What is the preferred option for a new installation and which one would you recommend, to go into a kitchen?
Personal preference. I like the new LED's Expensive though - but they do last forever and you don't get a hot head!
I have tried to replace my bathroom and kitchen lights twice now , with the best warm white LEDs I can find. The effect was awfull, the bathroom looked like a dim morgue. Rather than warm white, ghostly grey would be more accurate. Experiment by all means, but don't spend to much.
You obviously didn't try hard enough and still bought cheap tat rather than the more costlier ones. I hear this over and over, "We've bought a good make blah blah blah but they were no good in the end" When what they really ment was we looked at the decent stuff but couldn't 'understand' why they were so much more than the ***** we ended up buying! Try to give a Flying Fk next time Figgy Boy and buy these! * Message was edited by: Screwfix Moderator
JCC all in LED downlights, only way to do it However, I don't like the push in loop in/out connections with the clicky cable clamp. . . .screams a bit Amstrad Light output is very impressive
Thanks for all the replies, very useful. I assume if I find a downlight I like and fit an LED bulb this will suffice?
There are things to consider, but, basically yes. Mains voltage LEDs are straight swap GU10. However, MR16/GU 5.3 SELV equivalents require drivers with them, similar to a transformer. I believe they are being sold as kits.
Not as far as heat goes but it does/can matter on size. Some LED lamps are significantly shorter in body length at the smaller wattages so would sit recessed in a standard GU10 fitting and look rubbish. 7 watt Kosnic LEDS which CEF sell have a body length of 71mm so look fine in a standard GU10 fitting or a CFL GU10 fitting, if a 3/4 watt Lamp is used then it sits 8mm or so back which blocks the light spread and looks ****.
Unless you have a GU10 fitting with a floating holder where the lamp is held in by a spring as the 12v ones are. I prefer the floating holder type especially now with the variety of leds on the market.
I think Joe Public have misunderstood the LED market entirley. As is always the case price tends to govern choice but in this market, price reflects performance. The cheapo 1W LEDs have been purchased en masse and unforunately Joe Public thinks that's what LEDs are all about. Whereas in essence LEDs are now giving fabulous light output and lasting 15 to 20 times longer than the bulbs thay are replacing. It is all about the marketing. Prices will fall as demand increases but unfortunately I don't think we are ever going to see the low prices that tungsten filament bulbs were retailed at it is simply not possible to produce and retail an LED at those prices due to the high amount of technology used in their manufacture. Maybe £5 or £6 will be the bottom out price for a decent 7W LED. We will have to wait and see.
Same for us - we have put LED in kitchen and looks so dim ! Hate the effect. The old Halogen lighting was far brighter. We did not buy cheap LED's....