Optical Feasibility of a True LED MR16 Lamp

Nowhere is the motivation to convert all light sources to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) more evident than at the local home improvement store. Even a cursory glance at the LED bulbs on the MR16 shelf is likely to overwhelm consumers and lighting professionals alike. MR16 is a standard format for halogen multifaceted reflector light bulbs — MR stands for multifaceted reflector, and 16 is the number of eighths of an inch the front is in diameter. With the staggering assortment of lamps that are currently being produced and the equally staggering claims and metrics that are being used to entice you to buy one over the other, consumers are faced with the question: How did buying a replacement for my burned-out bulb become so difficult, and why do all of these “replacements” produce significantly less light than their halogen predecessors?