Replacing downlights in living room

wallofbeans

grumbler said:

wallofbeans said:

Am I right in thinking, if I could find new downlight fittings that are MR16 and wide enough to cover the hole (ie at least 95mm) then I could just replace easily?

You have to options:

• Replace the existing (transformer + MR16 fitting) with a new 240V GU10 fitting (or a new 240V light wiht integrated LEDs - no bulb). You can keep the existing white flexible cable.
• Keep the transformer and replace the existing MR16 fitting with a new MR16 fitting (or a new 12V light with integrated LEDs - no bulb - if such thing exists)

My peferable option would be the former one.

And why would that be your preference? What is the advantage?

wallofbeans

If sticking with the MR16 fitting, would this work as a replacement for the current fitting, without having to change the transformer? 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fixed-gu10-gu5-3-downlight-converter-gloss-white/6966k

grumbler

wallofbeans said:

grumbler said:

wallofbeans said:

Am I right in thinking, if I could find new downlight fittings that are MR16 and wide enough to cover the hole (ie at least 95mm) then I could just replace easily?

You have to options:

• Replace the existing (transformer + MR16 fitting) with a new 240V GU10 fitting (or a new 240V light wiht integrated LEDs - no bulb). You can keep the existing white flexible cable.
• Keep the transformer and replace the existing MR16 fitting with a new MR16 fitting (or a new 12V light with integrated LEDs - no bulb - if such thing exists)

My peferable option would be the former one.

And why would that be your preference? What is the advantage?

A transformer can fail. Also, some transformers have the minimum load specified -  check yours. LED bulbs consume much less power than traditional bulbs - the load is smaller.
That said, low voltage is far more natural for LEDs than mains voltage. 12V LED lights are less likely to fail - this is an advantage.

wallofbeans said:

If sticking with the MR16 fitting, would this work as a replacement for the current fitting, without having to change the transformer? 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fixed-gu10-gu5-3-downlight-converter-gloss-white/6966k

I think this will work - the old transformer with GU5.3.

ETA: I see 10-60W on your transformer. This means that the minimum power is 10W. GU5.3 LED bulbs are usually less than 10W, but not much. Most likely 8-8.5W bulbs will work, but don't take my word for it.

wallofbeans

This is the dimmer that was fitted recently. Any ideas if this will work if I replace lights with GU10 LEDs? 

https://amzn.eu/d/2FbYBvN

grumbler

See the Q&A, but again there's no guaranty that this will be the case with your transformers. Just replace one bulb with a LED one and see how it works. Beware, that not all LED bulbs are dimmable.

wallofbeans

grumbler said:

See the Q&A

I did - someone said it worked fine, but I don't trust amazon Q&A responses!

wallofbeans

I think replacing all transformers and using GU10 fittings is the way to go. I'll have more options with fittings and bulbs.. and I've read people having issues with MR16 LEDs and dimming etc. So it just seems best all round to update them I think...

Simonon77

Be wary with dimmers with LED bulbs. Some bulbs claim to be dimmable, but don't work with every dimmer properly. I replaced the bulbs and dimmer in my bedroom ( both from the same manufacturer and claimed to be dimmable ) and they would go from nothing to on with a tiny range of dimming, but flickered like mad when they were dimmed.

I swapped to a different brand of bulb and they work perfectly.