Saving Energy - GU10 LED Bulbs, but which ones?

Alias_Omega

230v GU10 LED Bulbs, however a quick peek of the internet shows so many various options and now I am lost.

With a house that uses 12 GU10 bulbs, and various other bulbs clearly money to be saved by reducing electricity usage..


eBay shows 10x GU10 3w LED bulbs for £18.99, however local B&M, B&Q, Homebase etc have 2x GU10 3w LED bulbs for £5.


Any tips?

Is cheaper always better?

lstar337

With LED, cheaper will almost certainly be worse. Ebay bulbs are not usually traceable and are not usually good quality.

Think about what you are replacing. Do you want warm white, cool white?

What brightness are you trying to match? To replace a 50W halogen, you should be looking at 400lm.

Try to stick to a brand and look for sites that offer replacements for bulbs that die within a few years. This shows the store has faith in them.

bretts

I bought some LED bulbs from Ebay as well something in the same price bracket as you have mentioned but personally I would now avoid it at all cost, its just not worth the problems it will give you or I would say It has given me a lot of problems. One of the bulb just went pop and when I was trying to replace it, It had basically destroyed the holder of the bulb, another problem is that they dont really last long I have had 4 bulbs gone in about 3 months when they should really be lasting a lot longer.

I have about 40 downlights in my house so I am basically doing it few bulbs at a time as they cost a fortune, I did it as 5 quids a bulb was not something I could pay at all so sort of settled for ebay but as those bulbs are dying I am replacing them with new better quality one's

almillar

Unless you know what you're doing, don't buy off eBay. Those 3W bulbs don't sound like they're very bright, but the eBay seller will probably slap whatever 'Lumens' number they like on it. Similar to Istar, I'd be looking at 400-500Lumen to replace a 50W halogen - if that is indeed what you're replacing.
Don't jump into this, since you're replacing so many you want to get it right. B&Q and Homebase and the supermarkets seem to have out of date overpriced stuff (even if it's a decent brand) but Ikea's new LEDs are much better value.

jennifernil

Have you looked at LED Hut? There's another place we have used too, but can't remember the name, will look for it

Also, Ikea ones have been good.

flashg67

I actually had a good experience (so far) with ebay cheapy LEDs. had for 12 months with no failures, with quite heavy use in a home office (I work from home) so don't write them off too quickly.

as others say, do some research into the brighyness - I doubt a 3 watt led will replace a 50w halogen though

iris

Here's another place to try


http://www.wholesaleledlights.co.uk/led-spotlights/gu10-led.html

Alias_Omega

Hi, the bulbs are 35w GU10

newbie1980

i use kosnic 4.5w day light bulbs

absolutley clear crisp light around £7 each

jennifernil

This is the other place we used. Prices were good at the time (2 years back), not sure how they compare now.

http://www.lightupuk.co.uk/

ispookie666

When we moved, I replaced quiet a few GU10's and MR'16 with LED's from ebay. I bought all from a single company from ebay (ledlam - I have no interest in this company). One of the bulbs had stopped working and was immediately sent a replacement. The bulbs have been nice and bright. Going on for 7months.