How can I make downlighters ‘warmer’

[telectrix]

can easily get them warmer. light a candle under them. .

 

[ElBelle]

I have some rolls of 1/4 and 1/2 CTO orange gel - if you're happy to PM me your address, I'd be happy to send a couple of small pieces for you to experiment with and see if it gives the effect you're after. I also have some ND which reduces the light output without changing colour, I can send a piece of that too.

As others have said, ultimately you will be better off with new fittings/lamps. Perhaps you could sell the originals to help offset the cost?

Edit:

If you're after a warm, cosy feel, perhaps some table lamps around the room might be the best option - save those down lights for when you're doing something that needs bright lighting!

That would be amazing if you don’t mind?

Even if I can manage to show my husband what they would look like warmer.... i might have a better chance of convincing him to change them up?!

On some areas they are OK, they are just too bright for me..... maybe iv had dingy lights got too long!

I am also busy buying lamps and thankfully opted for pendants as well on the landing and living room so can tone those down.

When they are all on and up bright I feel like I’m in the supermarket

I will send the address - thanks so much!

 

[ElBelle]

I have some rolls of 1/4 and 1/2 CTO orange gel - if you're happy to PM me your address, I'd be happy to send a couple of small pieces for you to experiment with and see if it gives the effect you're after. I also have some ND which reduces the light output without changing colour, I can send a piece of that too.

As others have said, ultimately you will be better off with new fittings/lamps. Perhaps you could sell the originals to help offset the cost?

Edit:

If you're after a warm, cosy feel, perhaps some table lamps around the room might be the best option - save those down lights for when you're doing something that needs bright lighting!

That would be amazing if you don’t mind?

Even if I can manage to show my husband what they would look like warmer.... i might have a better chance of convincing him to change them up?!

In some areas they are OK, they are just too bright for me..... maybe iv had dingy lights for too long and grown used to them?!

I am also busy buying lamps and thankfully opted for pendants as well on the landing and living room so can tone those down.

When they are all on and up bright I feel like I’m in the supermarket!!

I will send the address - thanks so much!

 

[Blissof89]

And what happens when they go out for a normal person? Pay a spark to change the whole fitting or change a lamp for 2 quid?

That's hoping the particular down light you installed even still being manufactured.

GU10 LED's every time for me

 

[Midwest]

And what happens when they go out for a normal person? Pay a spark to change the whole fitting or change a lamp for 2 quid?

Most LED lamps integrated or otherwise, have an extremely long life span. I fitted some GU10's in my old house a good few years ago. Still going strong. I would expect a good quality LED lamp in a domestic environment to last nearly 10 years, give or take.

 

[davesparks]

And what happens when they go out for a normal person? Pay a spark to change the whole fitting or change a lamp for 2 quid?

The fittings I use come pre fitted with a plug similar to the cluck flow connector, so the normal person can simply unplug the old fitting and plug in the new

 

[MJPD29]

The fittings I use come pre fitted with a plug similar to the cluck flow connector, so the normal person can simply unplug the old fitting and plug in the new

Would you say that is easier or harder than replacing a gu10? And which costs more? And will the fitting be manufactured when it comes to replacing it? I'm afraid I can't be convinced

 

[Midwest]

Would you say that is easier or harder than replacing a gu10? And which costs more? And will the fitting be manufactured when it comes to replacing it? I'm afraid I can't be convinced

Ask the question in ten years time, when the lamp still working.

 

[telectrix]

The fittings I use come pre fitted with a plug similar to the cluck flow connector, so the normal person can simply unplug the old fitting and plug in the new

is this relating to the motorised chicken shed?

 

[MJPD29]

If I remember I will! Meanwhile I'm sticking with good old gu10s

Ask the question in ten years time, when the lamp still working.

 

[Blissof89]

Customer never seems to impressed when you tell them the lamps cannot be changed in my experience, feels like a bit of a job creation scheme. We were fitting fully integrated for a while but after a few problems we have shyed away from them.

I have read before though that the LED's they use for GU10's are often the seconds deemed not good enough for the COB LED's. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

 

[Midwest]

In the past the pesky old halogens could replaced with something else, 'cos they only lasted for a very short life span. With LED's, your saddle with something for years. No pleasing some.

 

[Nebu1a]

Ask you electrician if they are dimmable units.

 

[alasdairp]

That would be amazing if you don’t mind?

Even if I can manage to show my husband what they would look like warmer.... i might have a better chance of convincing him to change them up?!

In some areas they are OK, they are just too bright for me..... maybe iv had dingy lights for too long and grown used to them?!

I am also busy buying lamps and thankfully opted for pendants as well on the landing and living room so can tone those down.

When they are all on and up bright I feel like I’m in the supermarket!!

I will send the address - thanks so much!

You are quite right to not like too much bright lighting.

Lighting in the evening should be warm white (or even yellow-orange biased). That is why you can now get free software for PC screens and Smart Phones that remove the blue content of light at night. Any bright-white or blue light at night (even very little!) stops your pineal gland producing melatonin that night. Melatonin is a critical endogenous (natural in humans, animals and plants) strong anti-cancer agent. Bright white (full spectrum) light in the morning is good as it properly triggers your circadian rhythm and again reduces your risk of developing cancer. 1 in 2 people now develop a cancer during their lives. Bright light at night is undoubtedly one of the driving factors.

I have been known to almost scream when visiting houses where they are brightly floodlit (often with very cool white 6000K light) by multiple downlighters in their kitchen, bathroom and increasingly ogten their living-room / lounge. Quite unecessary and not good for their health. Also usually unpleasant. A similar thing has been happening with street lights and there are now recommendations not to use luminaires above about 4000K.

So, use the bright lights in the morning and during the day (if needed) and use warm-coloured and not-too bright floor and table lamps in the evening at at night. 3500K max colour temperature, preferably lower (say 2800K).

There are masses of scientific and medical documents about this. I am a Trustee of Children with Cancer UK and I spend a lot of time on researching the various causes of cancer.

 

[telectrix]

^^^^^. interested reading, if true. however, natural daylight is 6000K, i can't see any link between that and cancer ( except for the UV end of the spectrum has been proven to cause skin cancer with over-exposure to bright sunlight). as a matter of course, i fit integrated LED units with adjustable colour temp. flick of a dip switch and it changes from 2700K to 4000K to 6000k. also dimmable so customer has options of both colour and light levels