Refrigerator light bulb: characteristics, types, selection rules + how to replace it yourself

High-quality interior lighting is a determining factor in the aesthetic perception of refrigerators of various sizes.A burnt-out light source in a refrigeration unit can cause a lot of inconvenience, so if it breaks, it must be replaced immediately.

A new refrigerator light bulb must have the appropriate lumen level and base type. We will talk about what characteristics the lamps on the refrigerator spare parts market have and how to choose the right one in this article. We will also provide detailed instructions on how to replace a light bulb yourself.

Why is there lighting in the refrigerator?

Refrigeration chambers are systems isolated from the influence of the external environment, the doors with a rubber seal do not allow either heat or light waves to pass inside. But if the door of your refrigerator does not fit tightly to the body, we advise you to think about replacing the seal.

Due to the cabinet-like design of the refrigeration equipment, it has its own lighting, making it easy to find food at any time of the day.

The power supply circuit for a light bulb in a refrigerator usually includes a start relay.This scheme guarantees automatic activation of the lighting every time the door is opened. This mechanism makes it possible to save energy and wisely use the lamp resource.

Artificial light ensures the most convenient and quick search for products, as well as their optimal placement inside closed boxes

Sometimes a simple incandescent lamp is connected to the electrical circuit, bypassing the start-up relay, since lighting in a domestic refrigeration unit may also be needed when the compressor is idle.

In this case, under the door inside the chamber there is a special button that opens the circuit when closed.

At first glance, a burnt-out lamp in a refrigerator may seem like a minor breakdown, which, in addition to aesthetic discomfort, does not pose any threat to household appliances.

However, this is not quite true. The absence of internal lighting results in the door remaining open longer than with an operating light.

As a result, the load on the compressor increases significantly, which fails premature. Therefore, it is very important to quickly replace the light bulb, because the life of the refrigerator may depend on it.

Existing types of lamps

The first models of household electric refrigerators with compression cycle technology were not equipped with lamps at all. But as food storage chambers have grown in popularity among consumers, they have continually improved.

Over time, low-power vacuum lighting devices with electrical circuits began to be built into them. These were almost the same as in chandeliers, incandescent light bulbs, only of lower power.

Today, high-comfort household refrigerators are equipped with energy-saving LED units with electronic control to indicate operating modes and the current state of the equipment

Energy-efficient LED lamps are controlled through special relays or a regular button under the door, as well as using microcontrollers.

Modern refrigerators use 4 types of lighting fixtures:

• with filament;
• halogen;
• fluorescent gas-filled lamps;
• LED

Let's talk about each type of light bulb in more detail.

Features of incandescent lamps

The first type of lamps (incandescent) is easy to operate and affordable. They emit a comfortable yellow light, but get very hot.

The service life of light bulbs with incandescent wire is short - up to 1000 hours. If the network voltage is unstable, their service life is significantly reduced.

We provided more information about incandescent lamps in another our article.

Halogen light bulb option

Halogen ones are similar in design to the previous ones. They heat up during operation, but they shine brighter. They consume a minimum of electricity with high light output. The service life does not exceed 4000 hours of operation.

We talked in detail about the design and types of halogen light bulbs in next material.

Fluorescent lamp type

Luminescents emit cool white light and last up to 15,000 hours. The service life depends on the number of off/on cycles.

They are used in stores and shopping centers to illuminate refrigerated display cases, making it possible to give products an attractive appearance.

The main disadvantage of these lamps is the content of dangerous mercury vapor.Used devices must be taken to specialized points or collection points for further disposal.

We covered the structure, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of fluorescent lamps in detail in this publication.

LED or LED lamps

LEDs are environmentally friendly products that practically do not heat up. They have high mechanical strength and consume a minimal amount of electricity. To learn more about the characteristics of LED light bulbs, please go to via this link.

Service life – 100,000 hours. After this time, the LED lamps are not destroyed, they only reduce the intensity of the glow by about 2 times.

Currently, refrigeration equipment manufacturers are increasingly choosing to install LED lighting.

