Browse Forums Lighting + Lighting Design 1 Oct 21, 2011 1:21 pm Hey all, So house is going along well and it’s time to put in lighting and landscapping, I am trying to decide what to do with lighting and was pretty much forced into LED lights as the halogens use up to much and I will need around 65-70 downlights. I looked around and found what looks like good 12W led downlights kits for a good price, spoke to them and they are pretty confident in them. It’s the 12W kits from here http://www.trimenergy.com.au/ There are a lot of 15W out there but apparently the light output is the same plus this kit has a small cutting whole and fitting which is the same size of normal downlight fittings. Then I was also looking at gu10 lams and found these http://www.ledshoponline.com/GU10_LED_bulbs.htm but that means I need to buy fittings, transformers and the price of a lamp is almost like a whole kit, so this would actually work out to be more but I am not sure what’s best. So would you recommend going a complete downlight kit or individual lamp fittings ? I asked the guy at trim energy he reckons better off going with a kit as the transformer is what will die at the end before the lamp so you would have to replace it plus they should last at least 15 years, as with the individual lamp the transformer will still go anyway and probably a lot sooner and will need an electrician. Re: downlights for new house 2Oct 21, 2011 2:46 pm A full kit is definitely a better idea, I do enjoy that these companies are claiming a 25 year lifetime but only giving a warranty for 2. The GU10 Bulbs don't have an external transformer so I am not sure what you have been told there, they do have an internal one though and its just as likely to pop although you would just replace the bulb and no electrician is needed. Re: downlights for new house 3Oct 21, 2011 2:46 pm Hi Benny, we're doing the same thing, but also using some feature lighting in entrance and over dining table - Im definitely not an expert and still trawling for more information - we're currently looking at the Osram Luxpoint Mini 15W LED downlight kits - I was talking to Osram sales, they are also bringing out a dimmable version later this month too. Price wise, Beacon Lighting are offering good overall discounts - this online store offers gr8 prices for bulk too - have you chatted with them? http://www.led-depot.com.au/osram-luxpo ... ed-driver/ I will be interested to see any other replies as the information regarding LED is still scant.... Good luck MM Re: downlights for new house 4Oct 21, 2011 2:57 pm Just a few weeks ago I bought some GU10 bulbs on eBay (from China) and they cost Au$3.43 including postage. They are 30 LED Day White bulbs, 1.8w/140lm, 50,000 hours. Yeah, like everyone I try to buy locally too but when it hits your pocket that much, then my pocket comes first. Re: downlights for new house 5Oct 21, 2011 3:47 pm Probably a combination might be the best idea i.e in the house put the kits and outside a few gu10s i am thinking. I think cause by the time you get to a few years you wont even remember where you bought your lights . That's what I mean I am figuring the life of the transformer in the GU10 will probably be the same as complete kit any way but as a one time start up cost it probably wont make a difference. Re: downlights for new house 6Oct 21, 2011 3:55 pm I checked the kits from the other site modernistmaude yes but they are more than double the price and they are not even dimmable, they use more wattage, are bigger and the CRI rating is lower so they are not appealing at all. The reason I found these is because I friend got them from that site a few months ago and they look really good the light output is same as the halogens. The other thing is there is a lot of crap out there and no offense HappyCamper_au but I just don't see how that ebay light can perform even closely to what is offered in AU for 20$, I mean that is almost the price of a halogen. I bought some replacement halogen off dealextreme some time back and it was a piece of ....... so I guess no point in paying for something even if it is cheap if it wont work, in saying that if I am happy with the quality of course I am not going to pay double the price as well. HappyCamper_au how many watts is it ? and does it work properly ? Re: downlights for new house 7Oct 21, 2011 5:30 pm The advertised CRI......... The osram is far superior than the 'cree' product and dimmable is bandied around a fair bit, how well and on which dimmers is another question. Although we sell quite a few 70mm cutout lights have you tried putting you hand through one?? They might look a little nicer but good luck fixing anything through them. When something is cheaper its usually for a reason, if your happy with the product and are willing to roll the dice to save some money then that's fine. The problem is the market is so muddy right now and there is a new LED store every week, how is a lay person meant to know what to choose!! Re: downlights for new house 8Oct 24, 2011 3:14 pm Hi Think_Wise I am sorry but I am not quite sure what your talking about the osram has less CRI than the cree one. I don't understand the logic behind what your saying you sell 70mm cutout lights, try putting a hand in it. Well that isn't my problem as the electrician will install it secondly that is the size of normal halogen downlight fittings. Thirdly my understanding is that the downlight kit runs directly of the mains so it should be as simple as having a connector coming out of the mains and plugging into the downlight kits and putting it in the ceiling. Besides why would you wanna bigger whole ? if the light is going into the ceiling. Well a lay person goes around and does their research not only on this forum but many others, as the cost outlay is higher, however there are really only a few better shops out there I can find which are ledcentral todae trimenergy ledlightingaustralia leddepot though prices vary amongst them all they all seem to have good quality products. any how through the research I decided that the downlight kits are the best option and I need them this week so I am going with the original ones I will let you know how they look once they are in. Thanks for the help Re: downlights for new house 9Jan 04, 2013 6:51 am Benny - did you buy from Trim Energy. If so - any comments ? Yes well there solution is to blame everyone else while I a 65yr old woman with major medical problems have to just continue to boil water and wash myself in a bucket… 2 16015 If you make sure all taps inside and out are turned off, what does the water meter show if you leave it for a while. 2 20235 13 6632 |