Confused by Downlight IC rating vs Installation Instructions

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snnet

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#2161177 14-Jan-2019 20:33

Hammerer:

I saw several cheap LED downlights with plugs to the driver unit and long warranties (like 20 years) so I bought very cheap when on sale. It has been a simple job to detach a defective downlight (1 of 8) and connect the spare unit I'd bought. The spare downlight confirmed that it wasn't the driver. Then I took the defective unit to the store and they immediately replaced it without testing and without any quibbling.

It's good they have the straight swap out policy but I'd see this as it being a common product fault if they're not testing them for anyone that just comes in and drops it off for a swap. I have good relationships with lighting shops and they usually at least test it out in front of me to confirm a fault (even though I've done this myself before bringing it in)

mattwnz

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#2161187 14-Jan-2019 21:03

Plus how do you know they will still be selling that particular model in the future. This is the problem with all in one fittings, if you don't have some spare to replace them with, you could end up with downlights that don't match, unless you replace them all.

Hammerer

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#2161214 14-Jan-2019 22:14

mattwnz:

Plus how do you know they will still be selling that particular model in the future. This is the problem with all in one fittings, if you don't have some spare to replace them with, you could end up with downlights that don't match, unless you replace them all.

We definitely don't know. There are quite a few potential sources of premature failure. Plus the performance claims for the units are unlikely to be adequately tested and may be no better than wishful thinking. But our risks are mitigated by several factors which means that our worst case is a combination of a defect affecting all units and the supplier going out of business.

We already have one spare.
The similar appearance of other plain light fittings. Our downlights are in four different zones so we could replace any zone with similar units and it wouldn't affect the decor and other aesthetics.
The relatively long life of older light fittings and the relative reduction in heat output in newer fittings. The downlights we installed in 1993 could still be sourced in 2013 both in new/unused condition. Plus we saw second-hand units that were being replaced in other houses at the same time.
The relatively-cheap cost to replace all of them if they were really bad. But if the reliability was that bad we could likely buy more spares or possibly get the supplier to replace with newer products.
The surprisingly reliable performance of many cheap LEDs.

richms

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#2162347 16-Jan-2019 22:59

Swapping one LED out means that you will have one considerably brighter one some years down the line.

Richard rich.ms

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