I need to replace my bathroom downlighters - please advise

MrsE_2

ANY ADVICE ON WHAT LIGHTS I NEED TO BUY

I need to replace my bathroom downlighters, they are the sealed ones & are muder to unscrew & change. I "think" they are the mains voltage ones because they get hot, but I'm not sure, how would I know?

I will buy them at Screwfix & get a sparky in to do the swap.

What are my options?
I'm not sure I understand the differences between the various types:o
I have terracotta pots (large ones) in the loft to keep the insulation away, it was a tip I was given years ago.

Fire rated? £41.70

http://www.screwfix.com/p/robus-fixed-round-mains-voltage-fire-rated-downlight-polished-chrome-240v/46177#product_additional_details_container

Normal £15.36

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-fixed-round-mains-voltage-downlight-polished-chrome-240v/39914

Can I swap mains for low voltage (assuming I have mains)?
Should I?

I will use LED GU10s in them pretty shortly, I am working on swapping over:D

ETA £10.50

http://www.screwfix.com/p/halolite-adjustable-round-polished-chrome-12v-low-voltage-downlight/98827

£11.94

http://www.screwfix.com/p/robus-fixed-polished-chrome-low-voltage-downlight-12v/83944

MrsE_2

In fact got all these

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do?fh_sort_by=price&fh_search=Polished+Chrome+downlight&fh_start_index=0&fhSearchParams=&customPrice=&priceFrom=&priceTo=&priceFilterOn=&fh_view_size=20

MrsE_2

Would be really grateful for advice on what lights I need?

almillar

You're buying halogen downlights, with halogen bulbs in them, to then replace them with LEDs? Two sets of bulbs doesn't seem very moneysaving.
Mains and 12V halogen bulbs will both get very hot, that's no way to tell the difference. When you put the terracotta pots over them, was the bulb wired into another box (that'll be the transformer, meaning they're 12v bulbs) or straight wired into the switch would be 240v mains. Bulb might be labelled to tell you.
Also note that if you plug an LED into a halogen transformer it may not work or you may get flickering, and the transformer is expecting a much bigger draw from the light.
I'm currently in a similar situation, I've got 6x 50w 12v MR16 halogen downlights that I want to replace with LED. Trouble is LED is getting cheaper and brighter all the time. Having researched this a bit, and having easy enough access to the wiring, I'm coming to the conclusion that I should replace the whole lot, and not conform to these 'old' bulb shapes. They're not suitable for LED really and only being produced for backward compatibility. I'm thinking of something along these lines
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110845548048?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
But am not jumping yet as I'm waiting for cheaper and brighter things to come along (I may be waiting a lot!).

MrsE_2

almillar wrote: »

You're buying halogen downlights, with halogen bulbs in them, to then replace them with LEDs? Two sets of bulbs doesn't seem very moneysaving.
Mains and 12V halogen bulbs will both get very hot, that's no way to tell the difference. When you put the terracotta pots over them, was the bulb wired into another box (that'll be the transformer, meaning they're 12v bulbs) or straight wired into the switch would be 240v mains. Bulb might be labelled to tell you.
Also note that if you plug an LED into a halogen transformer it may not work or you may get flickering, and the transformer is expecting a much bigger draw from the light.
I'm currently in a similar situation, I've got 6x 50w 12v MR16 halogen downlights that I want to replace with LED. Trouble is LED is getting cheaper and brighter all the time. Having researched this a bit, and having easy enough access to the wiring, I'm coming to the conclusion that I should replace the whole lot, and not conform to these 'old' bulb shapes. They're not suitable for LED really and only being produced for backward compatibility. I'm thinking of something along these lines
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110845548048?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
But am not jumping yet as I'm waiting for cheaper and brighter things to come along (I may be waiting a lot!).

I didn't know they included bulbs?
I will look in loft.
I guess its better to stick with mains - assuming I have mains, no transformer relibility or conformity to worry about then.
I know what you mean about hanging on & waiting for them to get cheaper, brighter & better, but I can't hang on any longer, my bathroom ones are knackered - tip to everyone, NEVER buy special bathroom ones, the bulbs are muder to change.

What about these?

http://www.lightsaver.co.uk/shop/?page=main_shop.php&whichmenu=recelig&scrollcat=cl4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIRE-RATED-GU10-LED-DOWNLIGHT-COMPLETE-WITH-4W-LED-LAMP-/230896939004?pt=UK_BOI_Lights_Lighting_ET&var=&hash=item35c287affc

http://www.lightsaver.co.uk/shop/?page=main_shop.php&whichmenu=recelig&scrollcat=cl4

I'm looking at £4 a bulb & £2.56 or £4.98 a fitting (be glad of advice on these?)

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-fixed-round-mains-voltage-downlight-polished-chrome-240v/39914

http://www.screwfix.com/p/halolite-fixed-round-polished-chrome-240v-mains-voltage-downlight/14736

sew_what

Speak to your sparky before you buy - most of the ones you're looking at are not suitable for bathroom use, especially if they're above a bath or shower!
The ones you've got are probably difficult to change the lamps because they've got a cover on them - to keep you safe and to stop water getting into them!
If you put LED GU10s in them you won't be changing the lamps as often and the relative difficulty will become less!

notanewuser

MrsE wrote: »

I know what you mean about hanging on & waiting for them to get cheaper, brighter & better, but I can't hang on any longer, my bathroom ones are knackered - tip to everyone, NEVER buy special bathroom ones, the bulbs are muder to change.

Yeah, you're right. Much better to risk electrocution instead. :beer:

MrsE_2

sew_what wrote: »

Speak to your sparky before you buy - most of the ones you're looking at are not suitable for bathroom use, especially if they're above a bath or shower!
The ones you've got are probably difficult to change the lamps because they've got a cover on them - to keep you safe and to stop water getting into them!
If you put LED GU10s in them you won't be changing the lamps as often and the relative difficulty will become less!

It's like they sealed up, we've practically had to rip them out of the ceiling to get them unscrewed. They aren't sitting flush anymore, it wasn't just difficult, it was impossible to change them.

almillar

http://www.lightsaver.co.uk/shop/?pa...&scrollcat=cl4

The Lightsaver links are just to the general website so can't comment.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIRE-RATED...item35c287affc

Fire rated also means suitable for bathroom *AFAIK* but the bulbs are only 4w which won't be replacing 50w halogens.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-fixed-...ome-240v/39914

http://www.screwfix.com/p/halolite-f...ownlight/14736

As above neither of these are bathroom usable. I'd prefer not to mix steam and electronics.

Hate to disappoint you, but the 'mains' ones DO have a transformer, but it's inside the bulb. This can also cause issues with heat of course, which can lead to failure, but at least if failure does happen, you just replace the bulb rather than having to re-wire.
I can't help you with any experience because I don't have any, just reading other peoples'. I might take the easy route and just buy 2 MR16 fitting 12v LEDs the brightest I can find at a reasonable price and see how it goes...