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MR16 and MR11 bulbs

MR16 and MR11 bulbs are very common low voltage spot light bulbs. They all require a transformer to convert the mains voltage of 230v down the the 12v that these bulbs require.

MR16 is also known as GU5.3, MR11 is also known as GU4.

We stock a wide range low voltage bulbs of including various wattages, LED bulbs, energy saving bulbs and even coloured bulbs. If you need something that you can't find here, please contact us as we can almost certainly help.

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MR11 bulbs

All MR11 bulbs (also known as GU4 bulbs) run at a low voltage, 12 volts to be precise. This means that all MR11 12v bulbs require a transformer before they can be connected to the mains electricity supply. In most cases the transformer is built into the light fitting that makes use of the MR11 light bulbs, but in some instances the transformer might well be a separate unit.

Because of the small size of an MR11 bulb, (just 35mm) they are often used for decorative purposes rather than for general lighting. They can still produce a lot of light, but not as much as their larger relatives, the MR16 bulb.

Some vehicles and caravans use MR11 bulbs as interior lights, or map reading lights. In these situations, it's usually a good idea to consider replacing the relatively high energy MR11 halogen bulbs with a much more energy efficient LED version. LED MR11 bulbs can produce a lot of light, but being an LED they will use much less power. This puts less stress on the vehicle electrical system, and the battery will be drained much more slowly.

We have two different types of MR11 replacement lamp that use LEDs. The MR11 LED cluster bulb type that have multiple low powered LED in them, and the MR11 high power LED type that make use of a single very high power LED.

The high power version is usually much more expensive than the cluster type, but it will produce a lot more light, even though the wattage might be very similar. LED lamps also have the added benefit of having a very long life span. Most LED lamps have a rated life of 50,000 hours in optimal conditions.

GU4 bulbs

GU4 bulbs are the generally the same as MR11 bulbs. technically, 'GU4' refers to the electrical connector on the bulb. There are 2 pins four millimeters apart. So when referring to a GU4 bulb you are talking about the size and type of the electrical connector. Most of them are GU4 halogen bulbs, although GU4 LED bulbs are also available.

'MR11' indicates the type of bulb, 'MR' stands for Multi-faceted Reflector, and '11' is the diameter of the bulb in eights of an inch. MR11 bulbs are reflector bulbs that are 11/8ths of an inch in diameter.

So technically, an MR11 GU4 LED bulb with a LED, might be more accurately described as a GU4 bulb rather than an MR11 bulb as it probably doesn't have a 'multifaceted reflector'

MR16 bulbs

MR16 bulbs are the big brother of MR11 lamps. They are also low voltage bulbs that require a transformer, but they are available in much higher power ratings. No matter what the power rating, they are all 12v bulbs.

50w MR16 bulbs are often used in downlighters, as they have in the past been incorrectly thought of using less power then mains voltage downlights.

MR16 LED lamps are available, but as with all current LED bulbs the light output is significantly lower then a MR16 halogen bulb. So it's not necessarily suitable for general lighting purposes.

Recently a new type of MR16 light has become available, with new IRC (infra-red coating) technology! This makes the MR16 light bulb more efficient by re-using some of the heat that it generates to produce more light. This means that less electricity has to be used, resulting in more light for less power. These new MR16 IRC lamps are more expensive the standard type, but over their life time will usually pay for themselves in reduced energy bills.

MR16 lamps all incorporate a reflector to direct the light forward in one direction. Different shapes of reflector will produce different beam angles. A wide beam angle will provide a wide spread of light, and a narrow beam angle will produce a narrow spread of light. For general lighting purposes, a wider beam angle is much better as you are not left with dark patches between each narrow beam. Narrow beams are more suited to lighting specific objects with little over-spill of light.

Each MR16 lamp uses either a dichroic reflector or an aluminium reflector. A dichroic reflector is designed to reflect heat backwards in the opposite direction to the light, and aluminium reflector is designed to reflect heat forwards with the light. Your light fittings will be designed to use only one type of reflector. Using the wrong sort, could damage your light fitting, and could cause heat damage to the objects surrounding it. Make sure that you choose the right type of reflector when ordering your MR16 replacement.

The Lighting Research Center has a lot more information about MR16 lights.

GU5.3

GU5.3 bulbs is another name for MR16 bulbs. 'GU5.3' refers to the electrical connector, as there are two pins 5.3 millimeters apart. 'MR16' refers to the diameter of the bulb, which is 16 eighths of an inch, or five centimeters. The 'MR' stands for 'Multi-faceted Reflector', as this is what most GU5.3 lamps use.

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