Table of Contents
What are the different types of lamp sockets?
Categories
- Brass Lamp Sockets.
- Nickel Lamp Sockets.
- Phenolic Lamp Sockets.
- Porcelain Lamp Sockets.
- Candelabra Base Sockets.
- Cluster Sockets.
- Mogul Lamp Sockets.
- Lamp Socket Covers.
What is a phenolic lamp socket?
Phenolic lamp sockets are made of phenolic resin. This plastic material is known for its resistance to heat, strength, and non-conductive characteristics. In the early days of lamp sockets, a material called Bakelite was used to manufacture these sockets.
What is keyless socket?

Keyless: These sockets do not have a switch built in and require the lamp to have a switch in the cord or a wall switch. Keyless sockets are best for hanging fixture where the light is on a wall mounted switch. Standard: Standard keyless sockets can either be in a shell or have a hickey for a candle cover.
How do you identify a light bulb socket?
The first letter designates the shape or form of the base, and the number represents the width of the base (normally in millimeters). For example, our 11S14 bulb has an E26 base — the “E” refers to the style which is an Edison screw-in, and the 26 means it has a 26 mm base width.
What is a mogul base socket?
A: mogul sockets are the standard for single ended (SE) metal halide lighting. Medium base is very similar to a household incandescent socket and is usually only available for lower wattages.

What is a keyless socket?
What is a standard lamp socket?
The first and the most popular one is the Medium Screw Base (E26). This size is the most common for the incandescent and the LED Edison vintage bulbs. This size is the same as a standard household light bulb.
What is a keyless lamp?
A keyless lamp socket removes the switches to power on the light directly at the bulb. These sockets are ideal for light switches and other lamp types including touch base lamps. Installing the socket is a task similar to a lot of other light sockets and can be performed without the use of an electrician.
Why do they call it a keyless fixture?
“Keyless” is a holdover from an earlier era of gas lighting, when there was a key to turn at the fixture that adjusted or turned off the gas flow.
What is E12 socket?
Candelabra sockets are also known as E12 base bulb sockets. They are smaller than the E26 medium sockets and they are commonly used for decorative fixtures.
What is an E26 socket?
E26 is also commonly referred to as a Medium Edison Screw (MES). An E26 bulb, therefore, is any bulb or lamp that utilizes the E26 cap or base for mounting and electrical contact. You can most instantly recognize an E26 bulb by looking at the bottom, or non-light emitting side of the bulb.
What is a EX39 Base?
The EX39 base has a longer tip base. EX39 based bulbs can be used in fixtures with standard E39 or EX39 sockets. Bulbs with EX39 bases have protective shields so can be used in either open or closed fixtures.
Why is it called a keyless light fixture?
A keyless light fixture or lampholder does not have an on/off switch built into it—like a pull chain, toggle switch, or push-rod at the socket—and requires a remote switch on the wall or cord.