Rough service bulbs fill a crucial and unique role in certain lighting situations, especially those in which the bulb may get jostled, dropped, or otherwise handled in a harsh way. The nature of light bulbs is that they are quite fragile, especially the filaments inside of them. Those filaments cannot be too rigid, nor too flexible, in order to get the most light and life out of the bulb, while using the least amount of energy and up-front cost in manufacturing. Rough service bulbs have filaments that have many more supports than normal filaments, so they won't break apart as easily. Keep in mind, when a bulb "burns out", it means the filament has broken.

Vibration is another enemy of light bulbs and it will cause filament breakdown quite quickly. For this reason, rough service bulbs are perfect for your garage door opener or ceiling fan. There are also 12 volt versions that can be used in your RV or boat lighting, which are also places that contain a lot of movement and vibration. In general, the bulk of the rough service light bulbs available are a-line, or shaped like you would imagine a normal bulb would be shaped (see photo on this page). There are globe-shaped bulbs, tube shaped bulbs, and reflector shaped bulbs listed as well. You can find them in wattages as low as 25 watts and up to 200 watts or more. There are no rough service bulbs currently available in fluorescent lighting, although fluorescent bulbs contain no filament, they still are susceptible to intense shock or vibration.

When it comes to deciding which brand to choose for your rough service lamps, we have found that Westinghouse Lighting to be an excellent option. As will all light bulbs, Osram Sylvania bulbs are of the highest quality, and that's no different in the rough service category. Philips also manufactures a fine product in this line. Keep in mind, the physical appearance of these bulbs is virtually the same as any normal light bulb. The only difference you may see, and only in a clear bulb, is the filament will be supported more. Only someone specifically looking for this would even notice any difference at all. This means the size of the bulb and the size and shape of the base would be exactly the same as a regular model.

Service Lighting is the source with the most rough service options anywhere on the web. We have 55 years of experience in the lighting industry to put to work for you. And when you call our service department (800.859.8074), we will answer your call live, without asking you to press a single button on your phone; we believe in old fashioned service and we spend a lot of effort, time, and money on providing that level of service. We know it's important to most customers, and it's something we can provide that virtually all of our competition cannot. We also list the entire lighting line from Sylvania, Westinghouse, and Universal Ballast, as well as many of the bulbs offered by Ushio, Philips, Eiko, and Satco Lighting. If you have any light bulb needs, there is an excellent chance we will be able to provide whatever it is.