Replacing MR16 bulbs with LEDs

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

Hi

Our kitchen has 16 MR16 downlights with 50w bulbs in. As we have been replacing the rest of the house with LED bulbs I have been looking at the MR16 options. I have seen various ones from 5w to 8w all saying they are 50w equivalents. Can anyone suggest an LED which is equal to 50w in cool white please?

Also can they be used with the existing transformers? There is one for each light and they are around 8 years old as that's when we extended the kitchen.

The lights only get used for a few hours each day and then only in the winter so the savings won't be huge but I just think it's something that should be done.

Thanks in advance.

winston1 · 11 Sep 2018

MR16 refers to the size of the lamp, multifaceted reflector 16 eights of an inch in diameter. MR16s come in 240v, or sometimes 120v with GU10 bases, 12v or 24v with GU5.3 bases.

It appears the ones you have are not 240v as you ask about transformers. But the best thing is to replace them with 240v LEDs. Lower voltage types come with all sorts of problems regarding drivers. If you really have transformers you may be OK but I suspect you are using the term transformer incorrectly and have switch mode power supplies, which won't work with LEDs.

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

Sorry about that, I should have mentioned that the bulbs are 12v with GU5.3 bases. Just checked and they are 10-60W/VA Low Voltage Electronic Transformers.

I would prefer to keep to the same fittings we have rather than change to 240v if possible as I don't think I could get the exact same size. They are flush and can swivel rather than eyeball types.

Also, I understand that MR16 12v bulbs are brighter than GU10 240v bulbs, or is that incorrect?

Regards

flameport · 11 Sep 2018

andyfr said:
The lights only get used for a few hours each day

16 @ 50W to 16 @ 5W for 3 hours a day is about £100 saved in electricity per year.
Even if used only in the winter (half of the year), it's still £50 per year.

andyfr said:
MR16 12v bulbs are brighter than GU10 240v bulbs, or is that incorrect?

That was true a long time ago, less so with the better GU10 halogens.
Totally irrelevant now that LEDs are available.

andyfr said:
I would prefer to keep to the same fittings

Convert the existing ones with https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p34667

winston1 · 11 Sep 2018

andyfr said:
Sorry about that, I should have mentioned that the bulbs are 12v with GU5.3 bases. I can check to see whether it's a transformer or a switch mode power supply tomorrow.

I would prefer to keep to the same fittings we have rather than change to 240v if possible as I don't think I could get the exact same size. They are flush and can swivel rather than eyeball types.

Also, I understand that MR16 12v bulbs are brighter than GU10 240v bulbs, or is that incorrect?

Regards

You can get swivel GU10 bases and they are the same size as GU5.3 ones. Probably cheaper than LED drivers as well.

12v filament lamps may be brighter than 240v types but that is irrelevant as you are fitting LEDs

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

flameport said:
Convert the existing ones with https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p34667

Thanks for that, didn't realise it could be that easy.

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

winston1 said:
You can get swivel GU10 bases and they are the same size as GU5.3 ones. Probably cheaper than LED drivers as well.

12v filament lamps may be brighter than 240v types but that is irrelevant as you are fitting LEDs

So if I did go with GU10 240v, which bulbs could give me equivalent to 50w? As I mentioned in my original post there are various claims from 5w to 8w so it's very confusing.

Cheers

flameport · 11 Sep 2018

These for normal purposes: https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p71644
or if you want the kitchen to be brighter than the surface of the sun, these: https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p59250

Don't be tempted to buy them from ebay and similar places, as a substantial amount of items sold there are either total junk, sold by persons located in far away countries or both, and when such things fail, you have 0% chance of the seller doing anything about it.

333rocky333 · 11 Sep 2018

andyfr said:
They are flush and can swivel rather than eyeball types.

Known as Gimbal Fittings

ban-all-sheds · 11 Sep 2018

andyfr said:
Also, I understand that MR16 12v bulbs are brighter than GU10 240v bulbs, or is that incorrect?

Andy - this isn't pointless pedantry - if you're looking for bulbs you need to know what the terms mean.

MR16 refers to the size and shape of the bulb envelope, GU10 is a type of base commonly used on MR16 bulbs.

Both of these are MR16s:

The one on the left has a GU10 base, and the one on the right is G5.3.

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

ban-all-sheds said:
Andy - this isn't pointless pedantry - if you're looking for bulbs you need to know what the terms mean.

MR16 refers to the size and shape of the bulb envelope, GU10 is a type of base commonly used on MR16 bulbs.

Both of these are MR16s:

View attachment 148294

The one on the left has a GU10 base, and the one on the right is G5.3.

Thank you for the clarification.

c128 · 11 Sep 2018

Found these to be quite superb https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CGQP4VU (if you really want bright - 550 lumen and 6500k). Had them in our bathroom for over 2 years now without issue.

ericmark · 11 Sep 2018

Area of light is important, it is not just a case of saying old bulb is 400 lumen, so new bulb needs to be 400 lumen, first point is the larger bulb has cooling fins so less area, it the spot light is aimed at a white reflective surface then you have got the area, but aimed at a dark floor the light is simply absorbed. Hence why there is conflict as to size of LED needed to light as well as tungsten.

If instead of 2 inches you have 4 inch lights then likely you could reduce the output to 250 lumen each and actually have more light.

333rocky333 · 11 Sep 2018

NOTE most lot of these links are to NON dimmable lamps, if that matters

andyfr · 11 Sep 2018

I'm looking for non dimmable so that's fine.

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Replacing MR16 bulbs with LEDs

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