Replacing MR16 Halogens with Dimmable LEDs

patrick187

Hi guys,

I am planning to replace:

3 x 50w GU10s with : 3 x 6w non dimmable LEDs (kitchen)

2 x 50w MR16s with : 2 x 6w non dimmable LEDs (bathroom)

1 x 50w MR16 with: 1 x 6w non dimmable LED (lobby)

6 x 50w MR16s with: 6 x 6w dimmable LEDs (bedroom)

5 x 50w MR16s with: 5 x 6w dimmable LEDs (lounge)

1 x 50w MR16 with: 1 x 6w dimmable LED (lounge)#

I am hoping the 6w's will provide enough light and I definitely going with a warm lightm colour! I can afford a bit less loss of light generally so think it will be ok.

Is there likely to be any problems with using my existing transformers (www.ibl.co.uk/?4632.00) and in particular the dimmable lights? I have heard they may flicker and the life may be reduced by 50%? If the only downside is a reduced life (50%ish) I think it probably is not worth the effort of replacing all of the transformers (1 per bulb) when the bulbs are relatively cheap (£12ish on ebay for the dimmables).

I have also read I may have to add an LED driver (just one in a circuit?) but have a very basic understanding of electrics and may even struggle with this. Is this essential?

Any tips?

I am certainly realising making that energy saving by replacing those light bulbs is not quite as easy as I hoped but dont want to give up saving money in the long term and doing my bit to save co2.

Oh, and by the way, I plan to put in remote control dimmer switches.

THanks in advance for any advice,

Patrick:beer:

Scoobs72

Sorry to disappoint you but you're not going to get 50W halogen replacements in LED form. Don't fall for the lies that proclaim "50w replacement". Look only at the lumens...you need around 800-900 lumens for a 50w halogen replacement. I've never seen a warm white GU10 LED with more than 520 lumens...and that is for a very expensive bulb. If you can find better, let us know...but you're not going to get it for £12 off ebay!

Live with the high bills for another 3-4 years then you should be able to get something suitable for around £30 per bulb.

jc808

Scoobs72 wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint you but you're not going to get 50W halogen replacements in LED form. Don't fall for the lies that proclaim "50w replacement". Look only at the lumens...you need around 800-900 lumens for a 50w halogen replacement. I've never seen a warm white GU10 LED with more than 520 lumens...and that is for a very expensive bulb. If you can find better, let us know...but you're not going to get it for £12 off ebay!

Live with the high bills for another 3-4 years then you should be able to get something suitable for around £30 per bulb.

http://www.thelightbulbshop.co.uk/Shop/LightBulbs/LEDLightBulbs/Product/29374/MLEDD7GU103025/7WMASTERLEDGU10.aspx

1800 lumens apparently

Scoobs72

jc808 wrote: »

http://www.thelightbulbshop.co.uk/Shop/LightBulbs/LEDLightBulbs/Product/29374/MLEDD7GU103025/7WMASTERLEDGU10.aspx

1800 lumens apparently

Can you sue them for trying to pass of candela (cd) as lumens? That bulb is 270 lumens....just about scraping 20 watts halogen equivalent. 1800 lumens (257 lumen per watt) would be a new world record for light output per watt by an LED!

You can see from this one that they're mis-quoting candela as lumen:

http://www.thelightbulbshop.co.uk/Shop/LEDLightBulbs/Product/30939/LEDION3WGU10/3WGU10LED.aspx

fluffpot

All those issues aside, you may also need to replace your existing dimmers with low load ones here

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Wiring_Accessories~Dimmers_All/Varilight_Low_Load_Dimmers/index.html

as the total load will be 6 x 6W = 36W and most normal dimmers have a minimum load of 60W

Fluff

jm2926

We tried to replace ours, bought three as a test, they are now "mood" lighting in the bedroom (aka can't see a bloomin thing)

jc808

fair enough that is a bit naughty

patrick187

well, that's a bit depressing....I am sure I have come across a few people on forums who have been happy with the exchange for LEDs more recently.

I have ordered just one of each (GU10 and non dimmable) and (MR16 dimmable) so will report back on my findings. I can lose a bit of light (lumens) - to be honest the halogens in the lounge are too bright and definitely too spotlighted (i think this the angle/degree?) so I want something that is a someway short of 50watts. However, I could do with an equivalent brightness in the kitchen and bathroom.

Aside from not being as bright as the 50w bulb, can anyone advise whether the transformer is likely to be an issue.

thanks

sunshinetours

if the lounge ones are too bright try 35W GU10's or MR16's

Smaller energy saving but same quality of light (as opposed to teh quality of many of the LED's that is)

I also wouldn't replace them until bulbs actually start going as scrapping perfectly good functioning bulbs is not very green is it?