halogen lights, low voltage vs mains.

arc · Jul 11, 2008

half way through redoing the kicthen atm, (by halfway i mean we ripped it out to run new pipes for the boiler and now have no kitchen at all) and because of the steelwork that has gone in, we're dropping the ceiling. great time to fit some new halogen spot lights. so went off to buy some, but couldn't decide which to get low voltage, or mains voltage ones.

mains voltage ones were rated at 50w. so that is 50 / 230 = 0.22A
lower voltage ones were rated at 20w. so that is 20 / 12 = 1.66A

current is much higher on the low voltage ones, but because they're lower voltage - the actual current draw is higher.

sooooooo basically, the lower voltgae ones are only going to use less power because they are 20w bulbs and therefore not as bright as the 50w bulbs, yes?

Most Easterly Pandas · Jul 11, 2008

arc said:
half way through redoing the kicthen atm, (by halfway i mean we ripped it out to run new pipes for the boiler and now have no kitchen at all) and because of the steelwork that has gone in, we're dropping the ceiling. great time to fit some new halogen spot lights. so went off to buy some, but couldn't decide which to get low voltage, or mains voltage ones.

mains voltage ones were rated at 50w. so that is 50 / 230 = 0.22A
lower voltage ones were rated at 20w. so that is 20 / 12 = 1.66A

current is much higher on the low voltage ones, but because they're lower voltage - the actual current draw is higher.

sooooooo basically, the lower voltgae ones are only going to use less power because they are 20w bulbs and therefore not as bright as the 50w bulbs, yes?

You wattage is how much they're going to cost to run I think, in KW hours.

Always go for main's voltage I recomend. We've got those GU10/GZ10 fitting units in our kitchen at 50watt each and they're great. Really spread the light, and we've put the odd LED light fitting in a few units.

We never go for low voltage now, as very nearly had a fire as a transformer in a set we had almost went up in flames. I was about to say almost went up in smoke, but it actually did

Jon.

dave · Jul 11, 2008

my GU10 dont seem to last long, ive tried posh and cheap, but all dont seem to last long

Most Easterly Pandas · Jul 11, 2008

dave said:
my GU10 dont seem to last long, ive tried posh and cheap, but all dont seem to last long

Yes and no. We have 11 in our kitchen and seem to change one about every 4 months (not bad when there are 11). But you can pick them up from about 50p, so not to bad.

The electricity bill is something else though

, hence some LED one's and thinking of getting the energy ones.

arc · Jul 11, 2008

hmm, well i got the 12v 20w sets today, but can easily take them back and get the mains powered ones i guess - they were cheaper too!

how many lights have you got, covering what sort of size. i was thinking 6 - but think that might now be overkill on the lefccy bill, if they're 50w each anyway!

Focus Owner · Jul 11, 2008

we have 2 of a transformer
in lounge they looks as bright as the main powered ones in kitchen and seem to get less hot and burn out less
I'm only 90 % positive ones in kitchen are mains powered
cameras have light measures don't they? or is that only on good ones?

jug · Jul 11, 2008

i've got 8 of them in my kitchen and 3 in my bathroom. all are mains powered, all are 40w. they use more juice than the rest of my house combined. i'm swapping them for the 3w LED versions, i have a friend with them and they are brighter and whiter than my 40w halogens.

arc · Jul 11, 2008

Daz_Rich said:
cameras have light measures don't they? or is that only on good ones?

all cameras have light meters, but it's not likely you can get at the data they give out.

jug said:
i've got 8 of them in my kitchen and 3 in my bathroom. all are mains powered, all are 40w. they use more juice than the rest of my house combined. i'm swapping them for the 3w LED versions, i have a friend with them and they are brighter and whiter than my 40w halogens.

are they the cree 3w LEDs? I was looking at them, but at £15 per bulb.. :bang:

Captain Mike · Jul 11, 2008

jug said:
i've got 8 of them in my kitchen and 3 in my bathroom. all are mains powered, all are 40w. they use more juice than the rest of my house combined. i'm swapping them for the 3w LED versions, i have a friend with them and they are brighter and whiter than my 40w halogens.

