A fairly recent innovation in MR16 lamps have been the development of twist lock bases which have a more secure connection.  They come in two different lamp, one being the GU10 120 volt and the other is GU7 12 volt halogen.  It's designed to operate in a 12 volt lighting system and is usually a track lighting situation.  The GU7 halogen light bulbs are a little different than other kinds of standard 12 volt types that you might be used to in an MR16.  The base has a sturdy two prong base with the ability to twist and lock for a secure seating which has sometimes been the complaint about 12 volt lamps, that the pins are a little too flimsy.  Like all halogen capsule bulbs, they are filled with a special gas that actually rebuilds the filament and provides long life over the old type of incandescent flood lights.  In general, The MR16 is the one that has a 2 inch reflector with a silvered (dichroic) coated which is usually faceted.  They have a bipin or GU7 base which pushes into the socket and then there is usually a holder in the fixture or sometimes they are out in the open.  MR16 lamps put out a light that gives a good color rendition to anything you're lighting.  So for your replacement GU7 twist lock bulbs, you get the benefits of the great light of an MR16 while getting the positive connection that some fixture manufacturers have opted for.

Halogen bulbs should not be touched with your skin as the oils can react with the glass.  That's true of these as well, the actual bulb characteristics are the same even if the socket is different.  In case you ever do touch a halogen light bulb, wipe it thoroughly with a soft cloth or perhaps use some alcohol wipe to take it off thoroughly. If you have MR16 GU7 bulbs in your home or business, then you want to make sure of several characteristics when replacing them.  You need to make sure that the reflector opening is 2 inches, verify the operating voltage of the lamp and the pin spacing of the bulbs themselves.  A typical GU7 halogen has a pin spacing at 7 millimeters and has two twist lock posts that go into the socket.  Remember that standard MR16 simply push in and have very thin pins.  It's also important to get the wattage of the lamp which is clearly marked in most cases.  These bulbs also have 3 letter codes associated with them and we can tell the watts and beam spread from that code.  Some of the more common codes are EXN/GU7, FMW/GU7 and so on.

In summary, MR16 GU7 halogen light bulbs are available in a variety of wattages, and they have a unique construction that isn't all that common but is being specified more in new lighting systems. Of course, you will need fixtures that will have the correct equipment for the MR16 GU7 halogen bulbs.  You'll be happy with the results as they will emit a whiter, brighter light that is considered by a vast majority of people more desirable than regular light bulbs.  We have a large inventory of halogen bulbs for nearly every type of light fixture in the field.  If you need help identifying a halogen bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have.