LED Bulb query

Hi,

Not sure if anyone can help but I have a bulb/lighting query. I've noticed my parents in law still have halogen bulbs on the main light in the kitchen. I was thinking of being helpful and swapping these for LED (warm white). I have attached an image of the current bulb but I presume I'd use a gu5.3 type bulb?. Also what wattage would people recommend. The current light has 4 bulbs.

Many thanks in advance.

It may not be as simple as swapping the bulb from halogen to LED.
This is because the halogen bulb is powered by a 12 volt transformer above the ceiling, whereas LED bulbs may require a driver in place of the transformer, or you may get undesirable results, for example flickering.
I would normally recommend changing the whole fittings to GU10 downlights, which do away with the transformer, as the bulbs run from 230 volts, not 12 volts.

loz2754 said:

It may not be as simple as swapping the bulb from halogen to LED.
This is because the halogen bulb is powered by a 12 volt transformer above the ceiling, whereas LED bulbs may require a driver in place of the transformer, or you may get undesirable results, for example flickering.
I would normally recommend changing the whole fittings to GU10 downlights, which do away with the transformer, as the bulbs run from 230 volts, not 12 volts.

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Thanks the reply. I probably should've mentioned the lights are not individual ceiling down lights but built into a lamp.
Very similar to the image attached image. Not sure if this makes a difference?

Thanks again

Ok thanks.
Yes the same principle applies. There will be a 12 volt transformer built into the base of the light fitting. Best to change the whole light fitting in that case.

I would recommend between 4 and 5 watt LED GU10s.

loz2754 said:

Ok thanks.
Yes the same principle applies. There will be a 12 volt transformer built into the base of the light fitting. Best to change the whole light fitting in that case.

I would recommend between 4 and 5 watt LED GU10s.

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Hi, many thanks for the advice ,?

LED's are a real pain, with 12 volt you have AC, and DC versions, it is likely those marked 50 Hz will still work with DC, but may not, and DC versions often with a 10 - 30 volt range will not work with AC. There are transformers, electronic transformers and drivers, the latter is divided into true drivers with current regulations and really 12 volt power supplies where voltage is regulated. The transformer is 50 Hz output and does not have a lower limit, an electronic transformer output is in kHz range and often has a lower limit often 20 - 50 VA so a LED under 20 watt will not work.

Less of a problem as you move from extra low voltage to low voltage, but even then some need load capacitors to stop it flashing when switched off and some have it built into the bulb package this pair are both G9 but the smaller one needs the load capacitor and tends to flicker but the standard covers will still fit, the other has the leakage resistor built in, and also a smoothing capacitor built in, but is that much larger the covers will not fit, but no flashing or flicker.

The big problem is there is nothing in the adverts or on the packaging to tell you which is which, so I have a draw full of good bulbs which for one reason or another were not suitable and so not used, and the LED lasts so long, not sure what I am going to do with them all, in some cases simply swapped from standard to smart bulbs so nothing really wrong with old bulb.

Four bulbs in my bedroom, one standard, and three smart, the latter came with the lamp fitting used in my wife's craft room, that also had a remote control which is used in her bedroom, all Lidi specials.

It is OK doing it for yourself, but doing it for others what do you do with the bulbs if it does not work? Last house fitted new chandelier in living room, originally two 100 watt tungsten bulbs, so fitted 10 compact fluorescent at 8 watt each, Philips, did not even last 18 months, so swapped for 10 x 3 watt LED too dim to read with, so fitted them into mother house with smaller living room, and went for 5 watt LED, so much for LED saving as went from 200 watt to 50 watt, that's not what the charts say the equivalent is.

This house one 100 watt tungsten to 8 x 6 watt LED, so 48 watt, again not with the charts show.

The main problem is the tungsten shone in all directions, but the LED is far more directional, so pointing down floor will absorb the light, and up the ceiling will (if white) reflect the light, so bulb point up and down makes a huge difference. I like LED for low maintenance but for selection they are a pain, found my daughter has head ache with main living room lights, with have to use just the decoration lights when she visits, likely they flash at 100 Hz no smoothing capacitor.

best option is to replace the whole fitting with 1 that uses GU10s. the current transformer is in the round base and they are very unreliable. replacement is about £60 if it fails.

Just to add my tuppence worth, I recently posted about changing my living room light fittings. I now have 2 fittings with 3 spots each. They came from Argos and are surprisingly well-made. Anyway, I decided to try a different beam-angle, the usual being about 36 or 38 degress, i think. I got some 100 degree ones and frankly they are excellent, avoiding the "shadowing" effect very well.

pirate said:

Just to add my tuppence worth, I recently posted about changing my living room light fittings. I now have 2 fittings with 3 spots each. They came from Argos and are surprisingly well-made. Anyway, I decided to try a different beam-angle, the usual being about 36 or 38 degress, i think. I got some 100 degree ones and frankly they are excellent, avoiding the "shadowing" effect very well.

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Wider angle GU10s are very useful, but not widely available. Easy to find on ebay, but not from more reputable manufacturers.

I got mine from B&Q...yes, I know..the shame! You have to read the labels VERY carefully, and spot the price difference too, otherwise you will get something you didn't want, especially as the boxes end up on all different shelves etc.

and the tiny "dimmable" logo is often overlooked...but honestly, who bothers dimming these days? What a faff!

if you need to dim lights then you've bought some too bright ones, or dimming might be necessary first thing in the morning when you see what you picked up last night. after 10 pints. remember, a 10 pinter at 2.00 a.m. degrades to a sobering experience at 7.00 a.m.

telectrix said:

if you need to dim lights then you've bought some too bright ones, or dimming might be necessary first thing in the morning when you see what you picked up last night. after 10 pints. remember, a 10 pinter at 2.00 a.m. degrades to a sobering experience at 7.00 a.m.

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Indeed. I've never been to bed with an ugly woman. But I've woken up with a few ?

DPG said:

Indeed. I've never been to bed with an ugly woman. But I've woken up with a few ?

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You're talking to someone from Scousland.........they have no sheep but are renowned for using their imagination...?

us Scousers are renowned for pulling the best totty around. the ropoey ones end up in the Mersey.