How safe are bayonet (B22) to Edison (E27) adaptors?

noobiediyer · 23 Jan 2021

I have some smart bulbs have a bayonet B22 connection. However, a lot of newer light fittings have the Edison E27 connectors. I'm not keen on replacing my bulbs so I thought using these adaptors might be a good solution.

My question is, how safe are these adaptors? Are there any particular brands that I could buy which would be more safe than cheap ones from ebay/Amazon?

Diyisfun · 23 Jan 2021

I have used a few different adaptors, I just buy on Ebay, no issues yet & they are years old.

flameport · 23 Jan 2021

rapidnailer07 said:
My question is, how safe are these adaptors?

Dubious at best, as depending on how they are inserted, the outer thread of the lamp may be live which is likely to be a shock risk unless the adaptor has a very deep shroud (most do not).

Astra99 · 23 Jan 2021

If you are converting E27 (screw) to B22 (plug and twist) then there *should* be no problem. It is going from B22 to E27 (or E14) which could potentially make the screw part live.

noobiediyer · 24 Jan 2021

Astra99 said:
If you are converting E27 (screw) to B22 (plug and twist) then there *should* be no problem.

That could be interpreted in both ways depending on whether you're talking about holder to bulb or bulb to holder. Just to be clear, the holder is E27 and the bulb is B22. The adaptor I need will allow me to fit my B22 bulb into an E27 light fitting.

johnny2007 · 24 Jan 2021

The adaptors I use are all covered in plastic, no way anything metal could be touched when changing bulbs.

Astra99 · 24 Jan 2021

To clarify my previous post. If you have B22 lamps (bulbs) you want to fit into an E27 holder, then you are converting E27 to B22, which should pose no problem. However, installing an E27 lamp (bulb) into a B22 holder means that potentially the screw of the adapter/holder, and thence the lamp (bulb) could be live as there is no polarity with B22.

AdrianUK · 7 Feb 2021

Are these traditional filament lamps (ie. they get hot) or LED lamps.

I'd be carefully of using the adapters with a traditional lamp, maybe too hot but Id have no concerns with an LED lamp.

noobiediyer · 7 Feb 2021

AdrianUK said:
Are these traditional filament lamps (ie. they get hot) or LED lamps.

I'd be carefully of using the adapters with a traditional lamp, maybe too hot but Id have no concerns with an LED lamp.

LED bulbs. They are actually Philips Hue smart LED bulbs which are pretty expensive hence trying to find a solution for them. If they were normal LED bulbs then I wouldn't have an issue replacing them but it's a hard pill to swallow for replacing the Hue bulbs.

AdrianUK · 7 Feb 2021

Then, with the usual proviso of making sure the fitting is switched off before you replace the lamps etc etc, I'd say go for it!

Harry Bloomfield · 7 Feb 2021

noobiediyer said:
My question is, how safe are these adaptors? Are there any particular brands that I could buy which would be more safe than cheap ones from ebay/Amazon?

Dodgy. You have a 50/50 chance of plugging them in and getting the outer screw thread connected to the live or the neutral. Get it wrong and the exposed metal part of the lamp base can be connected to the live as it is inserted or removed.

noobiediyer · 7 Feb 2021

Harry Bloomfield said:
Dodgy. You have a 50/50 chance of plugging them in and getting the outer screw thread connected to the live or the neutral. Get it wrong and the exposed metal part of the lamp base can be connected to the live as it is inserted or removed.

Oh right...I see what people mean now. I didn't quite understand before but the penny has dropped with what you wrote. Yes, I can see this being an issue. However, being LED lights which last almost forever, I don't expect to change the bulbs. If/when I do, if I make sure 100% sure it's switched off at the light switch (or for extra good measure, turn of the lighting fuse at the consumer unit) then surely this would be fine? It's not ideal but perhaps this is enough precaution to see me through a couple of years before I replace them for E27 style bulbs.

PRC123 · 4 Jun 2021

Here’s a video that explains the risk of electric shock with these adaptive fittings

EFLImpudence · 6 Jun 2021

Don't (all?) modern ES holders have two contacts at the bottom instead of using the screw?

How safe are bayonet (B22) to Edison (E27) adaptors?

Similar threads