I'm renting a flat and need to replace some light bulbs. The bulbs I need are 12V MR16/GU5.3 bulbs.
How can I tell if I can use LED bulbs as opposed to the halogen ones that are there currently? If something needs to be installed in order to be able to use LED bulbs, is this something that I (as someone with no expertise in this area) can do myself, or would I need to get an electrician for that?
Best Answer
MR means "Multi Reflector" 16 means 16/8ths of an inch wide (2") GU5.3 means it is a bi-pin connector base where the pins are 5.33mm apart. 12V means it is 12VDC, a very important issue for you when buying replacements.
You can get equivalent LED versions using those same numbers, they should be available from any number of resources, both on-line and brick-and-mortar stores. You would not have to change anything other than the bulb itself because the LED versions will come with a built-in "driver" that will be set up to accept the power that was previously being used by the halogens. Plug and play...
But there is more to your selection than what you posted; you need to match the "beam angle" and the "color temperature". That info should be on the side of your existing halogen bulbs too.