Low energy downlighting choice

[Amp David]

Up to now haven't fitted many CFL or LED downlights, but have been asked to quote for a job in which the customer has actually asked for non halogen downlighters.

Can any of you guys who suggest some types to go for. Customer not to bothered whether they are LED or CFL. Had a quick look at the standard replacement low energy GU10 lamps, but they mostly seem to long for the fittings.

Cheers

 

[Adam W]

CFL lamps offer a very wide beam angle (about 53°) which will light rooms with lower ceilings better. LED lamps are the same size as halogen so can be used in the same fittings. They come in 'white' (which is quite a stark blueish light) and 'warm white' which is a similar colour to halogen.
Personally I would go for LED because I prefer the light output, there are less apparent health implications, wider choice of lamps and I envisage the technology to dim them being more reliable. In short, LEDs are the future.

 

[telectrix]

try diamondled.co.uk. i'd go for the 3watt LED at £8 each + vat. but go for the warm white, not cool white, as i think the latter are too harsh. another altenative is kosnic.

 

[Amp David]

My local whosaler has Diamond lamps in stock, but wondered id the 3 watt would give enough light.

 

[telectrix]

we have a 12ft x 7ft kitchen with 6 of the 3watt fitted. it's more than adequate. the 3 watt give similar light output to 35/50 watt GU10 halogens. by using GU 10 fit LEDs you have no problems with drivers, and i'm pretty sure they are dimmable with a suitable dimmer.

 

[Amp David]

we have a 12ft x 7ft kitchen with 6 of the 3watt fitted. it's more than adequate. the 3 watt give similar light output to 35/50 watt GU10 halogens. by using GU 10 fit LEDs you have no problems with drivers, and i'm pretty sure they are dimmable with a suitable dimmer.

Thats good to know. The room i'm lookinkg at is 9ft x 12ft with a ceiling height of 7 ft and was looking at putting 6 in

 

[telectrix]

should be spot on at that. try and miss the joists, LOL>

 

[Amp David]

New ceiling going in fortunately

 

[telectrix]

and don't forget. the downlights go in shiny side down.

 

[Adam W]

7ft isn't that high - with a 38° beam angle you'd be looking at a beam diameter of around 5.2' on the floor, so with 6 you'd have dark patches on the floor and as you walk around the room you'd just get the occasional moment where the room goes dark because you're standing directly under one of the lights, and it looks like you're being 'beamed up'.

With that in mind I reckon you'd be better off with CFL, purely for the wider angle, although you'd probably still need under cabinet lights.
... Unless the 'spots on the floor' effect is what you're looking for.

 

[Amp David]

Why do you mention under cabinet lights, they aint no cabinets in the room

What about with an angle of 60 degrees? This will be better surely

 

[telectrix]

or paint the floor white to get the reflected light effect

 

[Amp David]

Might get the painter in from the other thread, don't like painting!

 

[nickblake]

down lighter i use are the haler evo LED great little fittings installed about 30 now never a problem IP65 rated good light output and have a manufacturers warrenty of 7 years so its fit and forget no lamps to replace , they cost about £35.00 + VAT DL/SIL/F/WW EvoLED - Warm White WW

 

[Adam W]

Why do you mention under cabinet lights, they aint no cabinets in the room

What about with an angle of 60 degrees? This will be better surely

For some reason I assumed they were going in a kitchen
Yeah 60° would be better, especially if you can get LEDs with that angle.
IMO the only benefit of CFL is that I thought they had a wider angle.