Why are the smaller w5w t10 wedge bulbs more expensive than the bigger t10 wedge bulb

[poiihy]

The bulb on the left is the bigger kind of bulb and the bulb on the right is the smaller kind. The bigger one is most commonly used in cars and landscape lighting, and frequently used in vacuum cleaners too, while the smaller one is most commonly used in cars (in small spaces) and in places that could fit both these bulbs (places that have basic, not precise, optics, like landscape lighting, vacuum cleaners, address lights, and some lights in cars like interior lights).

The bulb on the left is a T16 shape, and it uses a W2.1X9.5d wedge base, the same as the one on the right. The bulb on the right is a T10 shape, with a W2.1X9.5d wedge base.

When I was browsing bulbs, I found that it is really hard to find T10 bulbs for a reasonable price. Most of them are $1-$2. The best place i found was ebay when you search with the keyword "incandescent". Anyway, I looked on Google Shopping search for wedge bulbs and looked at the bigger ones, and I discovered that, while many were $1-$3, there were a lot of bulbs for a reasonable price, like 4 of them for $2. Whereas I could not find any T10 bulbs (small ones) for a reasonable price.

So here is my question. Why are the small ones more expensive than the big ones? Are they more difficult to manufacture? Or is there less demand? Maybe because landscape lights typically use the bigger ones, people buy lots of those to replace them, whereas because only cars commonly use the smaller ones, people don't buy much of those. Is this why?

 

[-Virgil-]

The bulb on the left is the bigger kind of bulb and the bulb on the right is the smaller kind.

That is true. So far...so good.

The bigger one is most commonly used in landscape lighting, vacuum cleaners, and sometimes cars

Other way around. T16-size bulbs as pictured on the left are used primarily in vehicles, and also have been used in landscape lighting and vacuum cleaners and similar applications.

while the smaller one is most commonly used in cars (in small spaces) and in places that could fit both these bulbs.

Not sure what you mean by "and in places that could fit both these bulbs". It is true that both of these bulbs have the same base and so they are physically interchangeable. However, because of the different LCL (Light Center Length, distance from the base to the filament) they are usually not optically interchangeable.

I do not know what the shape of the bulb on the right is called, but it uses a T10 wedge base, the same as the one on the right. The bulb on the right is a W5W bulb (aka 921 bulb), with a T10 wedge base.

You've got your info all mixed up. Both of these bulbs have a W2.1x9.5d base (or "mini wedge" in US terminology). The bulb on the left is a T16-size bulb ("T" for Tubular glass, 16 for 16mm diameter). The bulb on the right is a T10-size bulb (Tubular, 10mm diameter). The one on the right is not a W5W. It could be a 161, a 168, a 194, or several others. A W5W (and a W3W) has the same T10 shape and W2.1x9.5d base, but has a different filament shape. The bulb on the left could be a 921 (also known as W16W), or it could be a 922, a 916, a 912, or a 906.

When I was browsing bulbs, I found that it is really hard to find W5W bulbs for a reasonable price. Most of them are $1-$2

Who gets to decide what's "reasonable"? And what information are you basing your decision that $1 to $2 is not "reasonable"?

I looked on Google Shopping search for wedge bulbs and looked at the bigger ones, and I discovered that, while many were $1-$3, there were a lot of bulbs for a reasonable price, like 4 of them for $2. Whereas I could not find any W5W bulbs (small ones) for a reasonable price.

There is no product in the world that cannot be made cheaper and in poorer quality. Paying more money doesn't necessarily get you better quality, and sometimes you can find super deals on good quality product, but in general, quality costs money.

Why are the small ones more expensive than the big ones?

Whoever said a bigger thing should be more expensive than a smaller thing?

Maybe because landscape lights typically use the bigger ones, people buy lots of those to replace them, whereas because only cars commonly use the smaller ones, people don't buy much of those. Is this why?

No, and it's based on a faulty assumption.

 

[poiihy]

Other way around. T16-size bulbs as pictured on the left are used primarily in vehicles, and also have been used in landscape lighting and vacuum cleaners and similar applications.

Let's say they're used most commonly for cars and landscape lights. I'm not familiar with many models of cars.

Not sure what you mean by "and in places that could fit both these bulbs". It is true that both of these bulbs have the same base and so they are physically interchangeable. However, because of the different LCL (Light Center Length, distance from the base to the filament) they are usually not optically interchangeable.

In many places where the optics are not finely tuned and can use different bulbs (address lights, vacuum cleaners, and landscape lights), I've seen the smaller ones used where a bigger one could fit instead (and maybe spread light even better).

