Product Overview
The Philips PL-C ALTO® 38312-5 Lamp is a professional-grade, 13-watt quad-tube compact fluorescent (CFL) plug-in bulb engineered for space-constrained commercial downlights, healthcare corridors, corporate offices, and institutional sconces. Delivering 800 initial lumens of clean 3500K natural white illumination, this compact bulb features an 82 CRI rating to ensure crisp visual contrast and balanced material color accuracy. Outfitted with a specialized GX23-2 2-pin flat base configuration and an integrated internal starter capsule, it is specifically optimized for simple maintenance replacement cycles on legacy electromagnetic (magnetic) ballast networks.
| Wattage 13W Quad Tube CFL | Color Temp 3500K 835 Natural White | Brightness 800 lm 61 LPW Efficacy | Base Type GX23-2 Flat 2-Pin | Rated Life 10,000 Standard Hours |
ADL Supply Expert Application & Replacement Guide
The Philips PL-C 13W/835/USA/2P ALTO is an established commercial facility footprint standard specified for maintaining recessed office downlight cans, public school hallways, institutional medical facilities, and multi-tenant commercial lobbies. Constructed with an optimized cluster layout of four parallel tubes, it condenses a high concentration of bright visible light into restrictive fixture profiles while reducing building utility use and systemic HVAC heat extraction cycles.
Critical Ballast Wiring and Flat Base Profile Notice: This 13W model features a specialized GX23-2 2-pin flat plug-in base layout. The molded plastic base incorporates wide flat alignment keys that prevent it from seating inside standard square-base G24d sockets, effectively eliminating mixed-wattage or wrong-fixture lamping errors across large commercial building sweep routines. It operates strictly on electromagnetic (magnetic) ballast platforms and contains an internal starter plug and radio interference suppression capacitor. It is entirely incompatible with electronic ballasts, which require 4-pin (GX24q series) variants. Attempting to power this 2-pin module on electronic high-frequency circuits will bypass internal safety blockers, introducing terminal short-circuits that char the lampholder assembly.
| Verify Before Ordering Magnetic Ballast Circuits & 2-Pin GX23-2 Geometry Checks — State Restrictions This bulb incorporates a wide flat base with an 8mm pin-to-pin centerline spread—it will NOT fit standard square-plug G24d sockets, 4-pin electronic sockets, or run directly on standard line voltage without a magnetic ballast block. Confirm your electromagnetic core-and-coil ballast capacity is rated for a 13W continuous draw before swapping elements. State Delivery Restrictions: Due to strict regional environmental and mercury tracking regulations, this fluorescent product cannot be shipped to residential or commercial destinations inside CA, CO, HI, ME, MN, OR, RI, or VT. |
Detailed Product Specifications
- Brand: Philips Lighting (Signify)
- Product Series Line: PL-C Cluster ALTO® Low-Mercury Series
- Philips Order Code Catalog SKU: 38312-5 (Nomenclature Reference: 383125)
- Manufacturer Nomenclature Model: PL-C 13W/835/USA/2P/ALTO
- UPC Barcode Number (GTIN-12): 046677383121
- Core Technology Class: Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) — Quad Tube (Double Twin Tube)
- Primary Industry Ballast Requirement: 13W 2-Pin Electromagnetic / Magnetic Control Gear
- Operational Wattage: 13 Watts
- Nominal Arc Voltage Profile: Ballast Managed (Nominal 59V AC Lamp Operating Voltage)
- Initial Luminous Brightness: 800 Lumens (Up to 860 lm under optimal thermal control)
- Luminous Efficacy: 61 Lumens per Watt (LPW)
- Color Temperature Configuration: 3500K Natural White (835 Color Code)
- Color Rendering Index (CRI): 82 Ra
- Base Type Configuration: GX23-2 (2-Pin Plug-In Flat Keyed Base)
- Internal Componentry: Integrated Starter and Radio Interference Suppression Capacitor
- Dimmable Status: Non-Dimmable
- Maximum Overall Length (MOL): 4.8" Inches (121.9mm actual)
- Chassis Burn Position Limit: Universal — Operates reliably in any orientation
- Mercury Content Weight: 1.4 mg Ultra-Low Mercury Formulation
- Environmental Rating: TCLP Compliant (Proprietary ALTO® Structural Design)
Operation, Safety & Mounting Compliance
Magnetic Circuit Ignition and Starter Systems
This 2-pin cluster lamp contains an internal electronic capacitor and starter layout inside its lower plastic housing block. This design removes the need for external starter buttons on the fixture chassis, enabling a direct plug-and-play retrofit within legacy magnetic canopy pans. Attempting to power a 2-pin GX23-2 bulb through standard line connections without an intermediate electromagnetic ballast will cause immediate cathode failure and terminal short circuits. Minimum starting ambient temperatures stand at 32°F (0°C).
ALTO® Low-Mercury Safety and Recycling
Featuring Philips' patented ALTO® manufacturing process, this lamp uses less heavy metal dosing compared to standard legacy CFL tubes, satisfying federal Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test criteria. While optimized for simplified commercial environmental audits and green building certifications, it still contains trace mercury elements and must be processed through structured commercial bulk recycling centers during lighting replacements rather than standard disposal streams.
Commercial Ballast Industry Cross-References
- Sylvania Quicktronic: CF13DQ/835 (Order Code 20325 — *Direct 2-Pin GX23-2 Flat Base Match*)
- GE Lighting Match: F13DBX/835/ECO / Double Biax Series (Order Code 97588 — *Note: Verify Flat GX23-2 Base Alignment*)
- Osram Dulux: Dulux D 13W/835 GX23-2
Bulk Commercial Lighting Supply & Project Support
ADL Supply handles volume logistics management, tiered commercial contractor pricing models, and full pallet project quotes for facility teams, municipal procurement agents, and electrical accounts nationwide.
For professional contractor tiered discounts, full pallet freight distributions, or dedicated technical submittal specification sheets, reach our support center directly at 1-800-235-3489. We are your commercial supply partners as a dedicated wholesale Lighting Distributor In Doral, Florida.
