LED Bulb Thread

I am looking at installing some LED down lights on the front of my house. Due to it being a massive pain in the rear to run a light switch from my loft to my front door i was thinking about just fitting a wifi controller in the loft so I can control them on/off via my phone.

What would be the best way of doing this as I can only seem to find cheapo RGB controllers online.
 
Lisapete said:
Need OCUK's help again, time to do my boys room.

Parts will be

Prysmian 6242Y Twin & Earth Cable 1.5mm
Hager J501
Sylvania Fire Rated Downlight Fixed GU10 Mains Brushed Steel

Warm white is possibly going to be the better option, anyone got advice? If I got bulbs which support dimming it's a case of just fit dimmer switch?

Position, thinking 4 and just dividing the length and width by 3 so they are even spacing all round the room.

Walls will be white

Click to expand...

I'm not very well versed with layout (yet) but surely 4 fixed GU10's are not enough for a room of that size?

In terms of other things you will need, that cable is great value; I've ecently bought 50m of it for wiring spots but it's hard work to strip! make sure you have some decent tools at hand to help you with that.[edited:misread what you listed] Also look into how you are going to junction and make the terminations; I'm using Wago connectors and Wago boxes for mine; they're fool prroff and maintainance free. I've already wired and stripped all of my cables to length and will just be able to push-fit them into place in the confines of the loft without a screwdriver!


srobrien said:
I am looking at installing some LED down lights on the front of my house. Due to it being a massive pain in the rear to run a light switch from my loft to my front door i was thinking about just fitting a wifi controller in the loft so I can control them on/off via my phone.

What would be the best way of doing this as I can only seem to find cheapo RGB controllers online.
Click to expand...

how about a photocell ? http://www.screwfix.com/p/standalone-photocell/11330#product_additional_details_container
not sure how adjustable or anything they are but you would think there would be a trimpot to adjust the bias and then from there it would be completly automated through the seasons
 
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Looking at putting my first down lights in...

I currently have a central rose light that i want to replace with 4x gu10 downlights. The current light has a junction box in the loft then some 2 core flex to the light fitting (no earth 1960s wiring)

From what i've read i'm plan to replace the 2 core flex from the existing junction box with 1.5mm t+e(earth is of no use for now until i get it rewired) and wire it to a J501 junction box that has some 1.5mm to the downlight and another 1.5mm cable to the next junction box?

the downlights are double insulated and dont require an earth

All sound ok or would you use heat resistant flex from the JB to the downlight?
 
Guys I know this is going to ask like a lazy ask but I'm fed up of researching LED bulbs!

I need 8 GU10 dimmable lamps that are comparable to 50w hals. and have a good spread of light so at least 90° but preferably 120°.

I had some in the basket for £80 but just think that's a lot of money!
 
srobrien said:
LEDHUT, 20% off at checkout using the discount code on their homepage.

http://www.ledhut.co.uk/home-page-bestsellers/new-4-5-watt-gu10-led-350-lumens.html
Click to expand...

better still use 'ledrf20' (unless someone has a better better one) it's a better kind of 20%off than the vatfree one.

those bulbs you linked to I can vouch for; i just got 10 yesterday and have tested them on a little bench-testing rig i made. they dim better thn anything I have used before; even 4 bulbs dimmed very well - with 8 you will have no problems.

That was using a varilight V-pro trailing edge dimmer; I was in too much of a hurry to test with an aurora dimmer module, or a regular bog-standard one but I may do that later if I get some time once I order some more.
keeping in mind that a v-pro trailing edge dimmer is not the solution to all dimming problems! it certainly didn't work with any of my other GU10's!
 
srobrien said:
LEDHUT, 20% off at checkout using the discount code on their homepage.

http://www.ledhut.co.uk/home-page-bestsellers/new-4-5-watt-gu10-led-350-lumens.html
Click to expand...

OCT20

This is 20% off over all, just did £220 odd worth for £174 delivered.

R B Customs said:
I'm not very well versed with layout (yet) but surely 4 fixed GU10's are not enough for a room of that size?

In terms of other things you will need, that cable is great value; I've ecently bought 50m of it for wiring spots but it's hard work to strip! make sure you have some decent tools at hand to help you with that.[edited:misread what you listed] Also look into how you are going to junction and make the terminations; I'm using Wago connectors and Wago boxes for mine; they're fool prroff and maintainance free. I've already wired and stripped all of my cables to length and will just be able to push-fit them into place in the confines of the loft without a screwdriver!
Click to expand...

