutral white with no yellow warmth and no blue tint, which keeps colours and edges looking true on worktops, benches and in cupboards or display cases.