# Help me identify/find this big light bulb (picture) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490 "2007-10-21T18:49:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/1 "2007-10-21T18:49:42Z")
It’s a bulb from a hanging light fixture in our church. I haven’t been able to sort out the bulb options on the many sites to identify this. [Big Lightbulb](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/minor7flat5/big-lightbulb-1.jpg) Top of Bulb: 300W 125-130V GE Extended Service Box: 300 Watt Extended Service Lamp FG3579-E Dimensions: 4" wide by 9" tall Base slightly less than 1.5" wide by a bit more than 1.5" high (bottom tip to top of brass) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/2 "2007-10-21T19:22:51Z")
From your description it sounds as if it is a GE FG3579-E 300 watt bulb. 😛 I assume you’re actually asking about a replacement? How about [this one](http://www.galesburgelectriclighting.com/GE-30099-130V-300W-Mogul-Base-Incandescent-Bulb-p-4722.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/3 "2007-10-21T19:31:56Z")
[Incidentally](http://www.peclamp.com/terms.htm): > [@](#): > > **Mogul Base** A large screw base whose diameter is approx 1.5 inches. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/4 "2007-10-21T19:39:36Z")
That might be the one. I’m a little leery about the definition of mogul base, since I have seen what appear to be different subcategories of mogul base out there. Anyway, I want a long-life bulb since it’s a real pain to get to these fixtures. They probably haven’t been changed in twenty years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/5 "2007-10-21T19:48:56Z")
[This one](http://74.0.58.115/moreinfo.int?ordercode=57303) claims 4,000 hours. What do you mean by ‘different categories’? Like ‘mogul screw base’ and ‘mogul prong base’? Or are you seeing different mogul screw bases? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/6 "2007-10-21T20:02:50Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] [This one](http://74.0.58.115/moreinfo.int?ordercode=57303) claims 4,000 hours. What do you mean by ‘different categories’? Like ‘mogul screw base’ and ‘mogul prong base’? Or are you seeing different mogul screw bases? [/QUOTE] I went back through the sites I looked at and now I see that Mogul seems to only be shown next to E39. I had seen other Enn numbering, but not labeled “Mogul” Cool. That bulb you found seems much cheaper for some reason. The dimensions fit, so it’s likely the one. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/7 "2007-10-21T20:15:11Z")
Good luck. Aside from knowing the difference between 5600ºK and 3400ºK, I don’t know squat about lamps! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/8 "2007-10-21T20:19:34Z")
I just had a really good idea! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/9 "2007-10-21T20:26:50Z")
Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/10 "2007-10-21T20:36:44Z")
**minor7flat5** : Have you thought about replacing the incandescent bulbs with fluorescent? I only did a quick search, and was only able to find 42w mogul base ones that replace a 150w incandescent. One claims a 10,000 hour life. Can you accept half the brightness in exchange for 1/6 the power? (And a much higher price, unfortunately.) ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/11 "2007-10-22T11:18:26Z")
Fluorescent in _church_? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/12 "2007-10-22T12:54:45Z")
And most fluorescent replacement bulbs commonly available in stores are not meant to be used in an inverted position. The OP didn’t say it was the case, but many hanging fixures position the bulb base up. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/13 "2007-10-22T13:17:25Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Fluorescent in _church_? [/QUOTE] Why not? The only problem is that while the light looks normal to the eye, it can be a PITA when you’re shooting a wedding – not because of flicker, but because the colour temperature of fluorescents makes everything look greenish. White balance fixes that, but if there’s sunlight coming in as well (5600ºK) and/or you’re using the tungstens as well (3400ºK) it can get tricky. (Eh, fix it in post.) > [@GaryM](#): > > And most fluorescent replacement bulbs commonly available in stores are not meant to be used in an inverted position. The OP didn’t say it was the case, but many hanging fixures position the bulb base up. Didn’t think of that, and didn’t know it would be a problem. The churches and commercial buildings I’ve been in have recessed overhead lighting, and the fluorescent ‘bulbs’ hung base upwards like the incandescents they replaced. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/14 "2007-10-22T15:02:56Z")
**ParentalAdvisory** and **GaryM** are both right. It’s mounted base-up. And it would look like crap to have fluorescent fixtures in church. It really would. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/15 "2007-10-22T16:27:06Z")
The fixtures would be the same ones you have now. I’m talking about the screw-in fluorescent ‘bulbs’. But it might cause problems if you’re videotaping weddings or other events where the lighting can’t reasonably be controlled. Anyway, it was just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-find-this-big-light-bulb-picture/423490/16 "2007-10-22T16:46:28Z")
It looks like a GES base to me.