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View Full Version : 12V versus 120V bi pin bulbs


sfrenee
Sep 22, 2011, 07:00 AM
Hi everyone, I have a lamp (freestanding floor lamp) that needs a bulb replacement and what I pulled out of the lamp versus what is printed on the lamp's sticker conflicts. I'm not sure what to do. The bulb I last used looks like a 12V, halogen MR16 bi-pin bulb (I'm not positive because there is nothing printed on the bulb). However, the sticker on the lamp states 120V, 60Hz halogen lamp with lens. However, the socket looks like it is made for pins that look like the 12V bi-pins, not the 120V pins.

When I put in a 12V, MR16 bulb and turn the light on, the bulb flashes brightly once, a popping noise occurs and the light goes dim. I think this means I have the wrong volt bulb?

I'm trying to figure out if the problem is with the lamp or if somehow I'm using the wrong bulb type. Is there a bi-pin 120V that looks like the 12V? The illustration on the sticker looks like a 12V bulb.

http://i56.tinypic.com/6qbeyc.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/oatagp.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/szwdu8.jpg

I would appreciate any help! Thank you in advance.

ebaines
Sep 22, 2011, 07:22 AM
There are indeed 120 volt MR16's with the bi-pin GU5.3 base. See for example: MR16 BiPin Regular Light Bulb (http://www.superiorlighting.com/Halogen_MR16_BiPin_Regular_Bulbs_s/320.htm)

120 volt MR16's can have either the "twist and lock" GU10 style base or the plain pin GU5.3 style.

sfrenee
Sep 22, 2011, 07:47 AM
Fantastic thanks! I will give that a try and hopefully the problem will have been with the wrong voltage and not the lamp.