Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 5Jul 04, 2011 10:51 am You can get ANY downlight with a halo globe, and change them to LED after, all downlights use a mr16 connection from the tranny to the light, therefore later down the track just buy LED mr16 connection globes they range from 1watt to 12watts 5 watt is almost equal to a 50watt halo globe in light. I'm an electrician so just pm me any problems I'll be happy to help, I have changed my old downlights at mine to these bulbs and there fine just don't get nothing cheap yet at the wholesaler I get the bulbs for 30 bucks for a 9 watt but you can get them off eBay for 5 bucks, wouldn't trust them for too long tho, also the LED Technology has been updated many times since now and they are far better then 2-3 yrs ago my friend bought some and they started flickering and stuff but the newest LEDs which are kind of yellow in colour are pretty good. For all your electrical questions please pm me! Happy to help anyone Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 6Jul 04, 2011 7:57 pm What is the difference between MR16 and GU10? I was under the impression that getting downlights with GU10 fitting would allow me to use LED later when they are better and cheaper. I went to a lighting store and the salesperson told me that it's not as easy as that. I might need a transformer or some sort of converter. Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 7Jul 05, 2011 8:05 pm Here's a discussion on 12V (low volt) vs. 240V down lights. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=21848 - 240v halogen is half the price of 12v halogen. - 240v doesn't need transformer, hence cheaper, less parts to go faulty, less insulation clearance required. - If double storey, and you want to put downlights downstairs, it's cheaper and easier to have them put it during construction. - I too have the impression that 240 halogen downlights can easily be switched to LED without electrician (but I could be wrong). My builder tried to push me to go for 12v, saying that they are prettier than 240v, but after having seen the cost of 12v, and since I'm going to replace them with BrightGreen branded LED post-handover (which are extremely good looking), I have gone for 240v. 13-08 Moved in 13-05 Build restart 13-04 VMIA compensation 12-08 Builder liquidation 12-03 Fixing 11-12 Lockup 11-11 Frame 11-09 Slab 11-09 Start 11-07 Contract 10-11 2K deposit 10-06 Titled land Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 8Jul 06, 2011 2:16 pm I just had an electrician to provide a quotation. He said that it's not as easy as switching from a halogen light globe to an LED one. He thinks that I need to go one way or another. So, if we go with halogen now, then later on we switch to change to LED, we are not replacing the globe, but the entire unit. He said an LED unit is about $30, but some posters here said they were more like $120. Big difference, of course. Also, does anyone know if it's worth using a dimmer switch or splitting the lights in half and use two light switches to control brightness? Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 9Jul 06, 2011 3:54 pm The cheap LED units (the $30 price point ones) usually have a narrow beam angle and don't support dimming. The warmness is usually subpar. The high priced ones have good reason to be that high because they use state-of-the-art LED technology. They are 'perfect' and their light is superior to halogen. BrightGreen is not the only high-quality supplier on the market. You can now get high-quality LED fittings for just under $100 each if you look hard enough. Newtown rebuild: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=48977 Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 12Aug 20, 2011 9:35 pm Cheeky What is the difference between MR16 and GU10? I was under the impression that getting downlights with GU10 fitting would allow me to use LED later when they are better and cheaper. I went to a lighting store and the salesperson told me that it's not as easy as that. I might need a transformer or some sort of converter. In very loose terms MR16 is used for low voltage stuff, meaning you need a transformer, whereas GU10 is used on 240v. Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 14Aug 29, 2011 12:55 pm I've used GU10 CFL downlights with the intention of swapping over to LEDs when the right one is available (well known manufacturer, greater than 500 lumens output and a diffusor). No need fo ran electrical, just swap the light bulb over. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 15Aug 29, 2011 4:05 pm Hello, LED lights are perfectly fine for installation provided that you understand that you will need MORE lights in a room to create the same light output when compared to halogen downlights, AND the cost per fitting usually equates to a customer going for halogen light due to the price difference. If you are going to install led lights stay right away from anything under 70 per fitting... they are utter crap.. the light angle isnt wide enough and most of them dont allow for dimming. I would suggest starburst led lights from pierlight, or CLA lighting products... both can be bought from middys electrical wholesaler, have great light output etc etc... but a tad pricy for a standard install. I usually only install these in homes where they are spending 20 thousand plus on the electrical... 240v downlights are NOT cheaper to install and they MUST have adequate space when installed into insulation.. EVERY light must have minimum distances from insulation, wood etc etc as required by australain standards and regulations! , they take longer to install compared to a 12 halogen due to the fiddle, tiny connecting blocks, they globes blow much more frequently than halogens, and the globes cost more! fluro lights are cheap to run, but the light output is terrible, they also take longer to install, and there are usually more restrictions when installing due to their large mounting depth, cut-out etc etc.. and are not dimmable.. i would suggest sticking to normal halogens, and mabey run them off a PIR sensor for energy saving duties. this means that lights will not be left on when no-one is in the room, they switch on and off automatically. then later down the track change the halogen globes for LED globes when technology and price are more advanced. hope this helped chris Electrical - Automation - Smart wiring - New homes - Commercial - Data cabling] 1300 050 315 www.cenemelectrical.com.au www.facebook.com/cenemelectrical Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 16Aug 29, 2011 9:44 pm Hello all, I was reading through the posts and I went through a similar experience with my house in the last 12 months. The builder installed the GU5.3 halogen