Am I wrong to install 28 downlights?

[mylocalplumber]

Hello sparkys,

I just bought the hbouse to raise the family and doing alot of the work myself. Before you start, I wouldnt dare mess around with the electrics apart from maybe running some cable to save costs for sparky.

Know I had planned to to install downlights in living room and kitchen which is open planned (now I've knocked the wall down.)

I just assumed downlights were the fancy, good looking way to go and have always liked the look.

Now I'm hearing otherwise so..please..can you convince me not to go for them.

I am buying 50w Aurora lights..and was planning to have 20 of these lights off a 400w 3 point dimmer - thats not gonna happen is it?


Now all these lights will be adjustable so that solves the shadow/beam problem doesnt it?

Lastly - should I get sepereate transformers for each light or can I run a few off one transformer?

Gonna talk to my sparks next week but I'm just impatient.

Know I've asked some silly questions but go easy on me eh?

 

[mogga]

thats a bit of a massive comment Pendants are the way forward isnt whats being said Lighting is a very personal issue as it can enhance the ambiance of a room and different lighting can create different effects its all down to personal preferance and use of areas
Kitchens require a more direct light when in use BUT as yours seems by description to be visable then a nice glow under worktop LED set would look fantastic same about the dining area nice and romantic some nights bright when being used for doing the paperwork of jigsaw
Dont make a descision after asking a forum where
1 you dont know anyone
2 noone has seen your job
3 there isnt a complaints box for taking advice ( be it good or bad ) from a bunch of nutters sat by their P.C.s
4 would you be happy telling the MRS "the forum I just joined and asked about lighting said XXXXXXXX" ? Cos I know exactly where my wife would shove my means of access to said forum

Take the mrs out to look round some of the new show homes do it around 3 -4 pm then have a look at the way they are lit ( I mean the BIG POSH ones) you may find insperation there

 

[Octopus]

Don't forget the lights in the kitchen come under part P.

Best get your sparky round (if he exists) and talk through the options. You say you've taken the lathe and plaster ceiling down - is it still down or have you put a new ceiling up?

 

[Adam W]

I agree with mogga - it's too simplistic to say a certain kind of fitting is 'right' and another is 'wrong' without considering what effect you're trying to achieve, size shape and usage of each room, style of decor, budget etc.

 

[mylocalplumber]

Hi,

Thanks again for responses especially yours mogga,

The ceilings are still down so makes it easier to fit downlights.

My Mrs is happy with pendants but shes never fussed with anything! lucky me eh?

Anyway, Ive made a decision. The living room will have a pendant light and two uplighters between fire place.

Then 240v downlights in dining and kitchen. two uplighters in dining area between old blocked up fireplace.

Then a 3.5m of led strips behind a vertical rad for effect.

The living room will have a 3 gang dimmer for pendant and uplighters

The dining area will have a 600w 1 gang dimmer (for 9x50w halogens) and 1 gang 600w dimmer for kithchen (6x50w halogens) and led strips.

Now the spark I have is going to run cable and test terminlas but I will be fitting lights, socket covers and switches.

I'm happy with him but he seems to agree with everything I say which is why im on here.

I dont take anyones, who I dont know, advice as gospel but I like to get an overall feel of whats going on. Ive worked bloomin hard for this house so excuse me if i sound a bit OTT

Cheers

 

[telectrix]

600w 1 gang dimmer (for 9x50w halogens. ​i'd go for a 1000w dimmer here.

 

[GaryM]

go down the GU10 SMD led route the new ones(they look like little flat squares with yellow dots when you look at the lamp and are very bright) bit expensive to start with but it they get left on by the family at least they wont eat the elec.

They can be had for £5.50 to £6.00 off eBay and are very impressive.
I find they have a much wider spread of light than a standard GU10 50W halogen and as such there's no pools of light on the floor under each downlight.

 

[mylocalplumber]

Hi Guys,

Just one quick question,

If I decide to go for 240v GU10s instead of LV what watt switch would be sufficient for 9 lights? I would love to couple the kitchen lights (6 halogens 50w) with dining area (9x50w) onto a 2 gang dimmer switch - any chance of doing this?

Thanks in advance

 

[GaryM]

240v is low voltage!
Your'e thinking of 12v and that's Extra Low Voltage.

 

[stuart569]

A 900 OR 1000 watt 2 gang dimmer would suffice

 

[telectrix]

Hi Guys,

Just one quick question,

If I decide to go for 240v GU10s instead of LV what watt switch would be sufficient for 9 lights? I would love to couple the kitchen lights (6 halogens 50w) with dining area (9x50w) onto a 2 gang dimmer switch - any chance of doing this?

Thanks in advance

for the 9 you need a 1000w dimmer. for the 6, a 700w dimmer will suffice. may as well get a 2 gang x 1000w.