Where the hell do you find a BR50 lightbulb

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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This is getting ridiculous. Some of my larger flood lights are BR50 size, 85 watts. Apparently this is impossible to find as I've gone to home depot and lowes and stared endlessly to find the bulb. They've got the fancy, expensive, LED lights in this size but of course the LED doesn't fit the dam fixture (I bought one to try out). Doesn't help that the lights are 20 feet up.

I just want my damn 85 watt BR50 bulb dammit!
 

me4get

Member
May 24, 2000
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Can't even find a reference to a BR50 bulb, BR40 yes. Most have become outlawed.
 
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Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
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This thread is #1 on google for 'br50 bulb'

So I think you've got the wrong part number.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
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Are those halogen lights? We have the same lights above our fireplace. Home Depot carries them.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Maybe it's not BR50, I could have sworn that's what they were. They are large recessed indoor flood lights, bigger than BR40.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
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LOL

Really ATOT didn't know this?

O.K. guess I'll help now...

There is no bulged reflector bigger than 5".
Look for just an "R" bulb.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
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Actually there are many bulb shapes, I'm not 100% certain what your looking for (I just guessed R50 since you thought you wanted a BR50)...so here's some examples:

http://www.lightopedia.com/old/bulb-shapes-sizes

Here you can see the shape difference between the BR and R bulbs...

Edit:
Measure the diameter of your bulb, divide by 1/8" should give you the size your'e looking for.

30=3.75"
40=5"
50=6.25"

Whats the base of the bulb look like? Medium/large screw type or something else?
Could be that you have an E39 base...while most flood lights have E26. You can get a reducer/adapter.

Here's some R50 with MOGUL (E39) base:
http://www.elightbulbs.com/Industri...0R52-130V-R52-Reflector-Flood-Spot-Light-Bulb
http://www.elightbulbs.com/Industrial-Performance-75052-750R52-130V-R52-Reflector-Flood-Light-Bulb
 
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sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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I know this sounds silly, but why don't you take the burnt out one to home depot and ask for help?
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
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That is silly...it's so much easier to come to ATOT and ask.
We have an expert for everything right?
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
LOL

Really ATOT didn't know this?

O.K. guess I'll help now...

There is no bulged reflector bigger than 5".
Look for just an "R" bulb.

I disagree--- I also have BR50 bulbs and they're made by GE. I can use R50 as a replacement, but the light is more scattered.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
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Never heard of BR50s (always figured the bulge made a BR50 improbable or something), but I knew there were R50s.
I'm definitely no expert...was waiting for somebody else to figure it out, but nobody else had any clue so I decided to give a possible option that I knew was real.
Decided to try to Google BR50s like everybody else, got the same result. But if you know GE makes them then that's a lead he can follow...

Basically though the larger sized flood lights provide a wider beam, while the narrow/wide neck is kinda like the focus. Like an adjustable flashlight, with the same size reflector you can have a spot in the center or a more even flood...but a larger reflector will spread the light out more given the same focus.

If the problem is the screw type base though he could get an adapter and use a higher power (than what he has now) E26 BR40 and probably be just fine. I just noticed he's got an 85w in there (Mogul base is usually for 300+ watt and those R50s are 500-750w) so a 120w BR40 could work for him, but he may need an adapter. Sure would be easier/cheaper to use R or BR40s.

Edit:

But he may even be looking for a PAR bulb and/or something without a screw type base.
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Heh, it's just a large regular recessed lighting bulb. Didn't realize finding the replacement would be this difficult. I did one time find a single one at lowes, but it was buried way behind other bulbs. Apparently it isn't a popular size at all.

Thanks for the site, I'll measure diameter and try to figure out what it is.

The look of the bulb is exactly like a BR40 typically used in recessed lights, except much bigger. Regular 120v screw end.
 

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Mar 6, 2006
6,490
1,021
136
Any reason you need a 50 sized bulb (6.25") in there?

20ft up I figure a brighter 40 sized bulb would work fine if you are using an E26 base...
For similar/better light output pick:
120-200w incandescent
23-30w fluorescent (CFLs have longer warm up when upside down).
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I get my bulbs online. I tried a bulbsunlimited that was local but they were very expensive.

The main ones I order are candelabra based bug lights for my door lights.