Some decent but not overly expensive LED Downlights (chrome/some sort of metal)

DJMK4

DJMK4

DJMK4

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Hi all,

I am looking to replace slowly the lighting in the houses, at the moment I have quite large LED downlights which come through the loft ceiling in to the bedrooms and bathroom, and then the same on the ground floor

The ones in the loft will be better to replace first, as I probably wont do the ground floor ones until I lay new carpet upstairs.

The ones I have at the moment, they are quite large if you think of the length of them so they poke up quite abit, and they have white surrounds.

I am looking to change them to some sort of chrome or other metal surrounding and want to reduce the length so they dont poke up too much.

Anyone reccomend anything thats going to be decent but not break the bank?

I have 4 in each bedroom, 4 in the bathroom to start with, have been looking round the forrest.
 
Stick with the white surrounds assuming you have white ceilings why would you want to make a feature of your downlights?

As for what to buy I wouldn't hesitate to recomend hallers h5 pro's they give out a nice light, dim really well and have inter changeable bezels. Not super cheap but they should last a long time!
 
I have fitted a loads of the Hallers H2 pros (a bit cheaper the H5's) and I'm really pleased with them. 2 years in and no problems with them.

Dave
 
Do these need to fit specific diameter holes or can they be any downlights?

Integrated ones looked like a better option when I bought them, they had a 7 year warranty, wider beam angle any GU10's available and they looked nicer. Plus they were double insulated and could replace my old 12 volt MR16 lights which only had 2 core wiring in the ceiling without me needing to run loads more twin and earth which the GU10 fittings I was looking at would have needed.

Dave
 
SupraWez said:
Why buy fixed LED downlights over normal GU10 downlight fittings and using GU10 LED bulbs?
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They don't have to be fixed, but there's a few reasons.
IP rated, so suitable for use in the bathroom.
Fire rated, so don't need hoods to maintain ceiling fire resistance.
Better cooling. GU10 LED bulbs are a compromise, they're limited by having to fit into the space of a GU10 bulb where as a dedicated LED lamp unit can have bigger heatsinks with better cooling. This results in lower operating temperatures, longer service life.
Sealed units can (mostly) have loft insulation right up to them rather than having to leave gaps as per GU10 fittings.
 
IMG_20180731_194114.jpg
Hi all .bit of a bump. Had the plasterer in to scrape artex, PVA and plaster over. Miscoated the ceiling and the 2 finishing coats being done tomorrow. I'm now looking at the lighting

I want to change these. But use the existing wiring if that works.

Here are the lights I have at the moment.

Led and metal/chrome would be good? Is it worth keeping them IP20 or different . I know not a lot about lights, I want to use a dimmer also and have been told I need to find an LED compatible dimmer

I'm looking for chrome/metal surrounding and cool white LED which is dimmable





IMG_20180731_194114.jpg

IMG_20180731_194114.jpg
 
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Existing fittings are gu10 but look like they have seen better days - you could just buy whatever fitting you like the look of from screwfix that use the same or little smaller cutout diameter and just swap them over, put dimmable led gu10s in and change to an led dimmer, varilight vpro etc

Or you could use led fittings, which would probably give a bit better performance but would cost a bit more and need the whole fitting changed if they fail or to change colour temp etc in future

i would go for option 1

what colour temp are you looking for? enlite ice/ice+ series are great and come in 3000/4000/6500
 
Think option 1 sounds good.

GU10 I'll have to check IP rating, dimmable cool white / ice white bulbs and will check out varilight and others

Will have a look around over next few days, no idea on colour temps I don't know much about it so will research over next day or so

Thanks
 
DJMK4 said:
Think option 1 sounds good.

GU10 I'll have to check IP rating, dimmable cool white / ice white bulbs and will check out varilight and others

Will have a look around over next few days, no idea on colour temps I don't know much about it so will research over next day or so

Thanks
Click to expand...

Google lighting color temp on image search, 2700-3000 is orange to yellow, 3500 soft white / yellow - 4000 is much whiter than halogen, but still yellow tinge, around 5000k pure white, 6000+ blue tinge white
 
I would try middle ground first as they seem to feel colder even though rated to similar K (compared to Halogen)

Personally I would change to fire rated. They tend to have a hood covering the bulb, and also a heat ring that reacts to temperature and bonds the gap if they ever get bonkers hot (ie like in a fire) so they stop the fire getting directly into the void for longer.
 
DJMK4 said:
Cheers will take a look. Deffo higher up. I don't want yellow but much more of a purer white
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I have done my whole house in 5000k, its harder to get bulbs and fittings in 5000k seems 4000k and 6500k are most popular

I think it looks good, with white walls it just looks clean, bright and neutral, no yellow or blue tint

Had a few comments of its a bit stark or clinical rather than warm and homely but i like it.

Smart bulbs would be ideal, so you could change warm/cool white or any colour but are too expensive at the moment, maybe in a few years
 
Hi all. Just a thread revival as going to be sorting this In next few days

So buy the downlights but change to LED dimmable bulbs? Maybe 4000k or 5000k? I want a nice ice white led bulb.


Is it worth getting fireproof ones ? Iv seen.them in Screwfix for not much more maybe £6-11 each, or shall I just go for standard ones in downstairs living room


Any particular brand that's will look good polished metal and not break the bank. Screwfix or bnq
 
DJMK4 said:
Purchased these but turns out it's non dimmable.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-fixed-fire-rated-downlight-polished-chrome-230-240v/1643v

Heard that if you stick Dimmable bulbs in it may not work and you may get buzzing ? Trying to find an equivalent lap ip20 fire rated one that's dimable
Click to expand...

Those will be fine - they are just empty gu10 fittings - just hold the bulb they don't effect its function at all

Decent dimmable bulbs with a decent dimmer is the important part

varilight vpro dimmers are good pair those with decent led gu10s and will be all good

Enline ice / ice+ bulbs are good
 
Ta. Will give it a go.

These are going in the living room.downstairs and above the ceiling in living room I can't see any felt or insulation. Is it still worth doing fire rated? There should be enough depth But They are slightly too big diameter wise so may need to try and make.the hole bigger without damaging the ceiling as the ones I have fitted currently are non fire rated ones and have a smaller diameter



It was the question around them being dimmable. As apparently these lap ones I purchased are not. Only thing is though I dont think my current bulbs are dimmable. They are led though 4000k
 
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