Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - mr16 fluroesnt

http://www.bulbamerica.com/product.php?action=view&product_id=2757

anyone have anything good or bad to say about these, says just as bright as a 50w halogen but only draws 5w

my 50w gets so hot the pvc gets soft, perhaps I'll switch to a metal housing, but i'd rather use the fluroesant one.

josh

Man this is amazing if it is true.

They also sell them at Lowe's...

I bought one a few weeks ago and I can safely tell you that it's complete bunk. They probably are about as bright as a 2AA incandescent flashlight is. I couldn't believe how bad it was. I still have it in the garage, I was going to take it back but I figured I might be able to use it in my truck as the dome light has a bad ground or something.

I think the main problem with it is that it regulates the voltage. I'm currently running the MR16 overvolted to 14.4V and that's what makes it so bright from what I've read. I seriously wouldn't be able to make it out of the driveway with the fluorescent bulb.

thanks for the feedback, i know someone put some sort of tape on the back of their mr16 to get the heat to reflact more out toward the lens, anyone know the kind of tape?

Pretty sure he just used the aluminum foil tape that they sell for air conditioner duct work. It's made out of foil instead of plastic and won't melt. They sell it at all home improvement stores but it's pretty pricey stuff...

http://www.3mestore.com/70006082377.html

http://www.bulbamerica.com/product.php?action=view&product_id=2757

anyone have anything good or bad to say about these, says just as bright as a 50w halogen but only draws 5w

my 50w gets so hot the pvc gets soft, perhaps I'll switch to a metal housing, but i'd rather use the fluroesant one.

josh

A fluorescent will typically have about 3 times the efficacy (lumens per watt) of a halogen, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficacy

Notice the weasel words in the bulbamerica ad: "up to" 50.00 watts!

Pretty sure he just used the aluminum foil tape that they sell for air conditioner duct work. It's made out of foil instead of plastic and won't melt. They sell it at all home improvement stores but it's pretty pricey stuff...

http://www.3mestore.com/70006082377.html


thats what I was thinking, if its to much i'll just switch to a 20 watt bulb

Even if it was bright as heck, it wouldn't last long. I've been through dozens of fluorescents of many kinds and brands (I'll admit no MR16's) for business and residential use. They are fragile and don't last any longer than incans. I have eight recessed incandescents that have lit my kitchen several thousand hours since they were installed 4 years ago. I NEVER had a fluorescent last that long.

I am generally in favor fluorescent lights, but they wouldn't survive on a bicycle.

MR16 LED's! Ahhhh! Now THAT has potential!