This is a listing of lamps commonly used in pinball games, along with specifications such as voltage, amperage, MCSD (see below) and life expectancy in hours.
MCSD is a measurement of luminous intensity. It stands for Mean Spherical Candelas (formerly known as MSCP or mean spherical candlepower) and is the total light output from a lamp measured in all directions. It is equal to the total visible energy emitted by the lamp, measured in lumens, divided by 4*pi (~4*3.1415927).
The idea behind this file is to list alternative lamps based on a particular application. Most folks know that you can replace a #44 lamp at .25 amps with a #47 lamp at .15 amps if you want your game to run cooler. But what if you wanted a brighter bulb? Or if your original bulb was a #555? What are your alternatives then? This file attempts to answer those questions.
Lamps are grouped by voltage and base ... this is designed to assist the reader in finding bulbs with the same base and voltage, but varying other characteristics. Inside of each group, lamps are sorted by amperage, followed occasionally by MCSD. Flashlamps do not have a measurable MCSD and are not specified here.
Within each group, the "standard" lamp is normally marked with a "*" next to it. These are lamps I know are commonly used in games. A number of groups indicate a "standard" lamp with a "+" symbol, these are lamps commonly available from pinball parts dealers but are not known to me for sure as to their usage (they may be jukebox lamps for all I know). I included them here for completeness anyway.
Speaking of completeness, if there is a bulb type you are looking for that is not included in this file, please Email me: info@zaccaria-pinball.com . Include as much information as you know about the bulb type and I will add it to the file. As always, credit will be given where credit is due.
Bill Ung
http://brad.rhps.org/Bill/.
| Lamp # | Volts | Amps | MCSD | Life | Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43+ | 2.5 | .50 | .50 | 3,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 502 | 5.0 | .15 | .59 | 100 | Miniature Screw |
| 7268+ | 5.0 | .125 | .25 | 5,000 | BP (bi-pin) {8} |
| 1302 | 6.3 | .04 | .08 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 755 | 6.3 | .15 | .33 | 20,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 267 | 6.3 | .15 | .33 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1847 | 6.3 | .15 | .38 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 47 | 6.3 | .15 | .52 | 3,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1866 | 6.3 | .25 | .65 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 44* | 6.3 | .25 | .90 | 3,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 239 | 6.3 | .36 | .67 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 238 | 6.3 | .50 | 2.0 | 2,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 240 | 6.3 | .36 | .67 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1810 | 6.3 | .40 | 1.40 | 3,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1855 | 6.3 | .80 | 3.60 | 3,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 86 | 6.3 | .20 | .40 | 20,000 | Wedge (T-1 3/4) |
| 159 | 6.3 | .15 | .34 | 5,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 259 | 6.3 | .25 | .65 | 5,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 447 | 6.3 | .15 | .52 | 3,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 555* | 6.3 | .25 | .90 | 3,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 40+ | 6.3 | .15 | .52 | 3,000 | Miniature Screw (E10) |
| 46 | 6.3 | .25 | .90 | 3,000 | Miniature Screw (E10) |
| 1129+ | 6.4 | 2.63 | 21.00 | 200 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 455* | 6.5 | .50 | FLASH | 500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) [FLASHLAMP] |
| 545* | 6.5 | .31 | FLASH | 500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) [FLASHLAMP] |
| 55+ | 7.0 | .41 | 2.00 | 500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1896 | 7.0 | .50 | 2.20 | 1,500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 63* | 7.0 | .63 | 3.00 | 1,000 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 147* | 7.0 | .43 | 2.00 | 1,500 | Wedge (10) |
| 51+ | 7.5 | .22 | 1.00 | 1,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 912+ | 12.8 | 1.00 | 12.00 | 1,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 920 | 12.8 | 1.20 | 10.00 | 1,200 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 921 | 12.8 | 1.40 | 21.00 | 500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 1156* | 12.8 | 2.10 | 32.00 | 1200 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {5} {7} |
