Bicycle Mechanics - 20w MR-11 in a light made for 10w- Big Problems?

I need a new bulb for my Sigma Sport EvoX headlight. The stock light is a 10w, 6v, MR-11. After calling countless places including all the electrical wholesalers in town (I'm in Riga, Latvia) the only 6v light I can find is 20w. Battery life aside, will I have major problems (melting etc) if I use this lamp? Thanks.

I know you said "battery life aside", but I'll assume you had just burn time in mind :). Another thing to consider is the fact that you'll be discharging the battery at twice the original rate. Your battery may not be up to that. Have you tried e-mailing Sigma?

--J

The housing may not be designed to handle the extra heat, particularly if the bike is stationary for more than a few seconds at a time. If the housing and fittings are metal it may not be a problem. If they are plastic, I'd be concerned.

Can you get a direct replacement bulb from Sigma?

Did you try Lowes or Home Depot? Where I live they carry a wide selection of mr11's from 10w to 30w. Look in the outdoor lighting section.

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't tried Sigma yet, I thought I would try to find one locally first.

How do you make out with getting things shipped from the states? Too much $$ ?

I bought a hard to find 6w 6v from this guy on ebay, I think he has 10w. There may be others on ebay.

Replacement Light Bulbs
5008 Mallard Lake Drive
Greensboro, NC 27406
336-674-2664
Fax: 336-676-1585
Toll Free: 800-692-3051

Hours: 9 AM to 7 PM EST Monday through Friday

(Did you try Lowes or Home Depot?)
Don't believe they have branches in Riga, Latvia yet.

(Did you try Lowes or Home Depot?)
Don't believe they have branches in Riga, Latvia yet.

Yeah, and even the ones around here don't carry 6V MR-11 bulbs. They only stock 12V versions.

Hard to say without knowing the exact construction of the light. I have used (illegal) 100w halogen bulbs in place of 55w ones in car driving lights with no adverse effects. Just ride fast to keep the light cool. :)

As OLDYELLER says, you'd need to know the exact construction of the light, but I'd be reluctant to chance it. Unlike most car headlamp systems, I doubt that anything in an Evo X is relay-protected. So running a 20w in place of 10w would probably mean you're doubling amperage through the entire system. This is not just a matter of more heat from the bulb. I think the Evo X uses a 6V battery, so with a 10W bulb, it's drawing 1.66 amps. Doubling that could easily burn wires, connectors, switches, and whatever else conducts electricity in there. And don't be standing in any puddles when you operate the switch.:eek:

Here's the current situation. I've found a 10w bulb for 21 euro plus shipping from Germany. A new lamp head from the same place with bulb is 24 euro plus shipping. A 20w bulb bought locally is less than 1 euro.

I think I might try the 20w and keep a close eye on it. With the difference in price between the lamp head with bulb and the 10w bulb alone only three euros, and the difference between the 20w bulb and the 10w bulb 20 euros, I don't feel I have much to lose by trying out the 20w. Unless Sigma writes back with a less expensive option for a bulb.

Here's the current situation. I've found a 10w bulb for 21 euro plus shipping from Germany. A new lamp head from the same place with bulb is 24 euro plus shipping. A 20w bulb bought locally is less than 1 euro.

I think I might try the 20w and keep a close eye on it. With the difference in price between the lamp head with bulb and the 10w bulb alone only three euros, and the difference between the 20w bulb and the 10w bulb 20 euros, I don't feel I have much to lose by trying out the 20w. Unless Sigma writes back with a less expensive option for a bulb.

I believe there is a model that has the 20w light in it from the factory. A few people I know have them. I will double check with them to make sure I remember it right. The LBS used to sell them.

I believe there is a model that has the 20w light in it from the factory. A few people I know have them. I will double check with them to make sure I remember it right. The LBS used to sell them.
Thanks. Could you ask is the housing is plastic or metal? Mine is plastic.....

