Several different forms of light socket converters exist, which should prove every bit as useful as it will confusing. Engineers have long used phrases like there’s more than one way to do it in order to describe how many solutions there might be for a single problem. This is a perfect example of one of those cases.
Perhaps the most common type of light socket converter gives you the freedom to install a lamp into a socket the wouldn’t normally support it. These are perfect for situations where you have a socket that takes outdated bulbs. Simply install an adapter and you’ll be able to insert any modern bulb into the fixture.
If you happen to have a big collection of a slightly unusual size of bulb, then this is also a great way to use them up. Screw a light socket converter into a more common size and you can use your older bulbs.
Granted, this might be the perfect opportunity to think about energy efficiency instead. Certain types of new lamps can use less than 10 percent of the electricity used by more traditional incandescent and halogen fixtures. If you’re looking at phasing out a number of older fixtures, then you might want to consider installing this kind of lighting technology.
Converters also exist to turn regular power sockets into a lamp fixture. That might be perfect if you happen to have an overhead switched outlet in a warehouse or garage and would much prefer to turn it into a an actual overhead light.