ceiling-fanledlighting
I'm trying to replace an LED light in my fan but I can't figure out what search terms to use to find a replacement bulb.
Based on the documentation my fan came with, the this appears to be a 14 watt bulb.
Does anyone know what these are called and/or where I can find a replacement? I'm in the US if that matters.
All lamps have a size designation which is stated in eights of an inch (1/8").
That particular lamp will most likely not fit in your fixture if it is designed to take a standard A-lamp. That is an R30 size lamp which is 3-3/4" wide. An R20 style lamp (2-1/2" wide) would be more in line size wise with an A-lamp, which is actually an A-19.
I found the answer! @diceless set me on the right track in looking at where the foot of the bulb is connecting to the fixture.
Since it was an older fixture (installed in the 80's, I think), the hot contact (Number 1 in this diagram ) was bent down, and it was connecting with the smaller bulb but not the bigger LED bulb.
With the circuit turned off at the breaker I reached in with a wooden tongue depressor and bent it upwards slightly. Then, I made sure to screw the LED bulb in tightly. Flicking the switch it was bright as day!
Best Answer
When they say fixtures are "bulbless", they really mean it. There are no replaceable bulbs in the fixture.
The reason is simple: LED emitters are the most reliable thing in the lamp... probably more reliable than the enclosure.
The typical failure point in a 120V LED light product is the electronic driver module, which is responsible for delivering a constant current to the LED emitter. Those go bad because of cheap construction and the finite life of capacitors.
You've managed to pry out the emitters, but they're really not made to be replaceable because the builder never imagined they would fail. They are not a "bulb" in any sense of the word; there is no non-proprietary source for "ones just like that".
The driver, however, is a different story. You will find an electronic driver module with 4 wires going to it, and fairly easy to exchange. It will have a semi-standard form-factor (physical shape). It will have a very specific current output of a relatively standard value, e.g. 350ma, 700ma, 1050ma or 1400ma commonly, and a working voltage range at which it's designed to do that. If you shop carefully at electronics supply houses, you have a pretty good chance of finding one that ticks all the boxes of form-factor, voltage input, exact current output and output voltage range.
After all, the light manufacturer is not in the business of making drivers; they just grab a commodity OEM driver.