Downlights yes or no?

chillout · 10 Jul 2011

What are your opinions on downlights. A few to highlight pictures etc ok, or better to not make a 'cheeseboard ' of the ceiling? In a few years time will they be looked upon as a fad?

I was thinking of four on each side of the ceiling and two in the bay and a pendant also. Opinions please most welcome.

holmslaw · 10 Jul 2011

sparkticus · 10 Jul 2011

chillout said:
What are your opinions on downlights. A few to highlight pictures etc ok, or better to not make a 'cheeseboard ' of the ceiling? In a few years time will they be looked upon as a fad?

I was thinking of four on each side of the ceiling and two in the bay and a pendant also. Opinions please most welcome.

I do not like downlights as primary lighting but I see you are going to use a pendant too which is a good thing in my opinion.

In my personal opinion downlights as primary lighting do not illuminate a room well. An occasional downlight to highlight a feature/painting great.

Even then I would not use halogen, they run hot, not efficient, higher risk of fire and have a short life span. I would use CFL or LED. Dimming LEDs and CFLs gets expensive - at least at the moment

1550 · 10 Jul 2011

Well they have been around a long time now and do'nt seem to be losing their popularity.
Gimballs are particularly suited as picture lights and are discreet and effective. Dimmable down lighters do create a pleasing atmosphere if you get it right.
The holes in the ceiling is the price you pay I'm afraid.

chillout · 10 Jul 2011

unfortunately the cfls are not as small as id like, I wa aiming for 35wattage to keep them small. Are LEDs available in this size and are they silly prices? Yes I was thinking just a few, two on one side to hilight pictures but then id have to have two on the other to match?

sparkticus · 10 Jul 2011

chillout said:
unfortunately the cfls are not as small as id like, I wa aiming for 35wattage to keep them small. Are LEDs available in this size and are they silly prices? Yes I was thinking just a few, two on one side to hilight pictures but then id have to have two on the other to match?

Have a look at these CFLs. You will also find LED downlights on the same site.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GUFRD11C.html

sparkticus · 10 Jul 2011

sparkticus said:
chillout said:

unfortunately the cfls are not as small as id like, I wa aiming for 35wattage to keep them small. Are LEDs available in this size and are they silly prices? Yes I was thinking just a few, two on one side to hilight pictures but then id have to have two on the other to match?

Click to expand...

Have a look at these CFLs. You will also find LED downlights on the same site.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/GUFRD11C.html[/QUOTE]

PS, they have made a typo on that page. It is not a GU10 LED lamp. It is a GU10 CFL. They do have a reasonable range of LED downlights though.

riveralt · 10 Jul 2011

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=278327

sparkticus · 10 Jul 2011

riveralt said:
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=278327

Lovely pendant

chillout · 10 Jul 2011

Proble with these is the cut out size. Im after d/l's that are not too intrusive. The halogens are available in a 35w 'invisible' range that blend in with the ceiling. These are very discrete. Maybe leds would come into place for these fittings one day?

ban-all-sheds · 11 Jul 2011

1550 said:
Well they have been around a long time now and do'nt seem to be losing their popularity.

So have McDonalds burgers.

Doesn't mean that they aren't revolting.

rebuke · 11 Jul 2011

I was looking round a house with a friend that he was considering buying - it had been bought by someone who had done it up, and they'd clearly replastered the ceilings, and then lit *every* room with loads of downlights - in the (quite small) lounge alone there was 400W worth, and I think if he'd put all of them on he'd probably be burning away about 1.5 - 2kW!

I pointed out to my friend quite how much it was going to cost him to light the place - the estate agent tried to counter "but they're low voltage and energy efficient", and was quite annoyed when I then explained to him why they're not efficient at all when put in like this!

Paul_C · 11 Jul 2011

rebuke said:
the estate agent tried to counter "but they're low voltage and energy efficient"

Unfortunately, that seems to be the idea that a lot of laymen have been left with after all the hype about "efficient low-voltage lighting." Like the person I remember some time back who wouldn't accept that the 200 watts of 12V lighting fittings in his hall were costing more to run than the regular 60W 240V lamp they'd replaced. "But they're low voltage!"

ban-all-sheds · 11 Jul 2011

Well his bills would have told him the truth...

I'm sure it's now got to the stage where more buyers will be put off a house because it has downlights than will be put off because it doesn't...

chillout · 12 Jul 2011

Interesting views. Yes Im thinking about when/if I do sell also. Some may like them, but will most think hih leccy bills!

Im swaying towards not having them.
MAybe just a couple in the bedroom bays as a feature and thats it!

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Downlights yes or no?

holmslaw

Paul_C

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