| 1156 | 12.8 | 1.44 | 32.00 | 1200 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {6} {7} |
| 199 | 12.8 | 2.25 | 32.00 | 1500 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {5} {7} |
| 89* | 13.0 | .58 | 6.00 | 750 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 906* | 13.0 | .69 | 6.00 | 1000 | T-5 (15mm) Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 904 | 13.5 | .69 | 4.00 | 5000 | T-5 (15mm) Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 67* | 13.5 | .59 | 4.0 | 5,000 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {1} |
| 97 | 13.5 | .69 | 4.0 | 5,000 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 57+ | 14.0 | .24 | 2.00 | 500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 431 | 14.0 | .25 | 2.70 | 250 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1895 | 14.0 | .27 | 2.00 | 1,500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 257 | 14.0 | .27 | FLASH | 500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) [FLASHLAMP] |
| 293 | 14.0 | .33 | 2.00 | 5,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 161 | 14.0 | .19 | 1.00 | 4,000 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 158 | 14.0 | .24 | 2.00 | 500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 194* | 14.0 | .27 | 2.00 | 1,500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) {2} |
| 168 | 14.0 | .35 | 3.00 | 1,500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 193 | 14.0 | .33 | 2.00 | 7,500 | Wedge (W 2.1 x 9.2 D) |
| 53+ | 14.4 | .12 | 1.00 | 1,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1445 | 14.4 | .135 | .70 | 2,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) w/Small Round Glass |
| 1892 | 14.4 | .12 | ???? | ???? | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1458 | 20.0 | .25 | ???? | ???? | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1829 | 28.0 | .07 | 1.00 | 1,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 757 | 28.0 | .08 | .62 | 7,500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1820 | 28.0 | .10 | 1.60 | 1,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 1864 | 28.0 | .17 | 3.00 | 1,500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 313+ | 28.0 | .17 | 3.50 | 500 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) {9} |
| 1873 | 28.0 | .20 | 3.00 | 7,000 | Miniature Bayonet (BA9) |
| 301 | 28.0 | .17 | 3.00 | 500 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 1251* | 28.0 | .23 | 3.00 | 2,000 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {3} |
| 303 | 28.0 | .30 | 6.00 | 500 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 623 | 28.0 | .37 | 6.00 | 1,000 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) |
| 1683* | 28.0 | 1.02 | 32.00 | 500 | S.C. Bayonet (BA15s) {4} |
Note: The last two groupings are broken apart because although the base and voltage specifications are similar, the physical glass bulb of the #1683 lamp is significantly larger than those of the #1251 group.
Information on lots of odd, rare, or unusual bulbs is also available from Don's Bulbs. If you didn't find what you're looking for here, or are looking for a place to purchase these or other unusual bulbs, Don may be able to help.
Update 25 April 2001: Thanks to Ron Kral for pointing out this web page: http://www.picc.com/wedge.htm with the 906 lamp info on it.
Update 3 May 2001: CFTBL hologram projector #1156 bulb and alternate #199 bulb added. Info from Fred Kemper and Cliff "Cliffy" Rinear.
Update 29 May 2001: CFTBL #86 bulb added.
Update 25 January 2002: Bill Ung email address removed by request. Replaced with link to web page. Thanks, Bill, for the original research and information.
Update 13 February 2002: Info on #1156 bulb being used by HS2/Getaway added. Minor text fixes. www.picc.com is now 404, so link removed.
Update 9 October 2002: Changed note on the #194 bulb possibly being used in FISHTALES. Added FIRE! to the note on games using the #1683 bulb.
Update 17 December 2002: Added #545 blinking bulb used on Twilight Zone and The Addams Family. Info on volt and amp ratings provided by Matt Hoffman. Lifetime rating provided by "Tony" Dziedzic.
Update 30 April 2003: Added #259 bulb. Thanks Adorjan.
Update 16 June 2003: Added #7268 bulb. Thanks Bruce.
Update 1 July 2006: Updated #1445. Added #1892, #502, and #1458 bulbs. Thanks Clay.
Update 10 September 2006: Cyclone use of #1251 confirmed.
Update 5 January 2007: Corrected the #755 bulb information. Updated #502 bulb information.
Update 27 September 2007: Haunted House use of #313 note added.
Update 25 November 2008: 7268 base type added.
Update 27 June 2010: 147 bulb added.