MR16 Lenses & Louvers
MR16 lenses and MR16 Louvers are lighting accessories for both indoor MR16 lighting fixtures and outdoor MR16 lighting fixtures. The MR16 lens is primarily designed as a protective device to prevent glass from flying in the event of a catastrophic lamp failure or to prevent water or debris from touching the lamp. All MR16 lamps operate at high temperatures and should never be operated without some kind of MR16 lens. Some MR16 lamps come with a clear cover glass or clear lens attached to the MR16 lamp, but most don’t. If you are using an outdoor MR16 landscape up lighting fixture the MR16 lens or cover glass must be used in conjunction with a gasket to prevent water from entering the fixture and causing the MR16 lamp to fail.
In addition to MR16 louvers and clear MR16 lenses, there are several MR16 glass lenses that are used to manipulate the beam or color of the light. With theion with proper MR16 lamp selection, to fine tune the lighting and address unsightly glare, beam shape and unsightly shadows caused by the art or frame. That is why you need to know more about MR16 lenses, louvers and how they work.
MR16 Clear Lens
Used as a protective cover to prevent water and debris from touching the halogen glass envelope inside the glass reflector. The clear glass MR16 lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. The clear borosilicate MR16 lens provides some UV protection and has very little impact on the beam spread.
MR16 Colored Lens
The colored MR16 lens is used to change the color of your halogen light from white to red, blue, yellow, and green. The colored glass MR16 lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. They generally come in primary colors although custom colors are available by special request. Depending on the color, you can expect up to a 50% decrease in light output, particularly with red. These MR16 colored lenses are great for holiday decoration or creating special effects.
MR16 U/V Lens
Used as a protective cover to eliminate harmful ultraviolet rays that may be harmful when lighting art or sculptures. The U/V MR16 lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. The clear borosilicate MR16 U/V lens provides 100% UV protection and has very little impact on the beam spread. This lens is typically used for indoor applications.
MR16 Spread Lens
Used to expand the beam pattern and provide a protective cover to prevent water and debris from touching the halogen glass envelope inside the glass reflector. The MR16 spread lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. The MR16 spread lens has a series of humps or ridges in a cross hatched pattern. It widens the beam slightly, and softens the hot spot at the center of the beam with a prismatic diffusion effect. You can expect about a 20% reduction in light output due to the lens. Typical uses include applications when washing walls, illuminating art or lighting plant materials to achieve a softer, less defined beam of light.
MR16 Frosted Spread Lens
The frosted MR16 spread lens is used to create an even diffused beam pattern of lights. The MR16 frosted lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. The MR16 frosted lens has been treated chemically to etch the glass creating its frosted appearance. It widens the beam considerably, and virtually eliminates the hot spot at the center of the beam with a soft diffusion effect. You can expect about a 46% reduction in light output due to the etching on the lens. Typical uses include applications when washing walls, illuminating art or lighting plant materials to achieve a softer, less defined beam of light, without the ugly hot spots.
MR16 Linear Spread Lens
The linear spread lens is used to narrow the beam pattern of the light in a horizontal or vertical shape, depending on the position of the lens. The MR16 linear spread lens is placed directly in front of the lamp and secured in place by the lamp holder. The MR16 linear spread lens has a series of humps or ridges in a straight pattern. It elongates the beam considerably, and softens the hot spot at the center of the beam. You can expect about a 50% reduction in light output due to the lens. Typical uses include applications such as up lighting flagpoles, trees, fountains, retaining walls and illuminating art to achieve a narrow elongated beam pattern.
Honeycomb MR16 Louvers
The honeycomb louver is used to minimize or eliminate glare from normal viewing angles. It should be used in conjunction with an MR16 lens as it provides no protection for the lamp. Honeycomb louvers come in 40 degree and 60 degree cut off varieties. They are excellent in up lights, down lights or any MR16 fixture to hide the light source, eliminate stray light and minimize glare from normal viewing angles. Honeycomb louvers decrease the center beam brightness by about 30%. Typical uses include applications such as up lighting, down lighting, accent lighting, illuminating art or any application where spill light would be objectionable.
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