Reading an electrical listing: base, voltage and what “suitable for” leaves out

Most returns in electricals come from a mismatch that was printed on the page. Four fields do the work.

1. Base or fitting type

B22 bayonet, E27 screw, GU10 pin, G9 capsule — each is a different physical fitting. This is the first thing to check and the most common mismatch.

2. Voltage

Indian mains is nominally 220–240 V. Items made for other markets may be rated 110–120 V, and a 12 V lamp needs a transformer that must already be in the fitting.

3. Wattage and load

For a fitting or a strip, the figure is a maximum, not a target. Adding fittings to one circuit adds up — that is an electrician’s question, not ours.

4. Indoor or outdoor

Anything used outside needs a stated weather rating. Where a page does not state one, treat it as an indoor item.

What “suitable for” means

Phrases like “suitable for living rooms” are a supplier’s suggestion, not a technical rating. The technical facts are the four fields above, and those are what we repeat on the page.