How it connects
The lamp's two pins are pushed straight into the socket; spring contacts inside each hole grip the pins by friction and make the electrical contact. No twist or lock; not sealed (sealing in wet fixtures is done by the fixture lens).
Male and female halves
The lamp base carries the male pins; the socket/lamp holder is the female half. This connection is the female socket.
Usually connects to
- G5.3 / GU5.3 bi-pin lamp base (MR16, some MR11 lamps)
Common sizes
- One size: pins about 1.5-1.6 mm diameter at 5.3 mm centres. Many universal sockets also accept G4 (4 mm) and G6.35 (6.35 mm) pin spacings.
Where it is used
low-voltage track and recessed lightinglandscape and pond lightingdisplay lighting
Variations
- GU5.3 (thicker pins with heavier base)
- GX5.3
- universal G4/G5.3/G6.35 porcelain sockets with leads
How to recognise it
Small round ceramic/porcelain holder with two small contact holes about 5.3 mm apart, usually with flying leads; matches the two-pin end of an MR16 lamp.
Often confused with
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| GU10 socket | GU10 has two thick pins with bulbous ends 10 mm apart and twist-locks; G5.3 pins are thin, straight and 5.3 mm apart, push-in. |
| G4 socket | G4 pin spacing is 4 mm and used for small capsule lamps; measure the pin pitch. |
| G6.35 / GY6.35 socket | 6.35 mm pitch and usually thicker pins; often same universal holder. |
Also called
G5.3 lamp holderMR16 socketGU5.3 socketGX5.3 socketbi-pin halogen socket
Good to know
Many commercial sockets are 'universal' (G4/G5.3/G6.35) with slotted contacts, so the female side may not be G5.3-specific. GU5.3 lamps fit G5.3 holders.
Related connections
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