A G9 bulb has two looped pins instead of a screw base. The G9s from Feit, GE and Westinghouse run on household 120 volts, as halogen or LED.
What it looks like
GE names the base “2-Pin Looped (G9)”: the two pins are bent into loops. The Feit and GE G9 bulbs on this page are T4 capsules, a tube half an inch across.
Where it’s used
Feit describes its 25 watt G9 halogen as fitting 120 volt pendant lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, vanity fixtures and under-cabinet lights, and its 50 watt one for sconces, chandeliers, accent and task lights. Some GE ovens take a 120/130 volt G9 halogen too: see oven light bulbs.
LED or halogen
Both are made for the same G9 base. Feit and GE sell their G9 LEDs by the halogen watts they match, such as Feit’s 4.5 watt BP40G9/830/LEDG2HDRP as a 40 watt replacement. Before you swap, check three things on the new bulb.
- Length. The LEDs in the table below are longer than the halogens. Feit’s G9 halogens are 1.5 to 1.8" long and its G9 LEDs here 1.9 to 2.6". Westinghouse’s 40 watt halogen is 1.69" and its 5 watt LED 2.13". Make sure the bulb fits inside the shade or glass.
- Dimming. On a dimmer, the bulb must say dimmable. The Feit G9s below are, but GE’s 40 watt replacement G9 LED isn’t, and Westinghouse’s 2.5 watt G9 LED isn’t marked dimmable.
- Watts. Stay within the most watts on the fixture’s label. A bulb above it may overheat the fixture or its wiring.
The bulbs it comes in
| Bulb | Watts | Lumens | Dimmable | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feit halogen | 25 | 230 | Yes | 1.7" |
| Feit halogen | 40 | 470 | Yes | 1.7" |
| Feit halogen | 50 | 550 | Yes | 1.5" |
| Feit LED | 2.3 | 225 | Yes | 1.9" |
| Feit LED | 3.5 | 350 | Yes | 2.4" |
| Feit LED | 4.5 | 450 | Yes | 2.6" |
| GE LED | 4 | 400 | No | 2.28" |
| GE LED | 6.5 | 750 | Yes | 3.17" |
In order: Feit BPQ25/G9/RP, BPQ40/G9/RP, BPQ50/IF/G9/2/HDRP, BP25G9/830/LED, BP35G9/830/LED/HDRP and BP40G9/830/LEDG2HDRP, and GE Specialty LED T4 G9 40 and 60 Watt Replacement. All eight are rated 120 volts.
Feit lists all six of its G9s here as rated for enclosed fixtures. Feit rates its three G9 LEDs here at 10,000 hours and its three halogens at 2,000.
What it’s confused with
- G4. Also a small capsule, but with two straight pins. Westinghouse’s G4 LED runs on 12 volts.
- GU10. Its two pins push in and twist to lock, mostly on spotlights: see GU10 bulbs.
Turn the power off and let a halogen G9 cool before you pull it out, to avoid a burn.
Another base?
Bases and shapes