downlights

[soundman]

would prefer to see a more flame retardant material than rubber underlay for such a purpose.
electrical components should not fail in a ball of flames but I'm a sceptical type & hey stuff happens.

[Gumby]

Yeah, I agree. I think I'll cut them up very small so that there's just a tiny bit under each of the 4 feet. Same result, less risk. Thanks

[TassieKiwi]

Downlights IMHO are only any good for work areas when you are looking down - bathroom bench, kitchen. I had a couple of the thin ones under a cupbpard unit, over a bench. Awesome here. Otherwise I hate the Ba5tard5. They shine on your eyes in any room, and if you have spectacles this is worse. Expensive. The dimmer makes the TV buzz. When you replace them, dead bugs fall on you.

The wires pull out of the transformers.

Trendy though. If you're watching the pennies, you can buy one that takes standard globes max 75W, mounted horizontally. We had about 12 of these in the house, and they worked fine. About $11 each+globe. No transformers or any of that flash gear.

[MarkV]

Well what an epic post !!! I might as well add my two bob's worth eh what

Mr Fixit covered it all pretty well I thought and I thought I would let you know my experience. The 240V downlights I installed sucked kept blowing bulbs and the bulbs were dear as poison about $13.50 from memory. Went back to the low voltage ones like we had down south no probs to date and it's been about 2 years. I have just installed 4 low voltage ones in the lounge room (Pierlite brand) $18.60 each with a 50 watt 60 degree bulb. The dimmers are on order as the lights have electronic trannys and require trailing edge dimmers and they only had the iron core leading edge ones in stock . The dimmers are a bit exxy about $35 as opposed to $32 for the old style. SWMBO is very happy with the lighting as they are situated in pairs over each of the lounges and with the dimmers installed next week should be even nicer. I intend to install them throughout the house as I renovate it all as I find that they give me light were I want it and look cool dimmed for moodlighting.

[Markw]

Two cents is no longer legal tender - here's my 5 cents

When I purchased my house about 6 years ago, it already had Martek brand 240v 60w down lights in the master bedroom with dimmer and in the hallway. The bulbs were standard BC reflectors and still easy to obtain. The bedroom lights are still there and they provide a softer lght than the current down lights which is good. These lights may have to be replaced with halogen downlights if I can't get any more of them as this room is due to be increased in size.

The hallway was recently painted along with new doors and frames and I decided to remove the existing Marteks and replace with 240v halogen down lights. These are Neilsen branded fitted with internal glass covers. 2 have already blown and the heat output is high. Stand under for too long and you will get hot. Unfortunately I have also put them in the reno'd office - again too hot and summer is coming.

When the kitchen was reno'd I put 12v glass covered down lights in and the heat output has changed dramatically. From 1/2 metre away you can barely feel any heat output. Again I have consumed a few globes but maybe these are the cheap original bulbs which were replaced with philips bulbs. I am now considering replacing the office downlights with 12v versions and as the hallway is so seldom used, its probably not worth changing.

One thing I did note, always use covered globes in the kitchen as the globe doesn't last long with steam and smoke from the "smokeless grill" affecting the quartz glass.

[wonnie]

just becuase this thread isnt long enough, here is another angle.

has anyone replaced their halogens with LEDs. I noticed Jaycar has 20LED units but im am not sure on how well they would replace a 35 or 50 watt halagen?

[John99]

Well what a thread !


I`m new to these forums and amazed at the topic, down lights, and the passion it brings out

my 5 cents worth,invent LED down lights that work and save the greenhouse effect !


cheers !
John99

[Captain Caveman]

Cassandra (Hope I am not too late!)

I read a magazine called 'Renew' which is always promoting new eco products for the home and garden. In the December edition they had a Compact Fluorescent replacement for Halogen downlights which I bought a couple of.

They truely are remarkable and fit into existing Halogen holes. They use 1/8 of the energy (9 Watts) and give off very little heat compared to the halogen units. They are also meant to last 15000 hours (will have to confirm this in about 8 years!) and run with no transformer because they run off direct 240V.

The supplier has a calculator on their website so you can see how much money you are saving if you use them to replace halogens in your home.... it's pretty scarey stuff! I have sixty of the buggers in our house which aparently use $800 a year in energy. So I am planning on changing all of them when I can afford it.

I too tried LED's and found them to be more of a hobbyists toy and were unpractical with a disappointing light - I reckon the technology will be there in a few years tho.

The supplier of the Fluro downlights is Neco www.neco.com.au phone 1300 88 26 40.

[sparkynsw]

TRANSFORMER HUM

As an electrician of ten+ years i have found that conventional iron core transformers hum and intermittently overhead in some cases due to the use of cheap globes.

i have had problems with sylvania globes (around $3.00ea) before causing overheating and humming and as a result now steer clear.

As callbacks are costly and time consuming i only use quality atco transformers matched with a colour corrected GEC globe (around $15.00ea) since using this combination (5yrs) i have not had a single callback.

It may also interest you to know that the light output of these globes is significantly brighter and a 35W globe is usually as bright as a generic 50W halogen globe.

before replacing your transformers try using a better quality globe......

[Gumby]

Thanks Sparky. Mine have been in for a while now and I haven't had any probs. I'll upgrade the globes as they go.

[Iain]

Not disputing your comments sparky but how does a non mechanical device cause problems with a tranny?

[wonnie]

Cassandra (Hope I am not too late!)

I read a magazine called 'Renew' which is always promoting new eco products for the home and garden. In the December edition they had a Compact Fluorescent replacement for Halogen downlights which I bought a couple of.

......


The supplier of the Fluro downlights is Neco www.neco.com.au phone 1300 88 26 40.

Thanks for that captain, i going to order 5 now to replace my current kitchen stock, the heat savings alone should be worth it

[jimc]

I too can vouch for these 9w flouro replacements from Neco. I ordered two warm white versions and am very happy with the result. The light is not instant but starts faster that BNC compact flouros.

One bulb was broken in transit, however Neco sent a replacement immeadiately.
The result....one very happy customer

[SOLOCHICK]

Since this is such a huge post and so many of you know about Downlighting, SOLOCHICK needs your advice.

I just had downlights installed throughout my home. Love the look but but are waaaay too bright. Got the sparky to put a dimmer in the kitchen but in the toilets, hall and bathroom I didn't do.

I'm find the light too white? if that makes sense?
got the globe packets out of the bin and they are 50W cool beam.

Is there other types of globes I can get? something with a bit of a warmer light? It just seems all a bit too football field lighting for me now and so disappointed with my investment.

Any suggestions?

[soundman]

Firts option is 20 watt lamps.
Allmost alll dichroic fittings will take a 20 watt lamp. Are they the low voltage type? if yess no problem.
As far a colour, unless you want COLOUR they only come one way.
cheers