Anyone had LED downlights installed at home

[andyturpie]

I am at a stage now where I am going to get my complete house rewired. Looking at having LED lights throughout the house, but baffled as to how many I need per room and what brightness and its equivalent to oldskool bulbs.

 

Has anyone else gone down this route and just wondered how you worked out how many you need for dimensions of room, plus what brightness you chose?

 

Andy T

[Steve21]

I was looking at them for my bathroom when I got it replaced in December and they said if you want "normal" lightning, e.g. not super bright you need at least 1 per meter squared... And then more for areas you want extra light e.g. Living Room etc etc. Yeah I didn't bother with them haha At least with spotlight style ones you can direct them if you need to, obviously downlights are so fixed it's difficult.

 

Steve

[3s-gtech]

I've found for normal G10 style LED downlights, you can put roughly the same number as you would with halogen. I have a 5mx3m room with six good quality warm white ones, lights it very well indeed.

[localzuk]

Not at home, but we replaced our existing halogen downlights in our foyer here with LED ones a little while ago without any changes. Lighting brightness was the same as we chose ones that matched the brightness. Only difference is a slight change in colour temperature.

[Dos_Box]

Over the past few years we have replaced all the bulbs in our house with LED bulbs. The only thing I would watch for (although this is getting less of a problem with newer bulbs apparently) is that over time they do begin to dim.

Our kitchen/dining room has two light fittings of 3 bulbs each and we replaced these about 3 years back but the bulbs are now beginning to be noticable less bright than they used to be so will have to swap these out by teh time autumn arrives I think.

They do however use a fraction of the power incandecent bulbs, and even 'energy saving' bulbs do, especially on fittings with multiple bulbs.

[difinity]

I've done this. I went open plan and replaced all the ceilings too. i have 3x3 in each of the rooms (although they now are all one). With each of the 3 on a separate switch so i can adjust the overall brightness. i usually just have the centre row on in the evenings in the kitchen/dining area.

Triple light switches for each room, with the lounge having dimable ones. I have all white walls and went with cool white 3w bulbs. Be wary of the holders you buy, the cheap ones from b&q etc for GU10 halogen don't give enough depth for LEDs.

 

 

I should add that mine are all mains. No transformers.

Edited July 8, 2015 by difinity

[MatthewL]

I have them in the office at home, kitchen and bathroom. Mine are all individually wired ones without transformers.

 

10W LED = 100W normal bulb to give you an indication. Even had my outside floodlights installed as LED.

 

I've put 6 in my kitchen which is 3.26m x 3.33m and its more than enough and they are 4 or 6 watt bulbs and its bright in there.

[truebluesteve]

I am at a stage now where I am going to get my complete house rewired. Looking at having LED lights throughout the house, but baffled as to how many I need per room and what brightness and its equivalent to oldskool bulbs.

 

Has anyone else gone down this route and just wondered how you worked out how many you need for dimensions of room, plus what brightness you chose?

 

Andy T

 

All the lights in my flat were 240V incandescent GU10's (about 36 in total) and I have replaced them all with the 5 watt LED equivalent and they are great. They can be used on a like for like basis for existing lamps to give the same output but use warm lamps for living areas and cold ones for bathrooms, kitchens and toilets.

 

One thing to watch out for (especially if you live in a newish building) is the space above the ceiling as some lampholders can protrude quite a way and may not allow the fitting to sit flush on the ceiling

[Andrew_C]

If you've not got the space above a ceiling, these might help. I've a few in my kitchen, not doing general lighting, but over the counter. Work well at that sort of distance.

[andyturpie]

Thank you my friends, makes it all a bit clearer now

[difinity]

Good you're feeling enlightened

[eyetea]

We fitted downlights in our hallway and spare bedroom and chucked the halogen GU10s out and replaced them with Screwfix's warm whites. Spare room is approx 4x3m and we have 6 in there. Just worth being aware that with downlights sometimes you won't be able to get them in the perfect place! Joists always seem to be in exactly the wrong place!