I went ahead and fitted just the 4 and with the day light 4.5w LED http://www.ledhut.co.uk/spot-lights/gu10-led-bulbs/new-4-5-watt-gu10-led-350-lumens.html it's mega bright. Looks clean. I fitted the lights with the cable and then into 1 J501 Hager (Ashley) 17th Edition Junction Box 16A. The original feed that was into the ceiling rose then went in the other end of this box. It was fiddly but I know its safe. Going forward will look into the Wago stuff. Anything more than 4 would bee to much for a room that's 3.1 x 4.1m.

Today I replaced the kitchen units. The holes were big and a mess. I used my largest still to get straight lines. With the help of the boss (her in doors) one end was on the edge of the current hole and a line drawn on the other of the still. Lines then draw ether side of the current hole and the center then measure and marker. The new center hole was 70mm over which gave plenty of space. 6 new holes, 6 new down lights http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lig...+Fire+Rated+Downlight+Fixed+GU10+Mains/p13444 There was daisy chain already fitted with T&E so I use the chock blocks and boxes already present. Just add 8'' of T&E to the light, drop the current cable in the new hole then wire in. Super easy and so much better. As above have order some cool white for the kitchen.

So far have fitted 22 downlights... hallway, upstairs landing, downstairs toilet, boys room and kitchen. All have 4.5w GU10 LED and all are the Sylvania Fire Rated Downlight Fixed GU10 Mains

Now the front room. 6.8 x 3.4 m. Thinking a total of 10 but want to do a nice pattern I think. Any ideas?
 
Lisapete said:
OCT20

This is 20% off over all, just did £220 odd worth for £174 delivered.



I went ahead and fitted just the 4 and with the day light 4.5w LED http://www.ledhut.co.uk/spot-lights/gu10-led-bulbs/new-4-5-watt-gu10-led-350-lumens.html it's mega bright. Looks clean. I fitted the lights with the cable and then into 1 J501 Hager (Ashley) 17th Edition Junction Box 16A. The original feed that was into the ceiling rose then went in the other end of this box. It was fiddly but I know its safe. Going forward will look into the Wago stuff. Anything more than 4 would bee to much for a room that's 3.1 x 4.1m.

Today I replaced the kitchen units. The holes were big and a mess. I used my largest still to get straight lines. With the help of the boss (her in doors) one end was on the edge of the current hole and a line drawn on the other of the still. Lines then draw ether side of the current hole and the center then measure and marker. The new center hole was 70mm over which gave plenty of space. 6 new holes, 6 new down lights http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lig...+Fire+Rated+Downlight+Fixed+GU10+Mains/p13444 There was daisy chain already fitted with T&E so I use the chock blocks and boxes already present. Just add 8'' of T&E to the light, drop the current cable in the new hole then wire in. Super easy and so much better. As above have order some cool white for the kitchen.

So far have fitted 22 downlights... hallway, upstairs landing, downstairs toilet, boys room and kitchen. All have 4.5w GU10 LED and all are the Sylvania Fire Rated Downlight Fixed GU10 Mains

Now the front room. 6.8 x 3.4 m. Thinking a total of 10 but want to do a nice pattern I think. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

ah nice one; and sorry mate, didn't realise you had installed so many!

I guess the light level is personal preference as I've just installed 9 in a room a little smaller than that, but I do intend to dim then; that being said I don't think I'd have installed any less! it's going to make working to finishing this room a joy!

I like the look of those sylvania fittings; very dinky! I've already bought 20 LAP ones from screwfix though which are ok but a little on the tall and lanky side; refelcted in the price at £54 odd for 10

With regards to the Wago stuff it's a little more bulky than it could be but it's so easy to use. The room I've just done involved spending most of the weekend in the loft which is already low-pitch and I was working in the corner. I just pre cut my wires to length and stripped the ends ready, aattatched to the fitting then threaded them through the hole into the loft. all I had to do was push all the pre-stripped ends into Wago connectors and put them in a wago box. simple! I didn't daisy-chain them to avoid crossing the joists where I didn't want to so instead I ganged them in banks of 3 bulbs, then each of those gangs fed into another [wago] junction box, and then eventually into a wagobox set up as a ceiling rose. so 9-to-3-to-1

