Downlights and the different varieties..

[HappyHippyDad]

I was with a customer today discussing installing new downlights.

I can't quite see the point in installing the really expensive ones as opposed to the cheaper ones. I don't mean the silly cheap ones on ebay that will just fall apart, but for example...

Lap fixed LED from screwfix £7 approx (good reviews and feel like good quality) compared to JCC, robus, enlite etc etc £15-20?

Also, do you guys prefer integrated LED downlights or ones that you can change the bulb? Again, I struggle with the concept of integrated as you have to change the whole downlight when they go. Are they supposed to have a longer life expectancy? A quality LED lamp is supposed to have about 15 years life expectancy so why not just fit a downlight with a quality changeable LED lamp as opposed to an integrated unit?

 

[123]

It's horses for courses I guess, personally I find GU10s and other low cost integrated fittings to be ugly and I'm pretty sure my customers wouldnt accept them either.

Got any images of the ones you use?

A google of eco600 doesn't look too great...
View attachment 48195

 

[Rpa07]

A really good quality dimmable GU10, that you don’t want to go back to because of failure, and the purchase of a can is going to cost you upward of £13 anyway so put in a bit more and invest in quality.
I had to kit out a kitchen with customer supplied accessories, half was Lap and the other half cheap Knightsbridge - I’ve never murmured under my breath as much - felt dirty!

 

[davesparks]

Got any images of the ones you use?

A google of eco600 doesn't look too great...
View attachment 48195

The 600 range is here:
http://ecostar.photonstarlighting.co.uk/products/Eco600+ Range - NEW FOR 2017

If I remember I'll take some pictures of them fitted tomorrow when I'm on site.

 

[DC-backfrom the past]

I tend to use enlite with the replaceable Led bulbs gu10s.
I offer the integrated lights as an option and explain they are disposable. customers always plump for ….
"the lights , we change the bulbs ourselves "

always find the customer doesn't want to pay for a new light and the labour on top after 3 years ...as we all know all the lights wont go at the same time ...so 6 lights to replace +labour can be a fortune.
6 bulbs is approx. £10 all in ..no comparison really

 

[Midwest]

If I had GU10 laps going after 3 years, I would be changing my make and or source. They should last years, same as integrated ones, so thats not an argument really IMO.

 

[Rocky1964]

I always use the Enlight EFD Pro. They have interchangeable bezels, are insulation coverable and available in standard, tiltable and IP65. Tool-less installation (loop in/loop out) and are very reasonably priced. I try not to use anything else. It also gives the customer to change their mind about the colour of light they prefer (without having to change the entire fitting).

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

I was a committed JCC user until they pulled the plug on the FG range; I’ve had no end of LED6 models either stop working altogether or start flickering.
To begin with JCC were happy to reimburse me for my time installing fittings replaced under warranty, giving me additional stock, not cash. Suited me. All of a sudden they declined to do so and I’m left with my customers having to foot the bill or fit them for gratis.
I’ve gone over to KSR. No issues so far.

 

[jcs8215248]

I always use the Enlight EFD Pro. They have interchangeable bezels, are insulation coverable and available in standard, tiltable and IP65. Tool-less installation (loop in/loop out) and are very reasonably priced. I try not to use anything else. It also gives the customer to change their mind about the colour of light they prefer (without having to change the entire fitting).

I specified (and obtained for the installer) Enlight fittings with exchangeable bezels for a kitchen refit. The removable bezels made painting the newly skimmed ceiling very fast.

Unfortunately the decorator replaced the bezels before the paint was dry (less than 5 minutes after painting). Paint turns out to be a very effective glue! I managed to free up all but one (out of 20). The decorator had to come back and remove the fitting from the ceiling, repair the ceiling, and patch the paint.

I do like, and recommend, them assuming that you have a competent decorator. They are easy for redecoration as long as you do not rush to put them back too soon!

