MR-16 halogen lights are low voltage compact reflector lamps used for spot lighting or accent lamps. Halogen lamps are incandescent lamps with a filament surrounded by halogen gases (iodine or bromine typically) which allow the filaments to operate at a high efficacy and temperature.  The “16″ refers to the size of the lamp – a MR16 halogen lamp is 16 eighths of an inch in diameter. 

You will find that most MR-16 halogen lamps have a glass cover.  This is because the filament tube of MR-16 lamps is pressurized. Should a filament tube in one of these lamps break, the closed fixture will keep the glass particles from falling out. MR-16 lamps purchased without a class cover must be used in a closed fixture for the same reasons.

Recently, Coast LED Lenser has introduced Leflector lamps which are a LED replacement bulb option for MR16 halogen bulbs.  These new bulbs are more energy efficient and last up to 50 times longer than a standard MR-16 bulb.  Kitchen, office and retail store light fixtures currently using MR-16 halogen lamps could be upgraded to these more efficient bulbs. Coast estimates that each bulb will last over 5 years if continually used – no halogen bulb can boast that sort of timeline.

More information on LED Leflector lighting.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm and is filed under LED Lights, LED Light Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.