3 in the bathroom? what pattern are they in? because i cant think of a layout of 3 bulbs that i would like let alone you

jug · Jul 11, 2008

arc said:
are they the cree 3w LEDs? I was looking at them, but at £15 per bulb.. :bang:

they're only £6 for a pack of 3 at my local hardware store.

check online, i bet you can get them cheaper than £6 for 3.

jug · Jul 11, 2008

Mikeee said:
3 in the bathroom? what pattern are they in? because i cant think of a layout of 3 bulbs that i would like let alone you

i have a long bathroom, they are in a line down the middle so get light everywhere evenly.

arc · Jul 11, 2008

jug said:
they're only £6 for a pack of 3 at my local hardware store.

check online, i bet you can get them cheaper than £6 for 3.

can't find any;

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=GU10+LED+3w+white&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270

jug · Jul 11, 2008

99p each from this seller, plus £4.69 delivery, so as long as you buy as many as you need plus 2/3 spares it should work out cheaper than my local shop.
(think this is who i'll buy them from coz they're the 60led version and only 1.5w)

arc · Jul 11, 2008

which seller?

the 3w versions are equiv to 40w normal bulbs, the 1.5w leds sound like they'll be a bit dim

jug · Jul 11, 2008

i didnt post the link

38LED-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/230V-GU10-White-38-LED-Spot-Light-Spotlight-Lamp-Bulb_W0QQitemZ290244317985QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290244317985

60LED-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GU10-White-60-LED-Spot-Light-Bulb-Lamp-Spotlight-230V_W0QQitemZ300240092424QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300240092424

dont use auction, just contact them and do a deal for multiple items. i bet they'll do 3w for same price.

balidey · Jul 11, 2008

I have loads of the GU10 type lights in my house, seem to be constantly changing them, the light is way too directional for a kitchen, no matter where you are working on the work surface you create a shadow.

In my old house we had a single 4' flourescent strip light. Not the prettiest light in the world, but lasted for years (they even flicker to warn you when they are about to go), gave a much better light spread. You didn't get dazzled every time you looked up. Light was much more natural looking. Shame they aren't as good looking at my new fancy multi bulb fittings.

And arc if you want to borrow my lux-meter let me know.

Most Easterly Pandas · Jul 11, 2008

WOWOWO. DO NOT get LED if you want to light a room! Only get if they're pointing at say a pic, or directly oversomething, like our kitchen sink, because of the way they throw out light.

OMG, never thought I'd be taking pics of the kitchen lights

We've two of these type in the kitchen, and as you can see, after 4 years for alot of use, they start to go brown because of the heat

. Will be ok if you use LED's though because of the lack of heat.

We also have 5 counter sunk in our kitchen, 2 LED, 3 GU10's, and as you can see, no scorch marks, and the LED's are distinctive. I will take a pic tonight so you can see what I mean about the LED's.

We also have LED's in our cooker hood

And close up's of the counter sunk units.

Most Easterly Pandas · Jul 11, 2008

balidey said:
I have loads of the GU10 type lights in my house, seem to be constantly changing them, the light is way too directional for a kitchen, no matter where you are working on the work surface you create a shadow.

Ah, about the two directional thing. They're are two types of bulb. GU10, and GZ10. One is very dirrectional (like a spot light for pics on a wall, like I said about LED's) and the other is very broad in the way it throws light everywhere

, do a quick google and you'll find out the one's you'll need, they'res loads on the tinternet about it

.

Jon.

arc · Jul 11, 2008

jug said:
i didnt post the link

38LED-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/230V-GU10-White-38-LED-Spot-Light-Spotlight-Lamp-Bulb_W0QQitemZ290244317985QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290244317985

60LED-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GU10-White-60-LED-Spot-Light-Bulb-Lamp-Spotlight-230V_W0QQitemZ300240092424QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300240092424

dont use auction, just contact them and do a deal for multiple items. i bet they'll do 3w for same price.

they're not the LEDs i was thinking of, they're old ones that give out poor light. the 3W cree LEDs are single bulbs.

thanks for the pics

balidey - i'll be most likely fitting lights under the top line of cupboards so that the work tops are nicely lit.

jug · Jul 11, 2008

tbf you have puny led lights

the 60led versions have a 50degree spread, same as the best halogens you can get.

halogen lights, low voltage vs mains.

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