Replacing G5.3 halagon lights with LED

[linuxthefish]

I have a kitchen with 8 50w halagon bulbs, and would like to replace them with LED's. The transformer in the ceiling is laminated, not one of the modern ones.

What type of LED bulbs do I need, and is there anything else that needs installing in the ceiling like some sort of driver? :/

 

[Richard Burns]

Remove the transformer so that you have 230V at each fitting and install replacement lamp holders for GU10 lamps and then fit 230V LED lamps. Saves the cost of expensive drivers and means that you only have to replace the lamp in the case of a fault.

 

[telectrix]

as above. convert to 240V LEDs. just done a kitchen for a client. anyone want 10 transformers cheap?

 

[linuxthefish]

Getting into the ceiling would be very hard, I'm not on the best of terms with the people above. I've heard that a driver is not needed if it's an old type laminated transformer?

 

[Aderac]

Don't go for LV LED lamps, nothing but trouble, stick to 230v if you can

 

[Richard Burns]

Getting into the ceiling would be very hard, I'm not on the best of terms with the people above. I've heard that a driver is not needed if it's an old type laminated transformer?

If you know it is a laminated transformer, I assume you can get to it to know this?
Usually (depending on who wired it!) you can access the transformer through the closest downlight hole (if they are downlights) though a 500W wire wound would probably be too big to fit through the hole.

Anyway if you want to retain a wire wound transformer then it will be able to provide the voltage at the lower level of loading from the LEDs, however they do not provide the control of the current that LEDs need.
If you fit LED lamps with the existing transformer then they will work but will probably burn out over time, certainly they will have a lower life than with a driver.

For LED types do not use cluster lamps, use SMD or 3/4/5 x 1W LEDS or COB if you can get them, you would want a light output of at least 300lm preferably 400lm+ to get near 50W replacement levels.