The popularity of using LED lamps in household refrigerators is due to their high efficiency levels. They last much longer than fluorescent and halogen light bulbs, not to mention incandescent devices, which often burn out

Unlike gas-discharge light sources with mercury vapor, diodes ignite instantly and can generate lighting of any color.

Characteristics of lighting fixtures

The quality of interior lighting in refrigerators directly depends on the type of light bulb used and its power, the design features of the lamp, as well as its location.

Most models of household refrigeration units install one light source with a power of 15 W, and in some cases - 25 W.

In large-sized equipment, such lighting is clearly not enough.This problem is solved by installing two 15/25 W bulbs at once or installing one 40 W bulb.

You should also focus on their bases, designed for different types of fastening. A standard lamp for a household refrigerator has plinth E14.

But there are also devices with sockets T-Click on two terminals, E12, as well as compact four-pin models 2G7. We recommend that you read more about markings and types of base light bulbs.

Light sources can be installed on the top wall inside the refrigeration unit, on the back and side panels of the chamber, and on top of the visor.

Often, lighting fixtures in domestic refrigerators are assembled into a single control unit along with a switch and temperature controller

Uniform illumination in refrigerators is provided by vertically designed lamps installed on the sides at the back inside a closed chamber. Lamps located in the middle of the side wall also provide satisfactory illumination.

But those mounted on the top panel brightly illuminate only the upper shelves, while the lower ones remain in twilight.

The most unfortunate arrangement is considered to be the light bulbs fixed on the visor. In this case, they are unable to provide sufficient lighting to all areas in the refrigerator.

Rules for choosing a suitable device

Manufacturers of refrigeration chambers install special lamps inside household appliances that are resistant to low temperatures and moisture, as well as power surges. Therefore, it is recommended to use only original spare parts for replacement.

If you don’t have access to them, you can use universal ones.However, you need to clearly understand that lamps not recommended by the manufacturer will heat the air and often burn out. In this case, the interior lighting will have to be restored constantly.

When it is necessary to replace a faulty incandescent light bulb in an old refrigerator, the logical step is to purchase a similar device of the same power.

But, as practice shows, it is advisable to replace it with an energy-efficient LED lamp.

When installing an LED light bulb instead of other types of lighting fixtures, you need to select an analogue with the appropriate level of luminous flux. Here is a table of light power correspondence for different types of light bulbs

When choosing a lighting fixture for a refrigerator, you need to remember three important points:

1. Power should not exceed 11-40 W. It depends on the model and dimensions of the equipment, the type of light bulb and its location inside the refrigerator compartment.
2. Base — mismatch between the type of lamp base and socket is unacceptable.
3. Size and shape — the light bulb should be freely located inside the protective shade or diffuser, without touching the walls.

The type of light bulb and its operating power affects the illumination of the surfaces of the internal chamber of the refrigerator, as well as electricity consumption.

Halogen and incandescent devices emit warm yellow light, fluorescent ones emit cool white light, and LEDs can generate radiation across the entire visible spectral range.

Properly selected refrigerator lighting helps to detect food spoilage in a timely manner. Therefore, it is better to give preference to lamps that emit light of a cool shade, so as not to artificially make the appearance of food more attractive

It is noteworthy that the transparency of the bulb also affects the quality of lighting. Matte reduces the level of radiation flux by 10-30%. If this is critical, it is better to purchase a light source with a transparent bulb for the refrigeration unit.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the lamp

To replace the light bulb in the refrigerator, you need to perform several simple operations.

Step #1 - disconnect equipment from the network

First of all, household appliances are disconnected from the power supply. This is the main safety rule that should never be neglected.

Step #2 - freeing access to the light bulb

Then, if necessary, remove everything unnecessary from the shelves, and sometimes the shelves themselves, as well as the baskets, to gain access to the lighting fixture.

Step #3 - dismantling the diffuser

Next, you need to remove the transparent light diffuser, which is important for refrigerators Bosch and some other brands, or the lampshade, if available.

To easily remove the protective cover, experienced craftsmen recommend holding the refrigerator door open for 15 minutes. This will make dismantling much easier

The designs of lampshades vary. In refrigerators Atlant And Samsung they are fastened with screws in the chambers Stinol – special latches.

