B22 (BC) LED Golf Bulb 3W 250lm Non-Dimmable - Warm White 3000K

This is a golf ball LED bulb with a B22 bayonet cap, the push and twist fitting found on a great many UK light fittings. It draws 3W and gives 250 lumens, which the pack puts at the same output as an old 25W incandescent golf ball. The colour temperature is 3000K warm white, a soft yellow-toned light rather than a clinical one, and the white diffuser spreads the light so you see a lit globe rather than bright points. The energy rating is G.

The golf shape is the small round bulb, narrower than a standard GLS, and it earns its place wherever a full size bulb would crowd the fitting or sit below the shade. Bedside lamps, small pendants over a hall or landing, multi-arm ceiling fittings where several bulbs sit close together and wall lights with shallow glass are all natural homes for it. The beam angle is 180 degrees, so light spreads forward and out to the sides rather than gathering in a pool, which suits a shade that needs filling evenly. At 250 lumens this is a gentle output, better judged for background light or a lamp you sit beside than for lighting a whole room on its own.

There is no dimming here: both the specification and the pack say non-dimmable, so put it on a plain on and off switch rather than a dimmer circuit, where a non-dimmable lamp can flicker or buzz. The pack prints a 10,000 hour life and says the bulb lasts up to 10 years, and it carries an IP20 rating for ordinary indoor use. Each unit is one bulb, and we sell these in multiples of 12, so the smallest order is 12. We also stock this B22 cap in candle and GLS shapes, and in golf at 4.9W and 5.5W if you need more light.

How do I know whether my lamp takes a B22 cap?

Look at the base of the old bulb. A B22 bayonet has a smooth metal cylinder with two small pins on the sides, and it goes in with a push and a quarter turn. If the base has a spiral thread instead, you need a screw cap such as E27 and this bulb will not fit.

How bright is 250 lumens in practice?

The pack rates it as a replacement for a 25W incandescent golf ball, so it is a modest, comfortable level of light. It works well in a bedside lamp, a small shade or a multi-bulb fitting where several lamps add up, rather than as the only light in a big room.

Can I put it on a dimmer switch?

No. The specification and the pack both give it as non-dimmable, so it should run from a standard on and off switch. Fitting a non-dimmable lamp to a dimmer circuit can cause flicker, buzzing or early failure, and it will not give a smooth fade.

What does 3000K warm white actually look like?

It is a soft, slightly yellow light, close in feel to the older household bulbs most people grew up with. It flatters creams, woods and warm paint colours and suits living rooms, bedrooms and landings where you want the light to feel restful rather than crisp.

Will it fit inside a small shade or a compact fitting?

The pack gives the bulb as 45mm across and 80mm long, which is the usual golf ball size and appreciably smaller than a standard GLS. Measure the clear space inside your shade or glass before ordering if the fitting is particularly shallow.

How many bulbs will I receive?

Each unit is a single bulb in its own box. We sell this line in multiples of 12, so the smallest order is 12 bulbs, which suits landlords, venues and anyone restocking several fittings at once.