MR-16 Questions

[z]

I have several MR-16 fixtures and need constant color-type bulbs with UV
protection in various beam spreads (all 35 watt).
- Do I always need to get a lensed (cover glass) type to get UV protection,
or do some bulb manufacturers provide UV filtering without?
- Do any of the glass lenses provided with fixtures (Lightolier, in my
case) provide any UV protection?
- If I use an MR-16 lamp with lens, do I still need to use the glass
provided with the fixture?
- Can I use the MRC-16 in place of the MR-16? The MRC-16 appears to have a
convex lens which may not fit in the socket assembly of some fixtures

Thanks.

 

[TKM]

I have several MR-16 fixtures and need constant color-type bulbs with UV
protection in various beam spreads (all 35 watt).
- Do I always need to get a lensed (cover glass) type to get UV
protection, or do some bulb manufacturers provide UV filtering without?

The "Constant Color" MR-16 types have reduced UV to start with because of
the reflector properties. Any normal fixture cover glass will reduce that
still further.

- Do any of the glass lenses provided with fixtures (Lightolier, in my
case) provide any UV protection? Yes.

- If I use an MR-16 lamp with lens, do I still need to use the glass
provided with the fixture?

Little UV gets through the lamp lens; but an external lens -- especially if
it is designed to also filter the UV-A -- will cut any remaining UV to
virtually zero. That kind of filtering is probably required only for
museum-quality lighting.

- Can I use the MRC-16 in place of the MR-16? The MRC-16 appears to have
a convex lens which may not fit in the socket assembly of some fixtures

As you say, it depends upon the fixture design. I use Halo fixtures for
display work and can use either an MR or MRC plus an external lens and
louver if needed.

Terry McGowan