Confusion about Ceiling Downlighters. Please help..

lancslass2008

Hi all

We are having a new Kitchen installed. During the installation of the Kitchen we have had to take down the Kitchen Ceiling (to have the Boiler replaced and rerouted etc). So, now the ceiling is down, obviously it will be re-boarded and skimmed. The benefits now are that I can choose any lighting that I want in the ceiling. So...I have decided on small circular downlighters fitted into the ceiling. Here's where my problem starts...

There's a warehouse near us that sells Kits of Downlighters quite cheap. However, they come with a Transformer. Now, our previous attempt at Downlighters (inc Transformers) in our Porch looked lovely until the transformer blew. Yes, you guessed it....We had to have a hole punched in the porch rceiling to get at the faulty Transformer. After spending a lot of money on a new Kitchen ceiling I really dont fancy having to make a hole to change a faulty Transformer 2 years down the line. In fact, it would be virtually impossible for us to replace the Transformer because upstairs floors are chipboard. So, by now you can see I really don't want to use Downlighters with a Transformer. So, I did a bit of Web searching and discovered 240V Downlighters but then read that these GU10's Bulbs blow frequently (which is definitely the case with our Bathroom lights) and they are expensive to run. So, then I discovered 240V LED Downlighters but then found they are £25 each and we need about 20 of them (I think). So.... Not being a Lighting expert I am stuck on the Pros & Cons here....

L.E.D Lighting kits from my Local shop-
Pros: VERY CHEAP FOR 10 BULBS IN A KIT.
Cons: TRANSFORMER NEEDS TO BE HIDDEN IN ROOF

240V GU10 Lighting Kits-
Pros: CHEAP BULBS, CHEAP KITS
Cons: EXPENSIVE TO RUN, GET VERY HOT (FIRE RISK)

240V L.E.D (Single item)
Pros: CHEAP TO RUN, NO FIRE RISK, NO TRANSFORMER
Cons: COST £25 EACH

I am wondering if I have missed anything out here. Can anybody spot any glaring mistakes I may of made? Can anybody offer any advice please?

fluffpot

You don't need to make a hole in the ceiling to replace the transformer IF the lights have been fitted properly. The way to do this is to make sure that each transformer can be accessed buy taking down the light, then you can pull the transformer out of the ceiling through the hole and replace it

Simples!

yangptangkipperbang

I replaced my kitchen ceiling and followed the same line of thought as yourself.

After a lot of hunting round I went for the more expensive option and got these Haler LED lights.

http://www.dclighting.co.uk/catalogue_main.php?catID=4181

They are not cheap, but you get what you pay for. They are well made; come as a complete unit, so run off 240V - have a 7 year warranty.

Mine have been in place for about a year now - absolutely no regrets in paying for a quality item.

notbritishgas

OP
Can you hide the transformers (you will need more than 1 for 20 lights) in the room above and then just feed the cables through the chipboard into the ceiling void to be connected to the lights.

I do not know if the distance from the transformer to the lights is critical.

fluffpot

yes it is due to voltage drop - best placed as close as possible to light - as per my first post

sew_what

We put 240V GU10 downlights in with 6W warm white LEDS and have been very pleased with the result. We didn't pay anything like £25 each - but our sparkie did buy 12V fittings and swapped the lampholders because they wer a better unit and came with a bayonet rather than a circlip to retain the lamp.
Visit a couple of electrical wholesalers and ask what they suggest - much cheaper than the sheds and you'll get better advice!

Owain_Moneysaver

any half decent sparky will choose a transformer that's skinny enough to fit through the light hole, as fluffpot says.