LED Driver

Must admit any article that makes a glaring error in the first sentence does not inspire confidence:- "MR16 lights are also known as GU5.3"
At one level, I totally agree - but the problem is that, as an observation of terminology commonly used in the marketplace (which is really what consumers want to know about) their statement is largely true.

Kind Regards, John
 
It seems to be increasingly common to use the GU5.3 terminology. I don't know if it is coming from overseas, association with the ubiquitous GU10s, or something else. In the sense of retro-fit LED lamps, it may even be appropriate since they certainly aren't multi-faceted reflectors and some of them don't even match the size of a classical MR16.
 
At the risk of being accused of semantics - i.e what words mean and using the correct terms - again:

It seems to be increasingly common to use the GU5.3 terminology.
It is not terminology. The numbers refer to the distance between pin centres.
If you want a lamp with pins 5.3mm. apart, it would be advisable to search for that.

I don't know if it is coming from overseas,
Well, metric measurements certainly do but that has nothing to do with the lamps.

association with the ubiquitous GU10s, or something else.
GU10s are not ubiquitous. There are many types and sizes of bases.

In the sense of retro-fit LED lamps, it may even be appropriate since they certainly aren't multi-faceted reflectors and some of them don't even match the size of a classical MR16.
You still appear to think there is a relationship between the envelope design and the base fitting.
 
At the risk of being accused of semantics
At the risk of not being accused of bias...


It is not terminology. The numbers refer to the distance between pin centres.
If you want a lamp with pins 5.3mm. apart, it would be advisable to search for that.
I took it to mean that the use of "GU5.3" is increasing. And I'd say that the term can definitely be classified as part of a terminology.

screenshot_1115.jpg


Better, surely, for GU5.3 to supplant "MR16"? Apart from a few mad/callous/ignorant b****rds in China making LV lamps with GU5.3 bases it is a strong differentiator of working voltage, unlike MR16.


Well, metric measurements certainly do but that has nothing to do with the lamps.
"MR16" is not a metric term.


GU10s are not ubiquitous. There are many types and sizes of bases.
That doesn't mean that a type cannot be ubiquitous. There are many makes of car, but Fords are ubiquitous. Bristols are not.


You still appear to think there is a relationship between the envelope design and the base fitting.
Not at all, from what he said. Saying that using "GU5.3" to refer to retro-fit LED lamps may even be appropriate since they certainly aren't multi-faceted reflectors and some of them don't even match the size of a classical MR16 recognises that there isn't a relationship between the envelope design and the base fitting. Surely he is saying that calling them GU5.3s because they have a GU5.3 base makes more sense than calling them MR16s because they have a GU5.3 base but not an MR16 envelope?
 
I may have misinterpreted. Apologies to Ian if I have.

I took it to mean that the use of "GU5.3" is increasing. And I'd say that the term can definitely be classified as part of a terminology.
Yes, alright.
I just thought that more people being correct would not be related to terminology but learning.

Better, surely, for GU5.3 to supplant "MR16"?
Yes, of course, but the terminology has always been there.
Now increasing numbers are using the correct terminology instead of the wrong -
or are you saying 'terminology' is only used to describe wrong usage?

"MR16" is not a metric term.
Does it originate abroad? America?

That doesn't mean that a type cannot be ubiquitous.
It depends how local you get. They are not found where there are GU5.3 fittings.
There are many makes of car, but Fords are ubiquitous. Bristols are not.
There are no Fords in my household.

Not at all, from what he said. Saying that using "GU5.3" to refer to retro-fit LED lamps may even be appropriate since they certainly aren't multi-faceted reflectors and some of them don't even match the size of a classical MR16 recognises that there isn't a relationship between the envelope design and the base fitting. Surely he is saying that calling them GU5.3s because they have a GU5.3 base makes more sense than calling them MR16s because they have a GU5.3 base but not an MR16 envelope?
He actually said:
"In the sense of retro-fit LED lamps, it may even be appropriate since they certainly aren't multi-faceted reflectors and some of them don't even match the size of a classical MR16."
I just got the impression that he thought 16 had nothing to do with the size and was related in some way to the base.

Presumably even the manufacturers are realising that 5.3 bases may not be MR16 and would look even more foolish calling them MR16 if the lamps were also neither MR nor 16.


Apologies again if I was mistaken.
 
Does it originate abroad? America?
It clearly is not metric. If it didn't originate in the UK, then I suppose the US is one of the few other major countries in which it could have originated. Don't forget that the "16" of "MR16 means 16 eighths of an inch.

Kind Regards, John
 
No, not forgetting that. That's why I just assumed it originated in Britain; certainly not Europe.
Fair enough. I also have to wonder about GU5.3. Well other bi-pin bases (like GU4 and GU10) have nice whole number pin spacings in mm, 5.33 mm is hardly a 'round number'. However, nor is its Imperial equivalent (about 0.2098") particularly 'round', nor any neat fraction of an inch, either, so I don't know!

Kind Regards, John
 
Have you slightly miscalculated using 5.33?

5.3 is 0.2087". Near enough 2½ twelfths of an inch - that's imperial.
 
Have you slightly miscalculated using 5.33? 5.3 is 0.2087". Near enough 2½ twelfths of an inch - that's imperial.
I used the pin-spacing (5.33 mm) given in the Wikipedia. Is that incorrect?

Even if it should be 5.3 mm, I'm not sure that I would say that "2½ twelfths of an inch" is particularly round - and nor do I see it very likely that GU5.3 was some sort of contorted Imperial, whereas all the other bi-pin bases are clearly metric.

Kind Regards, John
 
The rectangular section that the pins stick out of is 16mm wide at the tapered/narrower end, so the pins have been centred on a third and 2 thirds across. It's just been rounded from 5.33333333333333 to 5.3 for simplicity probably.

Gaz :)
 
The rectangular section that the pins stick out of is 16mm at it's narrowest point, so the pins have been centred on a third and 2 thirds across. It's just been rounded from 5.33333333333333 to 5.3 for simplicity probably.
That sounds credible, although I wonder why it doesn't happens with other bi-pins, since if "the rectangular section that the pins stick out of" is not an exact multiple of 3 mm, the pin spacing (if 'in the centre third') would always be X.33333333333... or X.666666666666... Are those rectangular bits all exact multiples of 3 mm for all the other sizes, I wonder?

Incidentally, I did think about this before but fond that 5.3333333333.... is not a tidy Imperial size, either.

Kind Regards, John
 
I used the pin-spacing (5.33 mm) given in the Wikipedia. Is that incorrect?
I don't know.

I didn't realise that was the case, bit sloppy if it is.

They don't do that for 6.35 but do call ½ inch G13.


Or is it just Wikipedia written by those who don't really know?
 
I don't know. I didn't realise that was the case, bit sloppy if it is. They don't do that for 6.35 but do call ½ inch G13. Or is it just Wikipedia written by those who don't really know?
Possibly - the Wikipedia certainly is certainly far from infallible! However, I've had a quick look around and there are certainly other sources which say the same.

Kind Regards, John
 

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