Browse Forums Lighting + Lighting Design 1 Aug 10, 2009 12:21 pm I've just discovered that there are two voltage types of down lights! I had no idea So what's the main difference? Is one better than the other? One more cost effective/energy efficient? What does everyone recommend? I'll be having most inside (some in bathrooms and a few outdoors under the alfresco, front porch and garage/balcony eaves). ETA - we have planned our lighting around halogen globes not CFL globes. Didn't know if that was relevant or not! Thanks! Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 2Aug 13, 2009 7:31 pm Have you looked at the new types of LED globes , not the type used as a replacement for the halogen 50 watt type. There are new varities that are better suited to fit inside a light fitting , only cause they look a bit odd without some sort of lamp shade or ceiling fitting ,these are 3.3 watts ane = to 40 watts and the other is 4.5 watt and =60 watts . These are straight 240 volt and are bayonette firiing or e 27 screw in . Warm white and cool white are available ,best is not frightfully expensive. Forget Halogens as they are the biggest waster of power above anything else. have a good look areounf thse are very new. Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 3Aug 25, 2009 1:28 am Hi there again Seeing that you have based your setup on halogens and not cfls, then either 240v or 12v is fine. 12v was introduced to save you money, and it's a lot safer. Alternatively, if you go the 240v setup, then later down the track, you could convert them to CFL's. Now there's an idea! Hope this has helped. Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 4Aug 25, 2009 11:14 am Thanks MICA You have been a great help. I think we'll stick to 12v since they are the safer option!! Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 5Aug 25, 2009 11:24 am I am also deciding on the type of downlights to use. Do 240v downlights generally need more room in the ceiling space to install? Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 6Aug 25, 2009 7:11 pm I regret putting in 12V halogens and not CFL or LEDs. They guzzle power, and I'm always changing globes due to the constant power spikes here. Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 7Aug 26, 2009 10:18 am If you regret putting in the Halogens,perhaps you can purchase some of the new MR16 Led lamps that are on offer . If you have a good look around there are some good wattages ( you should get as close to 10 watts as you can get ) then they will be a good as a 50 watt Halogen ( or extremely close) The new varieties can be dimmed also, but not with the normal dimmers we are used to ,they need a special dimmer designed for Led`s. Then there will be good savings for your electricity bill and you can feel good for saving some black balloons. Have you seen the new Led globes that look like a nornal incandescent globe , but are filled with Led`s . Do a google search and see what you can find. Rgds Greg Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 8Aug 26, 2009 5:48 pm Are they 12V or 240V?? I guess I can fit a plug lead to them to go into the existing plug-in bases Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 9Aug 26, 2009 9:10 pm Hi they are 12 volt and they connect into the existing connections. there are some which will connect into the original drivers but you will need to purhase one and make sure that it will work with the transformers that you have fitted. please be careful . as the new electronic transformers may not work with the Led`s Buy one and fit it in an see if it will work. Rgds Greg Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 11Sep 27, 2009 12:15 pm MICA Hi there again Seeing that you have based your setup on halogens and not cfls, then either 240v or 12v is fine. 12v was introduced to save you money, and it's a lot safer. Alternatively, if you go the 240v setup, then later down the track, you could convert them to CFL's. Now there's an idea! Hope this has helped. Hi Mica - Can you please explain why the 12V are safer than the 240V? Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 12Sep 27, 2009 5:50 pm vid We have got the sparky to install #413 plugs where we would like downlights, does anyone know if these plugs can be used for ALL types of downlights? yeah the 413 is just a 10amp rated socket... Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 13Oct 01, 2009 11:11 pm Pugs vid We have got the sparky to install #413 plugs where we would like downlights, does anyone know if these plugs can be used for ALL types of downlights? yeah the 413 is just a 10amp rated socket... We found some lights we like and the person in the shop said we need to get a flex and plug added as they are normally "hard wired" and it will cost us about $6-7 each. Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 14Oct 05, 2009 8:13 am buildingadreamhome MICA Hi there again Seeing that you have based your setup on halogens and not cfls, then either 240v or 12v is fine. 12v was introduced to save you money, and it's a lot safer. Alternatively, if you go the 240v setup, then later down the track, you could convert them to CFL's. Now there's an idea! Hope this has helped. Hi Mica - Can you please explain why the 12V are safer than the 240V? not sure about safer but it allows the average joe to change them out when they are stuffed as they are 12v. Otherwise with a 240v you need to get a sparky in Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 15Oct 06, 2009 12:17 am Hi there all, Just to add my 2cents worth ... Halogen downlights are rated at AC, and led's are rated at DC. Therefore, to simply change the globe over, there are 2 outcomes: 1- It will not work. 2- It will work, but not for long. Like anything people, when a job is half done, the result is only half as well. Hope this helps!! Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 16Feb 20, 2011 10:37 pm We went to Beacon Lighting today and bought the 240V Murano downlight setup for our small kitchen... it looks very smart and you can mount them in what ever position you like - shall show you the type we went for: http://www.beaconshop.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&sku=150038&category_id=18&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1# Will show once installed in a few weeks Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 17Feb 21, 2011 11:50 am Let me give a summary of 12V versus 240V lighting 12V lighting: Requires a transformer to convert from 240 V to 12 V. This will have a cost and there will be some power loses (get an electronic, rather than magnetic transformer to minimise these losses). So when the bulb is rated at 50W, you need to add another 10W or so for the power used in the ballast. You can get LED and halogen bulbs, but I haven't seen any CFL bulbs. They use the MR16 fitting 240V lighting: Cheaper to install, one less part to go faulty, easier to insulate the roof (no need to worry about clearing the transfomer) and you can get LED, halogen and CFL bulbs. They use the GU10 fitting. Both are safe. To me, I can't see an advantage to 12V lighting, but I'm open to hearing any good reason for using 12V except for some application such as outdoor or pool lighting. (There are some suggestions that 12 V lighting is more effecient, but this area is a bit fuzzy.) Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 18Feb 21, 2011 8:05 pm mel buildingadreamhome MICA Hi there again Seeing that you have based your setup on halogens and not cfls, then either 240v or 12v is fine. 12v was introduced to save you money, and it's a lot safer. Alternatively, if you go the 240v setup, then later down the track, you could convert them to CFL's. Now there's an idea! Hope this has helped. Hi Mica - Can you please explain why the 12V are safer than the 240V? not sure about safer but it allows the average joe to change them out when they are stuffed as they are 12v. Otherwise with a 240v you need to get a sparky in Why do you need a sparky? Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 19Feb 22, 2011 11:33 am I think mel means that you need a sparky when you want to change the light fitting, not the light bulb. (Although the way everything is being regulated, you'll soon need a registered person to wipe your ar** for you.) Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: 12V or 240V Down Lights - What's the difference? 20Feb 22, 2011 11:33 am For 240v GU10 you don't. Some old MR16 fittings used to be 240v which required an electrician to connect new globes.
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