downlights (12V) throughout my house, 27 in total. Each fitted with 50W halogens. It looked damn pretty when I turn on the lights, however I can't help but feel that burning hole in my wallet with all that power draining away, not to mention the occasional blow-outs. I read through many a posts such as this. I Googled, I Wiki'ed and I eBay'ed. My conclusion were, "you get what you paid for" and "LED aren't cheap". That is, until my friend and I found these LEDs from Korea! I just bought a new house in Melbourne's West and my friend was renovating an old house in the Eastern suburbs. We both wanted to install LED downlights but found them to be either cheap 'n' nasty or way too expensive, ie $100 plus per globe. I will spare you the lengthy journey we went through in finding the "perfect" LEDs. Surffice to say that we found someone in the industry and he introduced us to a whole world of advanced LEDs at realistic prices. These LEDs are either GU5.3 (12V) or GU10 (240V). Plugs straight into existing fittings, comes in cool or warm white, produces lights that are comparable to halogen light bulbs. Most importantly, uses only 4W or 5W depending on personal preference. Now some say that a 50W halogen produces about 500 lm. The technical specification states that these LEDs produce 270 lm. Honestly, I stuggle to tell the difference unless I see them side-by-side. Long story short, my friend and I were so impressed with these LEDs that we started a business selling them. He wants to save the environment, I just want to save my wallet. If you are interested in either, or both, please feel free to PM or email for details and I'll see what I can do to help. leddave7 Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 17Aug 30, 2011 8:30 pm HAHAHA @ led dave... sounds like your just using this forum to sell your products... and not give advice... Electrical - Automation - Smart wiring - New homes - Commercial - Data cabling] 1300 050 315 www.cenemelectrical.com.au www.facebook.com/cenemelectrical Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 18Sep 06, 2011 11:46 am I ended up buying three different mr16 leds from two different stores to trial. Since i'm replacing halogen mr16s in fixed locations I'm restricted in the number of lamps. I got two 9W MR16s http://www.ledlightingaustralia.net.au/ ... 16-9W.html , http://www.trimenergy.com.au/shop-onlin ... ed-inside/ and an 8W MR16 http://www.trimenergy.com.au/shop-onlin ... downlight/ , which was a more expensive one. The two 9W MR16s were similar in appearance and llok very similar to most mr16 leds on all of online stores i've come across. I couldn't tell the difference in performance between the two but when placed next to a 50W halogen mr16 i could tell they are not as bright. I placed both into my bathroom (2.5 m x 3.5m) which had 2 x 50W halogen mr16s and did notice that the room was not as bright, yet the light level is for sure acceptable in my option. I placed the 8W mr16 next to one of the 9Ws in the bathroom and it was obvious the 8W was brighter which i expected for the extra price, yet this still confuses and fustrates me as you can't know how a light will perform on its power and so how can you know until you try the light? is performance then based on cost? The two 9W lights were the same but cost different. I then put back a 50W halogen to compare next the the 8W led and they were similar but the 50W halogen had more spread. I decided to order the 9W leds in my living room, kitchen / dining room, entry, lounge room, etc since the existing 50W lighting i have is overkill, for example in my lounge room (6.5 x 4.2m) i have 3 rows of 4 mr16s which is too many and i always dim these quite a bit when they are on. In my bedrooms, bathrooms, study, halls, I want to order the 8W since i don;t want the light level to drop too much. Unfortunately this light is out of stock for a few weeks and i cant find the same one somewhere else. I'm also looking at a Phillips 7W which is a similar price and might perform the same. I am anxious to see how everything looks when they are installed... Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 19Sep 06, 2011 12:49 pm mvoglis ... yet this still confuses and fustrates me as you can't know how a light will perform on its power and so how can you know until you try the light? is performance then based on cost? ... Short Answer If you want to know the light output, look at the light output in lumens. This will take care of everything. A halogen light gives off about 800 lumens and anything above 500 lumens shoud be fine as a halogen replacement. Only trust the quoted lumen output from a reputable manufacturer such as a well known brand name. Some smaller players have ridiculous figures quoted. Long Answer What matters is how much electrical power goes in and how much light power comes out. Electrical power is measured in watts and light power in lumens. An good LED light would give about 80 lumens per watt. So, to get the magic 500 lumens, you'll want an efficient 7W light. Some LED suppliers will quote lux, but this is a meaningless figure unless you want to look at the beam angle and then integrate the lux output across the full spherical light output. Or just look at the light output power in lumes, which is the same thing. Other factors that come into play are the CRI (Colour Rendering Index) - the higher the better, Colour Temperature - 2700 to 3000 K suits most people, and beam angle - I like it as wide as possible. This will upset the small manufacturers, but I would only buy a light from a well knwn brand name such as Philips, General Electric, Osram, etc. This is because some of the smaller manufactureres will tell you whatever you want to hear. They have no reputation to protect so will quote wrong lumen values. And who is going to check the values they state? Just for Fun If a light was 100% effecient, it would give off 683 lumens per watt. So a 1 W light would be a halogen replacement. I wouldn't wait for this one! Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Need to install downlights, but which ones? 20Sep 06, 2011 3:10 pm cenemelectrical HAHAHA @ led dave... sounds like your just using this forum to sell your products... and not give advice... +1 Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. Joe, it depends on your certifier but we are noticing the ones we deal with are really cracking down. So i would recommend you follow your approved landscaping plans to… 4 11729 Hi Simeon, Thank you for laying it down for us. Makes sense. Appreciate it very much. Have a nice day. Cheers 2 9731 1) I had requested R6 ceiling insualtion batts, however I noticed that on some areas there are huge gaps which will allow hot air to sweep in, and also noticed black/grey… 0 5017 |