Browse Forums Lighting + Lighting Design 1 Mar 15, 2011 9:51 am How do you like them. How do they look at night?? We are looking at putting these in, it was between these and LED's but LED's are way too expensive. We've been told if we go downt he CFL route we can change the bulbs over to led later on. Would love to hear from those who have CFL downlights thanks Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 2Mar 17, 2011 11:08 am A friend just recently moved into an apartment and it has CFL downlights. The pros are they are cheap, energy efficient and they've been around for quite some time. The downsides are they take a min or two to fully light up and doesn't look very appealing to most people (but if they are hidden behind the light fitting you can't see it anyway). I personally prefer LED as you will get your money back in the long run and save you the hassel of changing the bulbs every now and then. Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 3Mar 17, 2011 1:02 pm Funnily, I find the compact CFLs (GU10 fittings) attractive (since they have a diffuser), but the LED lights as unatttractive since you can see the guts due to the lack of diffuser. This is probably a bigger blocking factor, to me, than the price. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 4Mar 17, 2011 1:36 pm When you say not appealing are you talking about the light it gives off or the actual fitting? LED is far too dear to do our entire house and we would need to be there for a verrrrrry long time for the savings to justify the cost. I've heard light spread being an issue with LED to? Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 5Mar 17, 2011 3:18 pm Casa2 I find the compact CFLs (GU10 fittings) attractive Mrs P we would need to be there for a verrrrrry long time for the savings to justify the cost. 12w LED = 50w Halogen Our current power cost is around 20c / kw Lets assume 6 hours avg usage per day, in 1 year time the power cost will be: LED: 12w x 6 x 365 = 26.28kw x 20c = $5.25 / year Halogen: 50w x 6 x 365 = 109.5kw x 20c = $21.9 / year a saving of $16.65 a year. a halogen Kit (globe + transformer + fitting + heat cap) = approx. $30 I am not sure what is the market price for LED now but even if it double the price of a halogen it will only take 2 years before you get your money back plus the fact that electricity bill is going to go up soon and most halogen globe don't even last 2 years meaning you have to replace them = a trip to Bunnings + $4. LED probably can't beat CFL in terms of cost, not short term anyway. Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 6Mar 18, 2011 7:47 pm Casa why don't you buy an LED with a diffuser then? I walked through a halogen replacement job the other day and didn't even realize my lights had gone in Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 7Mar 19, 2011 11:25 am Haven't been able to find a GU10 LED light with a diffuser (it should preferably come in different wattages, but at the very least 13W or more) Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 8Mar 19, 2011 6:37 pm Yeah 13w is tough for gu10. What about complete fixture? Or do you have a lumen target, some affordable modules are getting close to 90lm/w Re: Do you have CFL downlights? 9Mar 20, 2011 10:21 am I need GU10 as all my fittings are already in. I currently have CFLs fitted, but would slowly like to change over to LEDs (with diffuser) starting with the living area and working my way through the house. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 30561 6 7974 Hi All, I just wanted to close this topic out with an update. So we ended up agreeing to a number with the insurance company, and after an extensive amount of hand… 8 15461 |