Cost of low voltage lighting..

[Smada]

Hello - I am,as you will notice new here. I hope that I can get some definitive answers that are clearer than I get on-line and talking to 'those who talk the talk but know little'!

I have given up on trying to correlate teenage girls and their complete lack of understanding why light switches are stuck on walls, so I am looking at ways to counteract this - ie running cost!

Low voltage lighting. I have 23 low voltage lights each with a 50W bulb driven by a a small 220/12V transformer. The transformer has two bits of info: PRI - 230-240Vac 50/60Hz 0.28A, and, SEC: 11.7Vac 20-60W SELV equivalent.

Now, questions please
1. What is the actual draw of current of this array - is it 64.4W (230 x 0.28A) per light, or is it 50W per light?

2. I am looking at replacing these with LED GU10 bulbs. On the box these are marked 3.6W = 35W. Am I right in interpreting this as a 3.6W draw and the equivalent of a 35W incandescent light? - ie if all my lights are on, as they usually are, the total current draw is 82.8W (23 x 3.6) and therefore I can get 12 hours on a Kwh of electricity?

Explanations in plain English are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[telectrix]

you are basically correct. halogen GU10s or Mr16s are 50watts apiece. equivalent LED is 5watts. so a 90% saving on the leccy straight off. here's a link to some good LED GU10s that i use. far cheaper than you get anywhere else.

Pack of 10 MiniSun Branded 5W SMD LED GU10 Spot Light Bulbs 6500K Cool Day White | eBay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351865441048?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

as a rough guide, fitting 10 of these in place of halogens, based on 5 hours lit per day, will save around £100/year in running costs.

 

[The Ghost]

Yer-wot 'e sed

 

[Smada]

Thanks! That is one quick reply!

As I suspected, this conversion is a no-brainer. Your link does not post to France, but I may send them a mail if you recommend them.

I note that all LED bulb suppliers quote thousands of hours life. How seriously can one take their claims? What does one look for in selection - being made in China can not really be a criteria as I am sure the leading brands are also made in China...

 

[Octopus]

So you are running over 1 kw per hour with the halogens but beware dropping to 3.5w leds as they will look very different....

Maybe change a couple first?

 

[Smada]

Good point! I have a new car that has LED headlamps, which are a much colder light, but one that I find much easier to drive with.

I can change maybe ten to start with, but I think the 90% saving will far outweigh any colour difference - anyway, they cannot be any worse than those frightful gas tube things that we had to buy to replace the old fashioned bulbs!

 

[Hellmooth]

Led is far better looking in my opinion, the light given off is as good as any.

 

[Octopus]

Good point! I have a new car that has LED headlamps, which are a much colder light, but one that I find much easier to drive with.

I can change maybe ten to start with, but I think the 90% saving will far outweigh any colour difference - anyway, they cannot be any worse than those frightful gas tube things that we had to buy to replace the old fashioned bulbs!

Matey - you are proposing changing 50W lamps for 3.5w LED's - its not just the colour that may be different, the overall brightness will be much less too.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Due to the low quality of many chinese made LEDS
I would buy some extra's, if you need 10 buy 12.
keep the other two for when some fail
and they will.
But they are normally so cheap a couple of extra's is no big deal.

 

[dmxtothemax]

QUOTE [ you are proposing changing 50W lamps for 3.5w LED's ]
its about 5 to 1
50w incandesant = 10w LED.

 

[telectrix]

more like 8:1. IMO. a 6watt LED is as good as a 50watt halogen. i use a brand called minisun and find 5watt adequate for most applications. and at the price i get them for, can stand the odd failure ( not had one die so far ).

 

[kingeri]

I took a punt on some Aldi 5watt GU10s, think they were 7.99 for a 5 pack, and I must say that so far I am impressed. Good light and none failed yet!

 

[Pat H]

Even with LEDs you can get Cool or warm (cool is bluer, warm is oranger) If you get high enough LED Wattage they give off as much light as halogens but they tend to be more directional.

 

[Smada]

Thanks every one!
I have started a change out - bought some Osrams and ceramic holders, 3.6W 4000k 230lm and the few I have done are perfect. Maybe not as bright as the halogens, but in reality they were too bright anyway. Very happy with the LEDs and am sure the bank manager will be as well!

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Can buy a 100W Osram bulb for about 50p round where I live.
ELV lamps are bit more pricey.