Osram Halogen MR16 Low Voltage Light Bulb Guide
Widely found in downlighters and spotlights, especially in kitchens, the Osram MR16 low voltage halogen light bulb is one of the most widely sold light bulbs in the world. With over 100 years manufacturing lighting products, Osram are the market leading producers of high quality halogen light bulbs.
The Osram MR16 halogen light bulb fits into low voltage (12 volt) light fittings that run from a transformer. They are approximately the same diameter as 50 pence piece, so are sometimes known as 50p light bulbs. They are also known as GU5.3 light bulbs because of their pin spacing.
Characterised by two pointed pins, similar to needles, the Osram MR16 light bulb pushes into the light fitting. This is as opposed to the twist and lock system used by GU10 mains voltage light bulbs - GU10 pins are thicker. This can make MR16 light bulbs difficult to fit or extract depending on your fitting, so care should be taken when changing these light bulbs. It is impossible to fit a low voltage MR16 bulb into a mains voltage GU10 fitting and vice-versa.
Osram Halogen Dichroic MR16 Light Bulbs
The standard range of Osram halogen light bulbs are dichroic. These are sold on our site as Osram Decostar 51S halogen light bulbs. Relatively inefficient compared to other, more advanced halogen light bulbs, these are cheaper and suitable for limited budgets or in applications where the light bulbs do not get much use. The Osram Decostar 51S range of light bulbs can also be fully dimmed.
View our range of Osram MR16 Dichroic Halogen Light Bulbs which you can order from today.
Osram Halogen IRC Decostar Energy Saver Light Bulbs
The Osram Decostar IRC range of halogen light bulbs offer a 40% energy saving compared to standard halogen light bulbs. The main advantage of these over other energy saving light bulbs, such as LED MR16 light bulbs is cost - they are an extremely cost effective bulb to fit.
Exactly the same size as regular halogen bulbs, the Osram Decostar IRC energy savers are a direct replacement, and look almost exactly the same as normal MR16s. Not only do they reduce the amount of electricity required, they also last five times as long (5000 hours) meaning the cost of ownership is reduced also.
Whilst the energy savings are less than those of LED light bulbs, the Osram Decostar IRC energy saving light bulbs have the advantage of being able to be dimmed on standard dimming switches and circuits.
Since Osram IRC halogen bulbs use less power, the table below shows the standard halogen equivalent wattages to help you choose the right brightness of bulb.
| Standard Halogen |
IRC Equivalent |
| 35W |
20W IRC |
| 50W |
35W |
| 65W |
50W |
View our range of Osram IRC MR16 Energy Saving Halogen Light Bulbs which you can order from today.
Other Alternatives
For a greater 95% energy saving over standard dichroic halogen light bulbs and for fittings that are not dimmed, see our range of LED MR16 Energy Saving LED Light Bulbs.