LED units required to replace 50w halogen downlights

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Elwood

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#220179 29-Jul-2017 12:57

Hi there

I have a number of 50w halogen downlights in my kitchen that I'd like to replace with LEDs that are equivalent to the light provided by the existing halogen units (which I like). As well as replacing the bulbs, I'd like to replace the fittings themselves.

Here's what I'm looking for:

brushed metal finish fitting
ideally dimmable
2700K colour temperature
345 - 500 lumens
38-60 beam angle
95+ colour rendering index.

Anyone have any ideas on what I could try or where I could purchase? Anyone done something similar?

gregmcc

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#1833356 29-Jul-2017 13:00

Sounds like with those specifications you need to talk to a lighting specialist

surfisup1000

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#1833364 29-Jul-2017 13:10

gregmcc:

Sounds like with those specifications you need to talk to a lighting specialist

Thats us haha.

timmmay

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#1833381 29-Jul-2017 14:07

Go into a lighting store and look around. You'd probably find a wider beam better, and depending how many you have brighter can be good.

robjg63

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#1833423 29-Jul-2017 16:21

I installed 7 of these to replace some 50w Halogens

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-5w-brushed-chrome-led-gu10-downlight_p00285777

Despite what it says on the Bunnings and Arlec sites, they are actually marked on the boxes as 5.5w and 470 lumens.

It appears they upgraded them!

So the brightness is very similar (to my eyes) to the Halogens.

They are not dimmable - but :

60 degree beam angle
Stainless fitting
Colour 3000k
70mm cutout
$12.88 each

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

richms

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#1833545 29-Jul-2017 20:36

95+ CRI is a good luck specification.

Richard rich.ms

Elwood

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#1833554 29-Jul-2017 20:49

What do you mean by that, Richard?

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richms

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#1833555 29-Jul-2017 20:53

good luck finding it on something with all the rest.

Richard rich.ms

Elwood

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#1833556 29-Jul-2017 20:58

Agree - it's an often overlooked specification - particularly from those "upgrading" from halogens (with a CRI of 100).

Appreciate your wishes - do you have any constructive suggestions?

neb

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#1833581 29-Jul-2017 21:54

robjg63:
I installed 7 of these to replace some 50w Halogens

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-5w-brushed-chrome-led-gu10-downlight_p00285777

I got some a bit like these (except it was a few years ago so they don't have the same ones in stock any more), 5W instead of 9W, and they're brighter than the original 50W halogens. They also produce a beautiful light, checked with a spectrometer and it's lovely full-spectrum daylight-equivalent, not a few discrete bands like the CFLs I also have, and no (measurable) flicker.

mattwnz

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#1833591 29-Jul-2017 23:06

neb:
robjg63:

I installed 7 of these to replace some 50w Halogens

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/arlec-5w-brushed-chrome-led-gu10-downlight_p00285777

I got some a bit like these (except it was a few years ago so they don't have the same ones in stock any more), 5W instead of 9W, and they're brighter than the original 50W halogens. They also produce a beautiful light, checked with a spectrometer and it's lovely full-spectrum daylight-equivalent, not a few discrete bands like the CFLs I also have, and no (measurable) flicker.

The problem with those is they are not a replaceable builb. So when teh builb dies (prematurely according to Murphy law and NZs dirty power going through it), then you have to find a fitting that looks the same if they have stopped selling them. Otherwise you have to buy a lot of spares. The Arlec ones have a replacabale builb, so far easier.

neb

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#1833594 29-Jul-2017 23:14

mattwnz:
The problem with those is they are not a replaceable builb. So when teh builb dies (prematurely according to Murphy law and NZs dirty power going through it), then you have to find a fitting that looks the same if they have stopped selling them. Otherwise you have to buy a lot of spares. The Arlec ones have a replacabale builb, so far easier.

Yeah, that is a downside. And even with replaceable LEDs, you're not guaranteed to get the same devices even if it's the same brand and model, as a friend of mine found out when he tried to buy replacements six months later and they had a noticeably different colour temperature. So your best option is actually to buy a few spares.

In my case since I had to do single lights in the bathrooms and hall as well I've got a stock of spares there, if any of the ones in the group in the kitchen/dining/living room die I'll bring in one from the bathrooms or hall and replace that with whatever Bunnings have in stock. Since it's only a single light, a different colour temp won't be noticed.

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dickytim

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#1833974 31-Jul-2017 06:30

I used some downlights from www.vynco.co.nz the Classico range. These were through an electrical wholesaler.

No problems with them, the electrician told me they were easy to install and they are the type that can be directly against the beams and have insulation directly on them.

The are dimmable and come in metal finish.