BLV Halogen Bulbs

BLV Halogen Bulbs in the BLV / Ushio Ecosystem

BLV Halogen Bulbs come from a German manufacturer that’s been in the lamp business since 1968 and is now part of the Ushio group. The BLV brand covers a wide portfolio of light sources – from halogen lamps to high-pressure discharge and LED – for general, industrial, sports, stage and specialist lighting. 

Within that portfolio, BLV Halogen Bulbs are positioned as high-quality, often professional-grade lamps: reflector spots, capsules and powerful linear R7s tubes used where you still need compact, very bright point sources, perfect colour rendering and straightforward dimming. Many halogen floodlight types are now officially discontinued and sold “while stocks last” due to ecodesign rules, but they remain important for maintaining existing installations.

Construction and Optical Quality of BLV Halogen Bulbs

At a technical level, BLV Halogen Bulbs use classic tungsten-halogen physics, tuned for professional performance:

• Tungsten filament
  A tightly wound filament runs very hot, producing bright warm-white light with a colour rendering index close to 100 – ideal for textiles, skin tones and natural materials.
• Halogen gas fill
  A small quantity of halogen (e.g. bromine or iodine) in an inert gas atmosphere enables the halogen cycle: evaporated tungsten is chemically bound and redeposited on the filament rather than blackening the glass, keeping light output stable over life. Halogen lamps remain a dependable choice for projects where warm tone, instant brightness and consistent dimming curves are still required. Broad facility upgrades and cross-building maintenance often begin with well-established, globally familiar ranges such as ge halogen lamps, which provide predictable performance across multiple fixture types. For decorative interiors, compact luminaires and small commercial applications, designers frequently turn to the versatile, installation-friendly assortment offered by duralamp halogen lamps. Public facilities and budget-controlled projects often include practical, service-ready options like bemko halogen lamps, ensuring straightforward replacements without compatibility issues. Retail rollouts and hospitality sites that need stable stock and consistent colour output typically rely on steady, well-balanced products such as bellight halogen lamps. And for industrial setups or technical work zones where durability and long-term reliability matter, many planners integrate robust, utility-grade models from as schwabe halogen lamps to keep maintenance predictable.
• Quartz or hard glass envelopes
  Compact capsules or tubes withstand high pressure and temperature. Floodlight versions include UV-filtering glass and mechanical robustness for outdoor and sports applications. 
• Standard professional bases
  Across the range you see GU4, GU5.3, GU10, G4, GY6.35, R7s and other common lamp bases, so BLV Halogen Bulbs drop into standard luminaires without mechanical changes.

Typical characteristics across the BLV halogen range:

• Warm white colour temperatures around 2700–3000 K depending on type.
• Average lives from 2,000 h for many capsules and spots up to 3,500–5,000 h for selected long-life MR16 Reflekto variants. 
• Full dimmability with standard phase-cut dimmers, with the light becoming warmer as it dims – a key reason halogen is still used in hospitality and retail.

Main Product Groups of BLV Halogen Bulbs

BLV Halogen Bulbs – Reflekto MR16 / GU5.3 Spots

The BLV Reflekto line is the best-known halogen family from BLV. It focuses on low-voltage MR16 spotlights:

• Typical specs (example Reflekto models):
  • 20 W or 35 W or 50 W
  • 12 V, GU5.3 base
  • 36° beam (other angles also available depending on code)
  • Colour temperature around 2700–2800 K
  • Average life around 2000–4000 h depending on version (standard vs energy-saving / Powersaver). 
• Aluminium-backed and clear-backed versions
  • Aluminium-backed Reflekto lamps push most heat and light forward and minimise rear light – useful in shallow cans and insulated ceilings.
  • Clear-backed versions allow some backward light for more sparkle in open or glass luminaires.

These BLV Halogen Bulbs are used heavily in retail, museum and hospitality downlights where beam control, long life and colour quality matter. Premium lamp distributors list BLV Reflekto among their top MR16 options alongside GE, Osram and Philips professional ranges. 

BLV Halogen Bulbs – GU10 Mains-Voltage Spots

Product listings also show BLV GU10 halogen spots, typically:

• 240 V, 50 W
• 51 mm diameter
• Aluminium reflector versions for better forward throw and reduced heating of the luminaire body. 

These are intended for standard recessed ceiling spots and track heads where transformers should be avoided and fast maintenance is important.

BLV Halogen Bulbs – Low-Voltage Capsules (G4 / GY6.35)

BLV also supplies classic low-voltage capsules for compact luminaires and equipment:

• Examples from catalogue data:
  • 6 V / 10–20 W G4 miniature capsules
  • 12 V / 35–50 W GY6.35 axial filament capsules
  • 24 V / 100 W GY6.35 variants for special fixtures and machines.

These BLV Halogen Bulbs are hidden inside furniture lighting, display cabinets, small spots and technical luminaires where size and filament position are critical.