You've got your info all mixed up. Both of these bulbs have a W2.1x9.5d base (or "mini wedge" in US terminology). The bulb on the left is a T16-size bulb ("T" for Tubular glass, 16 for 16mm diameter). The bulb on the right is a T10-size bulb (Tubular, 10mm diameter). The one on the right is not a W5W. It could be a 161, a 168, a 194, or several others. A W5W (and a W3W) has the same T10 shape and W2.1x9.5d base, but has a different filament shape. The bulb on the left could be a 921 (also known as W16W), or it could be a 922, a 916, a 912, or a 906.

Oh, so the base is W2.1X9.5d, not T10. T10 is the bulb. Now I know.
I thought that was a W5W bulb because it looks just like W5W bulbs I've replaced. Apparently there is a whole lot more to this.

Who gets to decide what's "reasonable"? And what information are you basing your decision that $1 to $2 is not "reasonable"?

Reason decides if it is reasonable. :ironic:
$1 or $2 for a tiny piece of glass and filament is ridiculous. Considering you can get the same bulbs for much less if you look hard.

There is no product in the world that cannot be made cheaper and in poorer quality. Paying more money doesn't necessarily get you better quality, and sometimes you can find super deals on good quality product, but in general, quality costs money.

What product are you talking about? You mean T10 (these miniature bulbs) in general?
Yes, in general quality costs money, but their prices often vary. I found Osram bulbs (quality) for about 48¢ at an European store, whereas the same bulbs I find on Google Shopping search are typically 90¢-$1.00

Whoever said a bigger thing should be more expensive than a smaller thing?

A bigger thing would typically be more expensive than a smaller thing because it uses more materials, but because of demand and other variables, many times the bigger things are cheaper.
If the smaller T10 bulbs and the bigger T16 bulbs were released at the same time, made at the same time, on equipment purchased at the same time for the same price, and both bulbs are sold in equal amounts, the bigger one should be more expensive because it uses more materials.
Though that is usually not true in the real world, because of demand and other variables, which is why I thought the bigger ones were cheaper. Larger demand because people buy lots of them for their landscape lights.

No, and it's based on a faulty assumption.

Then what is it? This is the whole point of this thread.

 

[Franco]

A bigger thing would typically be more expensive than a smaller thing because it uses more materials, but because of demand and other variables, many times the bigger things are cheaper.

There may be more precision required in the manufacture of a smaller bulb that could increase costs. I'm going to make the guess that design, manufacture, and quality control hold the significant portion of the cost on these bulbs, and that such a small material reduction is going to translate to very little savings.

 

[poiihy]

There may be more precision required in the manufacture of a smaller bulb that could increase costs. I'm going to make the guess that design, manufacture, and quality control hold the significant portion of the cost on these bulbs, and that such a small material reduction is going to translate to very little savings.

Oh, that could be right.

 

[-Virgil-]

Reason decides if it is reasonable. :ironic: $1 or $2 for a tiny piece of glass and filament is ridiculous. Considering you can get the same bulbs for much less if you look hard.

Sorry, no. You are being arbitrary, not "reasonable". There are many different bulbs the same shape and size as a W5W, with different electrical, photometric and colorimetric characteristics. Some of them are quite expensive because it takes exotic materials to make a bulb this small with high output and/or very long life and/or durable color, for example.

There is no product in the world that cannot be made cheaper and in poorer quality. Paying more money doesn't necessarily get you better quality, and sometimes you can find super deals on good quality product, but in general, quality costs money.

What product are you talking about? You mean T10 (these miniature bulbs) in general?

All products/any product.

I found Osram bulbs (quality) for about 48¢ at an European store, whereas the same bulbs I find on Google Shopping search are typically 90¢-$1.00

OK...and how much are you going to spend to get the bulb shipped from Europe?

A bigger thing would typically be more expensive than a smaller thing because it uses more materials. If the smaller T10 bulbs and the bigger T16 bulbs were released at the same time, made at the same time, on equipment purchased at the same time for the same price, and both bulbs are sold in equal amounts, the bigger one should be more expensive because it uses more materials.

Materials cost is only one of many factors that go into product cost.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

The smaller bulb is more complicated to make than the larger. Look how it has extra filament supports where the larger one doesn't. That could account for a slightly higher production cost.

 

[poiihy]

The smaller bulb is more complicated to make than the larger. Look how it has extra filament supports where the larger one doesn't. That could account for a slightly higher production cost.

Why does the smaller bulb have extra filament supports? I've noticed it has a longer filament. But the T16 bulbs of same wattage have a shorter filament. Is it for longer life?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Why does the smaller bulb have extra filament supports? I've noticed it has a longer filament. But the T16 bulbs of same wattage have a shorter filament. Is it for longer life?

A shorter, more tightly-wound filament can be a much more intense filament. This longer, less-tightly wound filament may be more prone to breaking without the supports.