What This Checklist Is For

Use it when you're replacing bulbs in existing fixtures, not designing a lighting layout from scratch. You'll need this when a porch chandelier or entryway grape chandelier has sockets you can't identify, when a conference room looks dim on camera, or when someone says 'we want warm light' and has no idea what that means. It also works if you already know you want smart controls and you're deciding between Feit Electric WiFi bulbs and a switch.

The 5-Step Buying Checklist

Step 1: Count bases and list fixtures

Before you look at bulbs, write down the fixture type and socket base. The mistake I still catch during inventory: E26 versus E12. A standard lamp is E26. A chandelier—especially a porch chandelier or a grape chandelier—often uses E12 candelabra. Feit Electric sells both, but if you order A19 bulbs for an E12 fixture, the order is useless. I still kick myself for a 2022 order where I assumed 'chandelier' meant candelabra. The fixture was standard E26. If I'd checked the socket first, I'd have saved a return shipping fee and a lot of embarrassment.

Step 2: Match the bulb shape to the fixture

Bulb shape matters for how the fixture looks. An A19 can work in a lot of glass shades, but in exposed-socket fixtures like a grape chandelier, a smaller candelabra or vintage filament shape probably looks better. Check the fixture's maximum wattage label. With LEDs, the actual wattage is low, but the label still matters; product pages list an equivalent wattage. Use lumens as your brightness number. For a porch chandelier, a 60-watt equivalent is usually fine. For a lobby, maybe a 100-watt equivalent. Don't guess.

Step 3: Check dimmer compatibility before you commit

Dimmable LED bulbs are not guaranteed to work with every wall dimmer. This is where I learned the 'odds' lesson. I knew I should check the dimmer compatibility list, but thought 'what are the odds?' Well, the odds caught up with me when I installed 12 Feit Electric dimmable LED light bulbs in a conference room, and half of them hummed at 10% brightness. The bulbs were fine; the dimmer wasn't. Now I buy one sample and test it on the actual fixture before ordering the rest. If the wall controls are old, a WiFi bulb may actually be easier because it doesn't rely on the wall dimmer. In my experience, one sample bulb is cheaper than a restocking fee.

Step 4: Decide if you need WiFi bulbs

Feit Electric bulbs WiFi models are handy for schedules and remote control. They connect to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and you control them through the Feit Electric app or a voice assistant. No hub required. I use them in entry sconces because I do not want to rely on someone physically turning a switch on and off. Never expected the networking question to be the bottleneck. Turns out individual smart bulbs can pile up on your Wi-Fi network—especially in a chandelier with six or eight sockets. For large chandeliers, a smart switch is often the better call.

Step 5: Verify specs, invoicing, and return policy before bulk order

Once you're confident, ask the distributor for a spec sheet. I require that for orders above $500. A vendor that could not provide proper invoicing cost us $2,400 in rejected expenses in 2023. Now spec sheet and invoice format come first. Also check the color temperature: 2700K and 3000K are warm, 3500K is neutral, and 4000K-5000K is cool or daylight. If you order daylight for a chandelier, it will look like an operating room. If your utility offers commercial lighting rebates, look for ENERGY STAR or DLC listed products. According to ENERGY STAR (energystar.gov), certified LED bulbs use less energy and last longer than standard alternatives. Verify your utility's current list before you count on a rebate.

I'd rather spend 10 minutes explaining options than deal with mismatched expectations later.

How Do You Spotlight on Zoom?

This belongs in a lighting procurement article? Sort of. When I talk about video-call lighting, the question always comes up. Zoom's Spotlight feature is a host or co-host tool. It makes one participant's video the main video for everyone, so the speaker view algorithm doesn't pick the wrong person.

  1. In the meeting, make sure you're the host or co-host.
  2. Hover over the participant's video tile.
  3. Click the ellipsis (…) on that tile.
  4. Select Spotlight for Everyone (the wording varies by Zoom version).
  5. To remove it, click View Options in the top-right corner and choose Remove Spotlight.

If you want multiple people side by side, choose Spotlight from View Options, then select the participants. I'm not 100% sure of every version's wording because Zoom changes labels, but the View Options path is stable enough. It's not the same as Pin: Pin only changes your view. Spotlight changes the view for everyone.

What I'd Check Before You Click Buy

  • Sample first. Order one bulb, test brightness, color, and dimming. Then order the rest.
  • Look for a UL listing or equivalent certification for permanent fixtures. I won't name brands, but I check product certifications on the page.
  • For exterior porch chandeliers, check the fixture rating and the bulb. An LED bulb rated for enclosed fixtures is a safer choice in a fully enclosed porch light.
  • Smart bulbs, including Feit Electric bulbs WiFi models, may need a firmware update during setup. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes per location.

One more warning: don't assume 'dimmable' means it works with every dimmer. I repeated that because it's the fastest way to waste a day.

The 10-Second Summary

Base size and fixture type are the first filters. Brightness is lumens, not wattage. Check the dimmer, test a sample, and check the spec sheet before a bulk order. If a chandelier has several sockets, consider a smart switch instead of individual WiFi bulbs. And on Zoom, Spotlight is a host control under View Options, not a feature of your lighting.