Product Overview
The Philips PL-C ALTO® 38318-2 Lamp is a professional-grade, 18-watt quad-tube compact fluorescent (CFL) plug-in bulb engineered for commercial downlight cans, public corridors, and hospitality accent sconces. Delivering 1,200 initial lumens of crisp 3500K natural white light, this high-performance lamp features an 82 CRI rating to provide clean color rendering and balanced structural contrast. Outfitted with an industry-standard G24d-2 2-pin base configuration and an integrated internal starter capsule, it is specifically optimized for maintaining legacy electromagnetic (magnetic) ballast networks.
| Wattage 18W Quad Tube CFL | Color Temp 3500K 835 Natural White | Brightness 1,200 lm 67 LPW Efficacy | Base Type G24d-2 2-Pin Plug-In | Rated Life 10,000 Standard Hours |
ADL Supply Expert Application & Replacement Guide
The Philips PL-C ALTO 38318-2 is an established commercial property maintenance standard specified for corporate office downlights, institutional facility corridors, healthcare complexes, and decorative hospitality wall sconces originally laid out for magnetic ballast tracks. Utilizing a cluster configuration of four parallel tubes, it focuses a high volume of uniform illumination within shallow recessed fixtures while reducing overall facility energy use and cooling heat loads.
Critical Ballast and Keyed Base Socket Warning: This 18W model incorporates a specialized G24d-2 2-pin plug-in base configuration. The physical base features an integrated plastic indexing block layout that blocks it from seating inside 13W (G24d-1) or 26W (G24d-3) sockets, preventing mixed-wattage lamping errors across large commercial properties. It is engineered strictly for use with electromagnetic (magnetic) ballasts and contains an integrated radio interference suppression capacitor and an internal starter plug. It cannot operate on electronic control gear, which requires 4-pin (GX24q series) replacements. Attempting to run a 2-pin lamp on electronic high-frequency circuits will bypass core electrical safety protections, creating terminal resistance that destroys the socket contacts.
| Verify Before Ordering Magnetic Ballast & 2-Pin G24d-2 Socket Check — Regional Shipping Restrictions This is a 2-pin plug-in lamp designed exclusively for magnetic ballast installations. It will NOT fit into 4-pin electronic sockets or run natively on standard line voltage without a magnetic ballast intermediary. Please verify your fixture's socket pin layout before checkout. State Delivery Restrictions: Due to strict regional environmental and mercury 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: 38318-2 (Alternative Pack Code: 383182)
- Manufacturer Nomenclature Model: PL-C 18W/835/2P/ALTO
- Core Technology Class: Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) — Quad Tube (Double Twin Tube)
- Primary Industry Ballast Requirement: 18W 2-Pin Electromagnetic / Magnetic Control Gear
- Operational Wattage: 18 Watts
- Nominal Arc Voltage Profile: Ballast Managed (Nominal 100V AC Lamp Operating Voltage)
- Initial Luminous Brightness: 1,200 Lumens
- Luminous Efficacy: 67 Lumens per Watt (LPW)
- Color Temperature Configuration: 3500K Natural White (835 Color Code)
- Color Rendering Index (CRI): 82 Ra
- Base Type Configuration: G24d-2 (2-Pin Plug-In Indexed Base)
- Internal Componentry: Integrated Starter and Radio Interference Suppression Capacitor
- Dimmable Status: Non-Dimmable
- Maximum Overall Length (MOL): 6.0" Inches (150.4mm actual)
- Chassis Burn Position Limit: Universal — Operates reliably in any orientation
- Environmental Rating: TCLP Compliant (Proprietary ALTO® Low-Mercury 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 G24d-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 14°F (-10°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
- GE Lighting Match: F18DBX/835/ECO / Double Biax Series (Order Code 97594 — *Direct 2-Pin Base Equivalent*)
- Sylvania Quicktronic: CF18DD/835/ECO (Order Code 20671 — 2-Pin Magnetic Match)
- Osram Dulux: Dulux D 18W/835 G24d-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.
