Kitchen lighting, LED or Halogen downlighters?

fluffpot

I've started using these as an alternative to Halers ones - they are fully dimmable as standard

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Lighting_Downlights_Index/LEDlite_Downlights/index.html

Lorian

I swapped my Kitchen halogens for these 7W Philips LED:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-MyVision-929000200101-GU5-3-Watt/dp/B005OYW7US/ref=sr_1_8?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1335712124&sr=1-8

Using the existing fixings.

(I bought mine Some from Sainsbury's and Some from Amazon Direct)

You can see my review on Amazon by scrolling to the second review. I like them a lot, and they save a lot on electricity. I had tried a number of less expennsive LEDs before with unsatisfactory results.

The only downside is the very slight hum from them when they warm up. If you have 5 or 6 you probably won't notice it. I have 12, just audible.

Bleg

I had some Evoleds fitted in my hall way. I have had to send off for replacements on two occasions even though they have not been installed up to a year yet. There was no quibble though one had to suffer the inconvenience of removing them, postage payments and awaiting the replacements.

Vince007

I visited a led exhibition this week in Birmingham and saw the same old stuff - suppliers saying their LED lamps are the best. But I came across one company who are an Internet based comparison site for LEDS called whichledlight. They appear to be slightly different and actually test all the lamps they have on their site at a special lab in the uk. They also appear to follow some eu regulation that actually categorises replacements lamps in their correct field I.e. everyone claims their 5 w led replaces a 50w halogen but in my experience they are shocking, these guys only list really high powered lamps which from the regulations look to be like 600 lumens rather than 200 etc. I found it really good that they show you who has the best prices on the market too. Got some 6 w Toshiba candle lamps coming that seem to be the only ones that could actually be bright for my chandeliers. Forgot to say they have a really clever wizard that lets you see what happens when you change the colour and brightness of and LED. Will update on my candles later

grizzly1911

Jonesya wrote: »

The other option is compact fluorescent GU10 downlights, cheaper than the LED fittings at £10-£15 each but of course the bulbs don't last as long as LEDs and the ones I've used normally take a minute or so to get up to full brightness whereas LEDs are instant.

After experimenting with LEDs I went to compact CFLs too, found the y gave a warmer more general light.that suited our kitchen.

smallblueplanet

In buying new kitchen downlights is it better to buy led (or compact CFLs) lamps or buy ordinary lamps and just fit led/compact CFL bulbs?