A Clear Guide to Choosing the Right Bulb, Fixture, or Retrofit

At Daystar Distributing, we see it all the time — good electricians, maintenance crews, business owners, and homeowners stuck asking:

Lighting is more technical than most people realize. If you've ever purchased the wrong bulb, mixed up color temperatures, or unexpectedly burned out a ballast, this guide is for you.

🔌 1. Know Your Base: Not All Sockets Are Created Equal

When it comes to light bulbs, the base size and shape are non-negotiable. You need a match, or it simply won’t work.

Common base types we see:

• E26 (Medium Screw Base): Standard household bulbs

• E39 (Mogul Base): Found in HID or high bay fixtures

• GU24 or GU10: Twist-and-lock types, often in compact fluorescents or track lighting

• Bi-pin (T8 or T12 tubes): For fluorescent or LED tube lighting

  
  

🛠️ Quick tip: Don’t just guess. Bring your old bulb, take a picture, or look for a model number. We can identify it instantly.

🌈 2. Color Temperature Isn’t a Preference — It’s a Performance Factor

“Cool white,” “daylight,” and “warm” sound like moods, but they’re actually measured in Kelvin (K) and can dramatically affect how a space feels.

• 2700K – 3000K: Warm white – cozy, often used in restaurants or homes

• 3500K – 4100K: Neutral white – great for offices or retail

• 5000K – 6500K: Cool/daylight – crisp, often used in warehouses, garages, or anywhere visibility is key

  
  

🔍 Real-world mistake: Installing 6500K daylight bulbs in a warm-toned restaurant. It looks sterile and ruins the ambiance.

🎯 Solution: Match your lighting to your environment and task, not just what’s on sale.

⚙️ 3. Ballast or Bypass? The Retrofit Question

If you're replacing older fluorescent or CFL tubes with LED, you’ll run into one of three options:

Type A – Plug & Play LED Tubes

• Compatible with existing electronic ballasts

• Quickest install

• BUT: Only works if your ballast is still good

Type B – Ballast Bypass

• Wired directly to line voltage

• More efficient, fewer points of failure

• BUT: Requires rewiring — best done by a pro

Type C – External Driver

• Similar to fluorescent ballast but LED-specific

• High-efficiency systems (less common)

  
  

⚠️ Warning: Mixing up ballast compatibility can fry your LED or even damage the fixture.

💡 We can walk you through exactly what you have and what will work.

💥 4. Wattage and Lumens: Brightness ≠ Power Usage

In the old days, 100 watts meant “really bright.” With LEDs, watts measure energy use, not brightness. What you want to look for now is lumens — the true measure of light output.

✨ Pro tip: Use fewer, higher-lumen fixtures for high ceilings instead of adding more low-output bulbs.

⚡ 5. Voltage, Dimming, and Controls

Don’t forget to consider voltage compatibility and whether you require 0–10V dimming, phase dimming, or motion sensor controls.

Examples:

• A high bay that works great at 277V may not run on a standard 120V circuit

• Not all LEDs are dimmable, and mismatched dimmers cause flicker or failure

  
  

Ask us what you’re connecting to — we’ll make sure it’s compatible.

🧰 6. When in Doubt, Here’s What to Bring:

If you’re replacing a bulb or fixture and aren’t sure what to order or ask for, this list helps us help you faster:

✅ The old bulb or tube

✅ A clear photo of the fixture

✅ Voltage available in the space

✅ Desired color temperature or example of existing lighting

✅ Ceiling height or square footage

✅ Whether dimming or motion is needed

We match it all — and usually have a better, longer-lasting solution in stock.

🚛 Need Delivery? We’ve Got You.

We offer:

• Free local delivery in Springfield

• Same or next-day shipping for contractors, churches, warehouses, and more

• Tested, vendor-approved brands that we stand behind

  
  

📞 Final Thoughts

Don’t guess. Don’t waste time on returns. And definitely don’t risk an online order that might not work with your system.

We’re here to help you light smarter — whether you’re updating a facility, retrofitting an entire church, or just replacing a single stubborn bulb.

📍 Visit us at 1723 S. West Bypass

📞 Call (417) 865-9200