Can MR16 light bulbs be swapped for coloured versions?

Yes MR16’s can be swapped for coloured versions to add ambience or accent lighting.  The MR16 is a reflector which has a diameter of 50mm and is typically on a GU5.3 base ( 2 pins 5.3mm apart).  The coloured replacements would need to have the same characteristics and be compatible with your transformer.

Understanding coloured MR16 options

Coloured MR16’s fall into 2 categories

1.  Fixed Coloured MR16 bulbs - these are standard bulbs and can be either halogen or more commonly now LED and are a single colour.  Coloured halogens generally have a coloured glass/lens or a dichroic coating to create the colour.  The LED versions are most commonly used now and they use coloured diodes to produce the single colour and have the advantage of being energy efficient.
2. Smart/tunable colour MR16 led bulbs (RGBW/RGBWW) - this type of LED offers the most flexibility allowing you to change colours easily.  These bulbs incorporate  Red Green and Blue (RGB) along with a solid white and this allows the bulb to mix and produce vast amounts of different colours and various shades of white.  You would normally control these bulbs via a smart phone app, a remote control or a home system such as Alexa using wifi or blue tooth.  These LED bulbs are suitable for creating mood lighting,for parties and for a colour scheme.

Key considerations before swapping

Whilst you can physically swap from halogen to the LED version easily you must check for the following:-

1. Voltage and transformer compatibility - The older halogen versions use magnetic transformers that may not draw enough power (minimum load) to properly operate the LED lamps as they are a very low wattage. You may need to change the transformer to the LED version that has a lower minimum load.
2. Wattage and heat - LED MR16’s use a lot less energy than the halogen ones.  You must ensure that the new bulbs wattage does not exceed the fixtures rating.  The LED versions also produce a lot less heat than the halogens which makes them much safer in enclosed fixtures
3. Beam angle - Coloured MR16 lamps have different beam angles, a narrow beam will highlight specific items and the wider beam angles will wash a larger area with colour.

Are MR16 bulbs being phased out?

It is only the halogen versions which are being phased out and this is due to the energy efficiency regulations.

The shift from halogen to LED

The phase-out is driven by:-

European Union/UK - Halogen lamps have been prohibited from being placed on the market since 2018 (there are some exceptions)

The resilience of the MR16 format

Fixtures remain - Millions of recessed ceiling fixtures and track lights were designed for the MR16 lamp which are expensive and inconvenient to replace.

LED adaptation - Manufacturers have made the LED MR16 lamps to fit the halogen versions and they offer the same directional lighting but using a fraction of the energy and can last up to 25 times longer than the halogen.