However there are manufacturers and I think CRS may be one of them, who have produced a lamp that simply beggars belief. To produce 300 lumens from an MR16 retrofit is quite incredible if you consider the restrictions on heat dissipation.

It is also agreed that on paper 300l is less than 420l (obviously) but a dichrioc lamp sheds light all over the place (even behind the fitting itself if it is recessed) so how much of the light actually goes where it is supposed to? The whole idea of a spotlight is to illuminate a spot!

In most applications you don’t need all the light that a dichroic lamp produces, in fact you could replace a 50w lamp with a CRS or equivalent LED and most people would not have a problem with it.

Like all these things the proof of the pudding is in the eating and that is why in 99% of cases my customers want a trial. If they dont like it they don’t buy it, simple as that.

That’s a fair point: That the project far outpaced the data. Perhaps the story could have been put on the QT just long enough to give your company time for your web data to catchup. It wasn’t my intention to cast CRS Electronics in an unfair light and if I have, then I apologize.

Regarding the numbers. I have found several 35 watt MR16’s with “stated” ratings over 1000 lumens. Of course, I’m relying on other manufacturers to state the figures accurately. Some of those lamps are newer dichroic reflector models that were perhaps not included in the LRC testing? Regarding beam candela, thats exactly my point Scott, there are plenty of 35 watt MR16’s that produce much higher beam candela measurements but the viewing angle need not be defined and it often isn’t because it’s generally so narrow as to be next to useless. So they publish their lumens output figure instead. Thats when guys like you and me get call from people asking how our lamps, rated in CBCP stack up against brand-X’s lamp rated in lumens. Errr!

Thanks for taking the time out of what I can only assume is a very busy schedule to respond. Congratulations on the success of the project, good luck moving forward!

As for lumen outputs of 35W MR16 lamps, please see the Lighting Research center, a prominent source of test data for the industry. Your 1000+ lumen figure is slightly on the high side as this would translate to more than 28 lumens per watt – far above the efficiency of halogen. The LRC findings can be found at http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/mr16/performance.asp

There you will see an average lumen output for a 50W halogen to be around 625 lumens, or 12.5 lumens / watt. A 35W is around 440 lumens, which is higher than our published 300 lumen specification, but not by enough to make a significant difference for many applications. In addition, our initial testing is demonstrating CBCP figures well in excess of 1,000 cd and the beamspread is quite. An example of a 35W GE halogen MR16 with a wide beamspread can be found here http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=COMMERCIALSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=20859&BreadCrumbValues=CATG,_Lamps_Halogen_MR_MR16&SearchFieldCode=null -and indicates a CBCP figure of 900 cd. Obviously there are other models with higher CBCP figures, but they are also much narrower beam angles.

Admittedly there are many shortcomings in the industry. However, there are manufacturers such as CRS Electronics leading the charge on high quality LED lighting products. As we move to full production on this light, architects and lighting specifiers will have IES files and datasheets made available.

Thank you for cautioning your readers on the inconsistencies of test data and testing procedures. The CRS Electronics LED MR16 as well as the future release of our flourescent tube replacement will be tested according to, and in compliance with the new Energy Star solid state lighting criteria.

Best regards,

Scott Riesebosch
President,
CRS Electronics