 

[davesparks]

I tend to use enlite with the replaceable Led bulbs gu10s.
I offer the integrated lights as an option and explain they are disposable. customers always plump for ….
"the lights , we change the bulbs ourselves "

always find the customer doesn't want to pay for a new light and the labour on top after 3 years ...as we all know all the lights wont go at the same time ...so 6 lights to replace +labour can be a fortune.
6 bulbs is approx. £10 all in ..no comparison really

If you are telling the customer that they only last 3 years I'm not surprised they don't want them, if you told the truth about their rated lifetime and the length of warranty of good quality fittings you might find a different outcome.

 

[Toneyz]

With these JCC fittings was it the driver that failed? could it be replaced? we fit a lot of top end commercial fittings and a lot of them are well over £100 and only give a year warranty from delivery (it can be a further 2 months till the occupier moves in) with the fast-changing availability of fittings makes you wonder what will happen in a few years time.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

With these JCC fittings was it the driver that failed? could it be replaced? we fit a lot of top end commercial fittings and a lot of them are well over £100 and only give a year warranty from delivery (it can be a further 2 months till the occupier moves in) with the fast-changing availability of fittings makes you wonder what will happen in a few years time.

Not always the driver, no. The LED6 has 6 1watt (ish) leds on the pcb that is the light source. On some that have failed the leds have gradually failed one by one; when they get down to 3 the driver, not being dimmable, begins to carp out and causes them to flicker. Eventually they give out, not before inducing seizures in the poor occupants...

 

[coolsparx]

It took me a while to move away from GU10 in a can, for the cost & availability in years to come. I settled for the Collingwood H2 Pro, which I’ve been fitting for about 3 years now. I have to say they are brilliant & I think I’ve had only 1 failure. They have a 7 year warranty & the price from my local CEF is very competitive.

I have a few customers who have had previous sparks fit JCC’s, they are complete c**p by comparison & are failing fast! 1 unlucky customer has well over a hundred of them in their new house, with no warranty due to builder issues.

 

[Toneyz]

It took me a while to move away from GU10 in a can, for the cost & availability in years to come. I settled for the Collingwood H2 Pro, which I’ve been fitting for about 3 years now. I have to say they are brilliant & I think I’ve had only 1 failure. They have a 7 year warranty & the price from my local CEF is very competitive.

I have a few customers who have had previous sparks fit JCC’s, they are complete c**p by comparison & are failing fast! 1 unlucky customer has well over a hundred of them in their new house, with no warranty due to builder issues.

By what I read on here it seems very disappointing for JCC I know a few years ago they had a problem with these fittings and I thought that they had resolved this as for the customer with over 100 fittings what has JCC said about it word gets around regarding poor products just by reading experiences from valued members on the forum has put me off buying them. This may be why like Sparkychick I have stuck to GU10 in a can.

 

[coolsparx]

By what I read on here it seems very disappointing for JCC I know a few years ago they had a problem with these fittings and I thought that they had resolved this as for the customer with over 100 fittings what has JCC said about it word gets around regarding poor products just by reading experiences from valued members on the forum has put me off buying them. This may be why like Sparkychick I have stuck to GU10 in a can.

JCC have said they will honour the warranty direct to the customer if the customer writes to them with some kind of proof of purchase or installation date, however because of a fallout with the builder & not knowing who the electrical contractor was, they have nothing in writting. I managed to purchase a couple of chrome ones for them (1 for replacement & 1 for a spare) but I could not locate any white ones which are the majority of their fittings. JCC are holding any remaining stock for warranty replacements only.

 

[Toneyz]

JCC have said they will honour the warranty direct to the customer if the customer writes to them with some kind of proof of purchase or installation date, however because of a fallout with the builder & not knowing who the electrical contractor was, they have nothing in writting. I managed to purchase a couple of chrome ones for them (1 for replacement & 1 for a spare) but I could not locate any white ones which are the majority of their fittings. JCC are holding any remaining stock for warranty replacements only.

I thought a lot of these manufacturers had stickers in them with batch numbers etc.