GU10 LED Lamp 240v - Timer

[zofinger]

Am looking to install four downlights outside in my car port and have all but decided to use mains voltage and these energy efficient bulbs.

I need them to be switched using a timer but at just 4.9w each what timer would be good to use?

For example a Timeguard i was considering controls 40 – 300W of filament, 20 – 150W low energy (minimum bulb size 20W), 18 – 76W of fluorescent and 20 – 200W of low voltage lighting. This won't work?

Also have read that LED's on a timer can cause them to flicker (i.e. flicker enough for you to notice).

Any help much appreciated.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Am looking to install four downlights outside in my car port and have all but decided to use mains voltage and these energy efficient bulbs.

Light output = to 9w Standard GU10 LED Lamp

4 x 50W GU10s would be useless at lighting up a car-port, 4 x 9W equivalent would be even worse.

It's going to cost you £60 just for the lamps - you could install fluorescent strip or bulkhead lighting that will actually work for a lot less than that.

I need them to be switched using a timer but at just 4.9w each what timer would be good to use?

Any timer with volt-free contacts will be fine - i.e. one which has its own neutral.

Which the one you linked to does not - it replaces a switch, and so it relies on current through the load to work itself, which is why you get restrictions on the load, and why you get flickering/flashing/faint glowing for non-incandescent lamps.

 

[zofinger]

The car port isn't huge (12m²) so was thinking 4x50w halogens will light it softly. Will have a think/read.

I also thought these LED's were equivalent to 45w GU10 halogens (according to the narrative anyway)!

Light output = to 9w Standard GU10 LED Lamp

This is a comparison to standard LED's, not halogens (which is quoted as 45w).

You're right, definitely cheaper ways of lighting the same area. The LED's are expensive! Any link to an appropriate electronic timer would be appreciated. I'm struggling!

 

[galliano2001]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/POWER-Long-Life-Lamp-White/dp/B0040XP5QC

5 Watt CREE LED bulbs, they give out decent light and are a lot cheaper than what you linked too, free P&P. I bought 4 from them.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

This is a comparison to standard LED's, not halogens (which is quoted as 45w).

I saw it, I copied and pasted it, and I failed to read it properly - sorry.

I also thought these LED's were equivalent to 45w GU10 halogens (according to the narrative anyway)!

Are they indeed.

They say:

Lumens: 310
Effective Lumens: 558

What's the difference? What are "effective lumens"? Might they be some non-standard, unscientific, unofficial or subjective measurement?

Who knows, but 310 lumens is definite.

And the review they quote says how wonderfully efficient they are (that's not in doubt), but it also says they measured them at 240 lumens. And it also says they got a measured performance of 65lm/W, which for a 4.9W lamp equals 318.5lm.

So which number are we to believe?

Whichever one you pick - and 310lm has got 2 votes, one number you can be sure is complete b*****ks is the 45W that they are supposedly equivalent to.

I don't know how LED (and CFL) makers get away with these outright lies - maybe there's a factory somewhere which makes deliberately poor-performing halogen lights for LED & CFL makers to buy to compare their products to.

I've never seen a 45W GU10, but a decent 50W one will put out around 900lm.

310lm equivalent to a 45W?

Absolutely no way.

Any link to an appropriate electronic timer would be appreciated. I'm struggling!

Most are either designed to replace a light switch, or to plug in.

This would do:



Or a central heating programmer.

But is a simple time switch the right answer?

What about a PIR so that the lights come on when someone goes into the car port?

Or an external switch?

Or something like this?:

 

[zofinger]

Thanks for the timer suggestion - will go with that i reckon.

Thanks also for the LED review; my research agrees with you re lumen output/comparisons made to 50w halogens. I think there's alotta porkies being told out there re the performance of LED's comparative to halogens - but that's probably for another thread.