I don't know if I had a bad batch of 1.5mmT+E or what though; the line and neutral cables were well stuck to the PVC jacket! was a bit of a mare to work with.

this was the layout:
8AuSjCY.png

I put them reasonably close to walls as I knew I'd be going for wide angle bulbs so hot-spots were not a concern and I wanted quite a bit of bounced light from the walls. the gaps are 400mm from the front and back walls, and 510mm from the wall with a window on; spacing between fittings was 925mm one way and 1188mm the other.

here's the result:
kWudGMh.png

Took the switch off last night to put the dimmer in but turns out 'the others' used a 16mm back box :( so there's no way that's gonna fit! it does give me the opportunity to replace the switch cable and install a 2-way nearer the bed anyway.

this pic was taken using a 13amp mains plug with the wires just connected to the end of the line for the spots; just like a bench-test but in the loft!. I later removed the old ceiling rose and I filled it in last night.
 
Had my order arrive today.

The daylight are nice.
Cool white x 6 in the kitchen is mental, love it
Cool white x 2 in the porch light is bright, defo see what i'm doing with keys now
Dimmer switches, rubbish. Buzzing, 1 had blown, cheap and thin
 
I've been documenting a list of the parts. So far have this

Prysmian 6242Y Twin & Earth Cable 1.5mm² x 50m Grey Product Code: 51381
http://www.screwfix.com/p/prysmian-6242y-twin-earth-cable-1-5mm-x-50m-grey/51381

Prysmian 6242Y Twin & Earth Cable 1.5mm² x 100m Grey Product Code: 21221
http://www.screwfix.com/p/prysmian-6242y-twin-earth-cable-1-5mm-x-100m-grey/21221

Sylvania Fire Rated Downlight Fixed GU10 Mains
Product Code: 13444 Brushed Steel
Product Code: 26353 White
Product Code: 91198 Polshed Chrome
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lig...+Fire+Rated+Downlight+Fixed+GU10+Mains/p13444

Click GB400 Insulation Support Box Freestanding Flat Packed
http://www.fastlec.co.uk/click-gb40...standing-flat-packed-p-2253.html#.VFFc1_msXT8

LEDHUT GU10's
http://www.ledhut.co.uk/spot-lights/gu10-led-bulbs.html

20 x CHOC BOX Connection box block inline lighting junction box c/w: connector!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-x-CHOC...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item4ad389174d

I need to look at how best speed, easy, meets regs and neatness to wire them all up.
 
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I just had a look at the trade account with LED HUT

You have to pay £2.99 for delivery
No voucher codes work, they have one on the trade site now GAME10 that's it (£10 off)

https://www.ledhut.co.uk/new-4-5-watt-gu10-led-350-lumens.html

Trade 50 @ £3.62 ex vat Grand Total £220.79 inc vat

Retail 50 @ £5.38 ex vat Grand Total £322.80 inc vat

£102.01 difference aka profit

Not so sure with the offers which side of the site offers the best deal. I think it's trade.
 
DXP55 said:
I have 8 of these lights in kitchen and 4 in bathroom.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Product...Ltj5cnBU_44CRWDxMKyPa5klvnDblAcjKUaAut68P8HAQ

They are 9w Compact reflector GU10 CFL's and I don't really have a problem with them even after 5 yrs - except in winter they take a few minutes to really warm up - Reason is we have a bungalow and they are exposed in roof void so are subject to temp change.

I have read through most of this thread and now think I might try one LED in each room - Well back in this thread Phillips 2w LEDs were prefered over 4 w - is this still case and would the LED be more of a spot than the 108deg CFL's

Thanks

Dave
Click to expand...


Bit of an update here.

Got hold of cheap 5w GU10 and tried it in end lamp - turns out to bright and white - Ordered pack of 5x 2.5w Warm White 120 deg GU10's and put one at each end of kitchen - Just right - they now match CFL's for brightness but unlike them they come on straight away - So still have warm lighting in kitchen and bright enough for all needs without being stark bright white.

Dave
 
Got my £128 order the other day from LED hut, installed most of the bulbs so far, already one GU10 bulb has gone :(
 
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