Most of us have seen the charts showing different voltages and power socket pin configurations for various countries. Some even show what sort of telephone socket is in use.
But what of the lamp sockets?
The authors of such charts assume that you will buy lightbulbs locally if you need to. In many countries, this is an easier problem to solve than getting a new computer cord, and nearly always cheaper, if indeed the problem ever arises at all. That is not to say I haven't wondered the same thing. It is amazing that we essentially have only two generally common incandescent bulb bases for the whole planet, as opposed to what, eight different receptacles?
What exactly is the difference between E26 and E27? The threads are the same but I believe E27 is a longer base, meaning a European bulb would fit an American socket but the reverse might not be true. I seem to remember a German customer of one of my former employers who brought several lamps over from Germany, and had no problem getting American bulbs to fit. Which Edison-base countries use E26 and which use E27?
Here is the
difference between E26 and E27.
I can say with some confidence that Indonesia uses an Edison base, although I don't know which one. I have an oil lamp from Indonesia which uses an old light bulb for the oil reservoir, a bottlecap for the wick holder, and the lid of a candy tin for the base. Since the bulb base is cut in half, I can't match it to an American base.
Mexico uses Edison base. The UK we know, and I forgot to check when I was in France (I wasn't an ElectroGeek back then). That's all the countries I've been to.