GU10 LED Problem :(

LlamaKarma

Reason the dimmer switch is a problem is that the dimmer is designed for higher wattage loads. When you plug in a low wattage lamp like an LED you will get flicker and intermittancy if the dimmer is operating close to its low load limit.

Answer has to be to take out the dimmer switch and install a static switch

I heard on the grapevine GE are launching dimmer compatible LED GU10's in July, won't be the cheapest but should get around the problem (although you will need to check their datasheet for what types of dimmer are compatible - I guess it will be leading edge triac types)

Dan_Iggulden

Just to echo everyone above, they are all right. A dimmer switch will simply blow a regular LED bulb.
I have come across a few dimmable GU10 LED's, but only in a spotlight form, they are around £18 each but have tried them on a dimmer and they work fine.
If you search around, they do exist.

wattywattwatt

Hi everyone,
I just bought 4 of these led lights for my kitchen, I have two switches, one controlling 4 lights and the other controlling the remaining 12. I put the leds in the 4 lights on the one switch and found them to give out a pretty good light, but dimmer than the original bulbs. I intended to replace the other 12 bulbs but don't feel that the leds give out enough light for the area that I work in most, but would be ok for the far end of the kitchen. What I want to know is, is it advisable to mix these bulbs with the 50w halogen in the areas where I need a slightly brighter light or is there some downside to this? I would like to replace another 6 with leds and leave six 50w halogens in the central area of the kitchen. Hopefully some of you electrically minded guys might know the answer. Thanks.

Dan_Iggulden

There should be no problem mixing Halogens with LED's, again as long as it is not on a dimmer switch.
Just out of interest, what LED's have you bought as I recently bought some that I think give off more light than the previous 50W halogens that I had?

wattywattwatt

Hi again, these are the ones I bought from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230450586287&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

They seem pretty good, the light is a warmer tone than my 50w bulbs, seems to be a much softer light. The funny thing is, if you look up at the bulbs they seem to be a bit brighter than the old ones, but if you look at the worksurface under the bulbs where the light hits they dont seem to throw out as much. Thanks for the advice, hope the link works as I haven't posted one before.


GU10 LED Light Bulbs Warm White 60 LED 250 Lumens x 4

grizzly1911

wattywattwatt wrote: »

Hi again, these are the ones I bought from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230450586287&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT




GU10 LED Light Bulbs Warm White 60 LED 250 Lumens x 4

Thanks for the link.

I have 4 bulbs in our kitchen and I reckon these would pay for themselves in 1 year if I had them on 4 hours a day. It is north facing so doesn't seem so bad. I bet they are on 2 hours a day planned and get left on by the family a lot more.

Why do they cost so much????

One to think about.

Dan_Iggulden

Looks good for a 3Watt bulb. The initial cost is far outweighed by the 90% saving on electricity and the fact you don't have to replace them every 12-24 months like Halogens!

Looking for some more bulbs so will bookmark the link as they look just the ticket.

pacman2007

Dan_Iggulden wrote: »

Looks good for a 3Watt bulb. The initial cost is far outweighed by the 90% saving on electricity and the fact you don't have to replace them every 12-24 months like Halogens!

Looking for some more bulbs so will bookmark the link as they look just the ticket.

Hi, I bought 10X 3W LED (SMD LED) off Amazon for my kitchen and living room. £65very good deal. And honestly, I was so surprised by the brightness! It was 10X50W= 500W and now only 30W!!! Can you believe that! :j