BLV Halogen Bulbs – Linear R7s Floodlight Lamps

At the heavy-duty end of the range, BLV Halogen Bulbs include powerful linear R7s lamps used in floodlights and projectors:

• Medium-power examples (from distributor ranges):
  • 60 W, 150 W, 300 W, 500 W R7s lamps in lengths like 78 mm and ~118 mm for smaller floodlights and wall-washers.
• High-power examples:
  • BLV 2000 W, 240 V R7s lamp around 331–334 mm long, with ~44,000 lm, 3000 K warm white and rated life about 2000 h – built for stadium-style or industrial floodlighting and large façades

BLV’s own documents describe these as double-ended mains-voltage floodlight lamps for indoor and outdoor use, officially discontinued but still available while stocks last – so they’re particularly important for maintaining existing sports and industrial lighting installations.

Typical Uses of BLV Halogen Bulbs in Real Projects

Because the assortment covers everything from tiny capsules to 2 kW flood tubes, BLV Halogen Bulbs appear in very different environments:

• Retail and showrooms
  • Reflekto MR16 and GU10 spots for merchandise, mannequins, shelving and window displays.
  • High CRI and tight beam options are ideal for textiles, cosmetics and jewellery.
• Museums and galleries
  • MR16 Reflekto lamps with controlled beams and good UV management for artworks (combined with suitable luminaires and filters).
• Hospitality and residential
  • G4 / GY6.35 capsules in furniture, coves and decorative pendants.
  • GU10 spots in hotel corridors, lobbies and restaurants that still prefer halogen dimming behaviour.
• Sports facilities and outdoor floodlighting
  • R7s BLV Halogen Bulbs in floodlight projectors for small pitches, training grounds, tennis courts or façade lighting.
• Industrial and specialist equipment
  • High-watt, unusual-voltage capsules and linear lamps used in machines, inspection lights and projectors where the optics were designed around a specific halogen filament.

How to Select BLV Halogen Bulbs for Your Application

A smart choice of BLV Halogen Bulbs starts from the luminaire and working conditions, not just “same wattage as before”.

1. Identify base and voltage first
   • Check the lampholder: GU5.3, GU10, G4, GY6.35, R7s, etc. 
   • Confirm supply:
     • 12 V low-voltage for most MR16 Reflekto and many capsules. 
     • 230/240 V for GU10 and all mains-voltage R7s flood lamps. 
2. Check luminaire power and thermal limits
   • Never exceed the maximum wattage listed on the fitting – halogen runs hot.
   • In compact glass or enclosed downlights, consider using BLV’s energy-saving or lower-watt options to reduce heat stress.
3. Match beam angle and light level
   • For Reflekto MR16 and GU10: pick narrow, medium or wide beams according to distance and object size (e.g. 12–24° for tight accents, ~36° for general accent lighting)
   • For R7s: remember that beam shape is mostly defined by the luminaire reflector – choose wattage based on the area and target lux level (e.g. sports training vs simple security lighting).
4. Choose colour temperature consistently
   • Most BLV Halogen Bulbs are in the 2700–3000 K range. For one room or visual zone, stick to a single CCT to avoid patchy appearance
5. Consider operating hours and maintenance strategy
   • High-hour environments (shops, sports, industrial) benefit from long-life Reflekto variants or planned group relamping.
   • For rare-use floodlights, a standard 2000 h BLV R7s lamp may be the simplest, most economical option. 

Safety and Regulatory Points for BLV Halogen Bulbs

Even high-quality BLV Halogen Bulbs will fail early or create risks if installed carelessly. Key points:

• Handling
  • Avoid touching quartz capsules and bare halogen tubes with greasy fingers; clean any fingerprints off with a lint-free cloth before use to prevent hot spots.
• Heat management
  • BLV’s 2000 W R7s flood lamps and even 50 W MR16 spots generate significant heat; ensure luminaires are properly ventilated and clear of flammable materials, and that any glass covers are intact and rated for the wattage.
• Dimming and switching
  • Use correctly sized dimmers; long strings of halogen spots can overload small household dimmers and shorten lamp life.
• Regulatory status
  • BLV’s own floodlight halogen catalogue marks the range as discontinued and “available as long as supplies last” – a direct result of European energy-efficiency regulations. 
  • For new projects, halogen is usually reserved for genuine special purposes (optical precision, high output in small packages, specific burning positions). In most other cases, LED from the same or partner brands will be the primary recommendation.

Procurement and Project Management of BLV Halogen Bulbs

For wholesalers, contractors and facility managers, treating BLV Halogen Bulbs as a structured, controlled category makes life much easier:

• Define a core BLV halogen set
  • 1–2 key BLV Reflekto MR16 lamps (e.g. 35 W and 50 W, 36°) for standard downlights. 
  • The main GU10 halogen spot type you actually use.
  • A couple of capsule types (G4 and GY6.35) at the voltages and wattages that match your furniture and display fittings.
  • The R7s wattages and lengths used in your floodlights (for many users, that includes at least one 2000 W BLV variant)
• Use manufacturer codes (EAN / MPN) rigorously
  • Many BLV products have very similar descriptions but different beam angles or reflector types; ordering strictly by code prevents mismatches in large projects. 
• Plan for end-of-life and last-time-buys
  • Because BLV halogen flood lamps and some spots are formally discontinued but still sold from stock, monitor availability and, when necessary, place last-time-buy orders to support the remaining life of critical installations.

Used this way, BLV Halogen Bulbs become a deliberate, high-performance part of your lighting strategy – reserved for those applications where halogen’s mix of compact size, optical punch, colour quality and dimming behaviour genuinely delivers something LED still cannot match one-to-one.