As a great innovation in track lighting and recessed downlights, the
MR16 12 volt halogen has been one of the best ways to get a better light.
It's designed to operate in a 12 volt lighting system and is usually a
track lighting situation. It gives a maximum flexibility to what you're
trying to light, without all the line voltage hassles. This lamp is a fine example of halogen light technology with
very precise beam control and a wide variety of wattages. It's almost
impossible to get the same quality of halogen light effect from any other kind
of lamp. It has a unique illumination effect and the light control is
great. Like all halogen capsule bulbs, they are filled with a special gas
that actually rebuilds the filament and provides longer average lifespan than
normal incandescent bulbs. Halogens come in different shapes and sizes for
various different uses. The MR16 is the one
that has a 2 inch reflector with a silvered (dichroic) coated which is usually
faceted. They have a bipin base which pushes into the socket and then
there is usually a holder in the fixture or sometimes they are out in the open.
MR16 lamps put out a light that gives a good color rendition to anything you're
lighting. This is especially useful in retail showrooms, where color is
important to make merchandise look its best.
Halogen light bulbs should not be touched with your skin as the oils can
react with the glass. If they
are touched, the life span of the bulb will be greatly reduced and sometimes you
might see a bubbling of the glass. In case you ever
do touch a halogen light bulb, wipe it thoroughly with a soft cloth. Bulbs that
are covered, like the PAR and some of the MR16 halogen light bulbs, are okay to
touch, since you are not touching the actual bulb but a heavy, thick glass that
covers the light bulb. Most commonly, they are put into an enclosure, but
be aware of touching a halogen capsule itself directly, it's not a good idea.
The MR16 lamp is low voltage in most cases, but there are some that are made
with a line voltage. The line voltage ones are becoming more popular
because it means not having to use a 12 volt transformer. But the 12 volt
remains the most popular and has the most options for beam control and wattage.
If you have MR16 12 volt halogen light bulbs in your home or business, then you want
to make sure of several characteristics when replacing them. You need to
make sure that the reflector opening is 2 inches, verify the operating voltage
of the lamp and the pin spacing of the bulbs themselves. A typical MR16
halogen has a pin spacing at 5.3 millimeters whereas some of the higher voltage
MR16's can go up to 8 millimeters. It's also important to get the wattage
of the lamp which is clearly marked in most cases. If you have these
basics, then the only other thing you will need is the beam spread. This is
determined by degrees but also by a descriptive term like narrow flood or narrow
spot and so on. These bulbs also have 3 letter codes associated with them
and we can tell the watts and beam spread from that code. Some of the more
common codes are EXN, EXT, EXZ, BAB and so on. If you can find these characteristics
or codes, then you can find
them on our web site or you can call us to verify your information.
In summary, halogen light bulbs are available in a variety of sizes,
and can be used, among many other things, to replace standard incandescent light
bulbs. Of course, you will need fixtures that will have the correct equipment
for the MR16 halogen bulbs. The equipment will have 12 volt transformers
and there will be wattage limitations for the bulbs as well. You'll be happy with
the results as they will emit a whiter, brighter light that is
considered by a vast majority of people more desirable than regular light bulbs.
Whatever type of halogen you choose or have, you will be saving energy while
getting the most light you can for your money. We have a large inventory
of halogen bulbs for nearly every type of light fixture in the field. If
you need help identifying a MR16 12 volt halogen bulb, our customer service
representatives can help you determine what you have.
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