Replacing Halogen Downlights with LED

elstimpo

cool_dude_2000 wrote: »

Hi

I currently have some halogen downlights in our living room which use the GU10 bulbs (as below). I have heard that LED are much more economical and brighter and would like to replace these.

Can I simply just replace the bulbs with LED ones, or do I need to change the entire unit?

You can simply replace it with a GU10 LED if the dimensions of the LED fit into your existing fittings and you are not using or planning to use a dimmer.

A 50w halogen has a colour temp of 2700k (warm white) and CRI of 99 out of 100. Only 2 LED Spots can match this, one is £12.98 the other is about £20.

Any LED products that does not have 2700k as a colour temp or CRI of at least 95 are not genuine replacements for halogen and incandescent lamps,

CRI stands for colour rendering index - it's a score out of 100 that determines how well a light source will show up the true colours of object they illuminate - so it's about quality of light. Most LED's only have CRI of about 80 - significantly less than halogen and incandescent lamps.

You should bear this in mind when buying your LED's.

Hoof_Hearted

I really wouldn't go for cool white in living areas. They are good for kitchens and bathrooms but too harsh elsewhere.