In refrigeration units Indesit And Ariston The lampshades are not completely removable, but are fixed with a retaining screw, which allows you to release only one side.

To gain access to the light bulb, unscrew this screw and carefully bend the dynamic part of the lampshade.

The protective casing should be removed very carefully so as not to destroy the coating of the internal walls.

Step #4 - installing a new lamp to replace the burnt one

Now you can unscrew the burnt out light bulb and install a working one.

In household refrigerators from Samsung, before dismantling the old lamp, you need to disconnect the connectors and wires, and then remove the protective tape.

If an LED lamp is installed in the refrigerator compartment, the lampshade can only be removed together with the electronic unit, and then the bulb can be replaced.

Sometimes it is very difficult to dismantle a unit with a microprocessor yourself. If you do not have relevant experience working with electronics, it is better to seek professional help.

Step #5 - testing the lamp performance

Check the correctness of the work performed. To do this, you need to turn on the replaced light bulb.

The last stage is to check the functionality of the lighting device. If everything is in order, you can install the protection in place and connect the refrigerator to the power supply.

The nuances of replacing different types of light bulbs

It is worth noting that different types of lamps require different approaches. For example, regular an incandescent light bulb may be taken by the glass part, but do not press or squeeze it.

Be sure to screw in with smooth movements so that the base is correctly positioned in the thread. cartridge.

During the process of replacing such a lamp, the glass sometimes breaks. In this case, it is important to be careful and not try to remove the remains and fragments with your hands.

Round nose pliers or pliers will come to the rescue. You just need to grab the edge of the base with a tool and unscrew the lighting fixture.

Unlike vacuum bulbs, halogen ones cannot be touched by the glass part with bare hands. Local overheating may occur at the point of contact. This reduces its work life.

During installation, the quartz bulb of the lamp must be held through a clean cloth or with gloves. In case of accidental contact, it is recommended to wipe the surface with a cloth that does not leave marks, for example, microfiber with an alcohol solution.

Fluorescent lamps have very fragile tubes containing mercury vapor. Therefore, holding them by the glass part is prohibited - you can only grab them by the base

Such lighting devices must be removed very carefully so as not to break the flasks with harmful mercury vapors. They are used mainly in the food trade.

Recommendations for use

Following the basic rules for using a refrigerator will help extend the life of even the simplest light bulb. So, it is necessary to ensure that the doors are closed tightly, and also not to allow them to remain open for long periods of time.

It is equally important to control the humidity inside the unit. Condensation can cause irreparable damage to electronic equipment.

To connect refrigerators, electricians recommend specially socket with grounding. Using an uninterruptible power supply or connecting a surge protector will help avoid breakdowns due to power surges.

If the lamp burns out without working out the period stated by the manufacturer, you should definitely check the light switch, which is usually located on the side or upper inner wall of the chamber.

A faulty lighting button can cause not only the breakdown of the light bulb, but also the burnout of the lampshade, and sometimes lead to a short circuit

Deformation of this element leads to uninterrupted operation of the lighting and rapid breakdown of the light source.In most cases, the spring in the key fails, which is responsible for fixing the position On/Off.

And although the type of internal lighting of the refrigerator is not an indicator of the quality of the household appliance itself, when purchasing it is better to choose models with LED lamps. They are resistant to low temperatures, reliable and durable.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Installation of LED lighting on the door and in the chamber of the old Minsk-15M refrigeration unit with your own hands:

How to quickly replace a lighting device in Atlant refrigerators with different protective shades, step-by-step instructions:

How to replace a burnt out light bulb in a Nord refrigerator:

Replacing a faulty refrigerator lamp yourself is easy. It is only important to follow safety precautions and not experiment with the electronic part of the refrigeration unit.

The characteristics of the light bulb, as well as recommendations regarding its installation in specific models of household appliances, can be found in the operating instructions.

Have you recently changed a light bulb and want to share your experience with other users? Share your experiences in the comments section of this post.

If you still have questions about dismantling or installing a new light bulb, or you just can’t decide which type of light bulb is suitable for your refrigerator, ask for advice from our experts and other site visitors - ask your questions in the block located under this article.