Downlight demo box

HandySparks · Aug 31, 2012

I've been talking to a couple of customers about LED downlights. Since 10 or 12 are quite an investment and they're not commonplace yet, I thought a demo box might help them decide. I've included various lamps for comparison and three LED lamps which differ only in colour temperature as I think that's one of the more difficult choices to be made. I can always change the lights as better ones reach the market.

The lights are as follows:
Top Row, L to R
Typical 50W Halogen GU10
LEDlite LED 4.9W 38deg 4000K GU10
Halolite LED 1.5W GU10 (state of the art about 3 years ago?)

Bottom Row, L to R
LEDlite LED 10.5W 50deg 3000K Warm White
LEDlite LED 10.5W 50deg 4000K Neutral White
LEDlite LED 10.5W 50deg 5000K Daylight

[ElectriciansForums.net] Downlight demo box

Richard Burns · Aug 31, 2012

That looks like a very nice unit, but may be a bit big to carry around to every customer who may want down lights.
Possibly you may want to demonstrate the silly CFL ones as well, but you could always have a few spare lamps.
If you had some way of holding it up to a ceiling to get the idea of light spread it may help, but I think across a room amy be fine.

Overall i think it is a very good idea since it is so difficult to explain the differences in the lamp types to a customer that a demonstration is very useful. I only have a downlight on a plug!

Carnegstar · Aug 31, 2012

Your demo box looks very well made and thought out, I also have a downlight on a plug, and customers will always want to keep it and test it at night time when its darker.

Dont think i would leave this with anyone though, i never get my plug light back!

kingeri · Aug 31, 2012

I really like that box, I'm assuming you made it yourself? I'd do the same but it would probably look crap. How long did it take to knock together?

jumpin jax · Aug 31, 2012

i was thinking of doing the same but with sockets and switches to demonstrate to customers the difference between ****e and good ones, nice light box by the way.

HandySparks · Aug 31, 2012

Richard Burns said:
That looks like a very nice unit, but may be a bit big to carry around to every customer who may want down lights.
Possibly you may want to demonstrate the silly CFL ones as well, but you could always have a few spare lamps.
If you had some way of holding it up to a ceiling to get the idea of light spread it may help, but I think across a room amy be fine.

Overall i think it is a very good idea since it is so difficult to explain the differences in the lamp types to a customer that a demonstration is very useful. I only have a downlight on a plug!

Thanks. It's about 440x350x160mm, so not too bad to carry about. And the shape of the edge above the switches makes it easy to pick up. It's not going to live in the van full time but I'll take it along if I think the subject's going to crop up.

I guess I might buy a CFL GU10 just to show how much better the LED ones are.

HandySparks · Aug 31, 2012

kingeri said:
I really like that box, I'm assuming you made it yourself? I'd do the same but it would probably look crap. How long did it take to knock together?

Yes, made it myself. All the wood was just spare bits from the garage. I do quite a variety of jobs, including some woodwork, so I have a decent set of tools.

It took quite a while, on and off, over a few days to design and draw up. The main thing was allowing enough space for the mounting clips and the LED drivers which hang off the lack of the lights. The woodwork took an evening and fitting it out was an hour or two. Most of the connections are using the lever Wagos, so it's easy to change fittings. The only really hot one, the 50W halogen, is in the corner away from most of the wiring.

Octopus · Sep 1, 2012

Nice. Can I order 1?

HandySparks · Sep 1, 2012

Murdoch said:
Nice. Can I order 1?

Perhaps I'll take orders if things get a bit slack!
Let's see what the customers think of it first.

Most interesting thing for me was being able to directly compare brightness and colour temperature side by side. It makes the standard GU10 halogen look slightly orange, whereas the lowest colour temperature LED is more yellow. Also shows how rubbish the early GU10 LED was.

Oh and also that, currently, if you want the brightest you have to go for an integrated LED light rather than a GU10 LED.

Guitarist · Sep 1, 2012

Great demo mate. I bought one of the early LED units you show a few years ago and ended up binning it. I wrote to Homebase as it was supposed to be a direct and equal replacement for a 50w GU10 and they said that I was the only one to notice a difference!

amlu · Sep 1, 2012

i guess you havent patented the idea yet?
time to visit my shed

Rauer · Sep 2, 2012

What are those Ledlite ones like, have always fitted halers but at that price I am tempted to try them

UNG · Sep 2, 2012

Guitarist said:
Great demo mate. I bought one of the early LED units you show a few years ago and ended up binning it. I wrote to Homebase as it was supposed to be a direct and equal replacement for a 50w GU10 and they said that I was the only one to notice a difference!

Or the only one who complained

UNG · Sep 2, 2012

I think the LED's are going to evolve over the next few years and become common place the big issue is the expected lamp life and the reality which is going to take quite a few years to prove

HandySparks · Sep 2, 2012

Rauer said:
What are those Ledlite ones like, have always fitted halers but at that price I am tempted to try them

Comparing specs, the LEDlite appear to be better than the Halers, but I've no experience with the Halers, so I've no direct comparison. I liked the price and available options of the LEDlite (bezels and lenses).

Downlight demo box

HandySparks

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Richard Burns

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Carnegstar

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kingeri

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jumpin jax

HandySparks

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HandySparks

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Octopus

HandySparks

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Guitarist

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amlu

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Rauer

UNG

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UNG

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HandySparks

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