What Are the Advantages of MR Shaped Light Bulbs?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
There are different types of light bulbs with a variety of shapes, bases, wattages, voltage, and more. Some of the best quality bulbs are MR light bulbs. MR is an abbreviation for "multifaceted reflector."
These light bulbs are most often low voltage halogen MR reflectors which come in different shapes which include MR16, MR11, and MR8. The same lamp shapes also come in a line voltage type, using a GU10 base, although overall options are more limited in this format. For many applications, LEDs now rule the market, although halogen is still the only option in some specialized markets.
In fact, as of late 2023, most of the general purpose halogen MR bulbs are no longer available, due to stricter federal energy efficiency requirements. So for most of the common MR bulbs, LED is the only option now.
The bulbs were originally developed for the projector industry. However, the technology later found widespread use in all sorts of applications, for example track lighting and landscape lighting.
As compared to PAR, BR and P, the main advantages of MR light bulbs are whiter appearing light, more precise beam control and the small size. MR light bulbs can be very small.
This allows great flexibility in application, and numerous industries now use these types of lamps. Retail stores use them to highlight various shelves or individual objects. Art galleries and museums use them to highlight pieces of art or exhibits. The medical industry also uses MR bulbs for microscopes and numerous other types of equipment.
It is not an option to substitute them with the existing 120V P, PAR and BR. However, it is worth to put into consideration MR16 for special downlight or dynamic accent lighting applications. This is because the main objective is the creation of well defined pools of light.
Another advantage of MR bulbs is that they have a very good match for LED technology, since LEDs are inherently directional. Many of the spot and flood beam angles have been matched by LED versions with excellent color rendering, precise beam control, and a variety of color temperatures that were not available with just halogen. The smaller narrow spots and very small beam angles have been a challenge for LEDs, though.
There are two specifications which you need to pay attention to if you are replacing MR16 with LEDs. These include trying to match the center beam candle power or CBCP, and ensuring that the beam angle is close to the bulb that it is replacing.
The specifications above are the measure of light intensity. In fact, they are more significant metrics than overall lumens. This is used specifically in narrow beam spotlights which are designed in order to highlight art or objects.
In terms of the color properties of the lamps, MR light bulbs emit more white light which is advantageous as compared to the yellow light provided by non-halogen incandescent lamps. In LED, almost any color temperature can be created, although 2700K through 5000K are the most common. But even colored MRs can be created in LED.
In conclusion, halogen and LED MR lamps are smaller than incandescent lamps. This is beneficial since the smaller the filament, the better the reflector. This has led to MR type bulbs being used in a wide variety of industries for many applications. MR bulbs have come a long way since being used for slide projectors, overhead projectors, and similar equipment
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