I believe there is a model that has the 20w light in it from the factory. A few people I know have them. I will double check with them to make sure I remember it right. The LBS used to sell them.

That would be the old Sigma Mirage -series. If my memory serves me correctly, they had a 6W bulb in the Mirage, plus the option for a 20W Mirage X, both running off the same battery. The new Evo series is 5W-10W, respectively.

--J

about the housing: I have the old Mirage, and it's definitely plastic. At that time I looked into the Mirage X, but never came to buy it. It seemed to be the same housing, different bulb and maybe optics. But I'm not sure if the Mirage series had MR11 bulbs or what. I'll check my old lamp when I get home.

That would be the old Sigma Mirage -series. If my memory serves me correctly, they had a 6W bulb in the Mirage, plus the option for a 20W Mirage X, both running off the same battery. The new Evo series is 5W-10W, respectively.

--J

about the housing: I have the old Mirage, and it's definitely plastic. At that time I looked into the Mirage X, but never came to buy it. It seemed to be the same housing, different bulb and maybe optics. But I'm not sure if the Mirage series had MR11 bulbs or what. I'll check my old lamp when I get home.
Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

(Did you try Lowes or Home Depot?)
Don't believe they have branches in Riga, Latvia yet.

Ooopps! My bad--didnt check the sig.

BUT, mr-11 6v are available where I am.

That would be the old Sigma Mirage -series. If my memory serves me correctly, they had a 6W bulb in the Mirage, plus the option for a 20W Mirage X, both running off the same battery. The new Evo series is 5W-10W, respectively.

--J

about the housing: I have the old Mirage, and it's definitely plastic. At that time I looked into the Mirage X, but never came to buy it. It seemed to be the same housing, different bulb and maybe optics. But I'm not sure if the Mirage series had MR11 bulbs or what. I'll check my old lamp when I get home.

That's it. when I looked I thought the 20w was metal and the 6w was plastic. I sent an email to my friend I'll get back asap.

Update: the old Mirage shell is fully plastic. It seems the reflector and the front cover are Sigma's own design rather than a ready-made MR11 package, and the light head has no plug in the rear like the MR11 has. The bulb itself is a 6V, 5W, removable through pulling it straight out through the rear of the reflector. It looks fairly similar to the 6V, 3W (or 2,4W) bulb used in dynamo-powered lights (Lumotec, Basta).

--J

:) Genuine article - 6v 6w 10deg MR-11 - cygolite one
Bought one off him at it's perfect - on top of that he starts his auctions at a quid!!!!!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330043038065

:) Genuine article - 6v 6w 10deg MR-11 - cygolite one
Bought one off him at it's perfect - on top of that he starts his auctions at a quid!!!!!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330043038065

Shill.

:) Genuine article - 6v 6w 10deg MR-11 - cygolite one
Bought one off him at it's perfect - on top of that he starts his auctions at a quid!!!!!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330043038065

Welcome to the Forums, chimpo28. A couple of observations:

1) This is your first and only post here, and you're eagerly plugging an e-bay auction? Hmm.
2) The seller only dispatches to UK, so no help here.
3) It's on topic, so I'll give you the benefit of doubt for now.

--Juha, a Forum Mod

I need a new bulb for my Sigma Sport EvoX headlight. The stock light is a 10w, 6v, MR-11. After calling countless places including all the electrical wholesalers in town (I'm in Riga, Latvia) the only 6v light I can find is 20w. Battery life aside, will I have major problems (melting etc) if I use this lamp? Thanks.

I can tell you that a 20W MR16 can be used in a PVC plastic plumbing housing. In fact I am almost certain the same plastic can be used to house 35W. Melting becomes an issue at 50W. This doesn't mean yours won't melt but I'm betting it will be fine. I say buy it and try. If it melts go to the commuting forum Geek sticky topic and see how easy they are to make. 20W is way better than 10W. You can make your own 40-70 W sytem for a few $$. It will rival the HIDs