Downlights with or without transformers

[SaladFingers]

I think they're superb. they are IMO as bright as a 50W halogen, they comply with building regs for energy efficiency, and prevention of passage of sound, fire and moisture. They look good, they have a nice beam shape, they only use 7.9W per fitting.

Hmmm, so expensive though. I were thinking of GU10s only because even though i'd need a few of them, the hall way is narrow, so I'd only need a line of them, even though i am against them for having such a narrow light spread, which should be ok for my hallway.

 

[RF Lighting]

You can get the halers for about £25 each.

 

[SaladFingers]

You can get the halers for about £25 each.

it's a gamble for me though when I haven't seen them perform.

 

[SaladFingers]

Just had a measure, 800mm wide, or narrow hall way! Its a 3 bed semi, so why the hallway is just silly.

 

[RF Lighting]

Yeah I can understand that, and if you fit GU10s you swap out lamps until you find something you're happy with.

What about buy one halers, see what you think and if you don't like it, bung it on ebay and get most of your money back.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Just because you don't like them it doesn't automatically mean that no one else should be allowed to have them.

Just because you do that doesn't mean that nobody may criticise them, nor does it mean that it's OK for you to say they they look pleasant but it's not OK for others to say they look unpleasant.

2) For ceiling lights I'd advise fitting one you like, not a big numb one that you don't.

I like a downlighters installation. Thanks for advising this.

No problem - feel free to take the advice, and fit one downlight.

I hope it works well for you.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I don't like them, they remind me of offices.

And a ceiling full of 2" spotlights reminds you of what, exactly?

 

[HalfEatenFlapjack]

Wow it's all kicking off here!

Choosing lights is REALLY hard, as you can't tell what they'll look like until they're installed and working. I asked similar questions when I was planning my installation, and advice from experienced people like RF Lighting is invaluable (although I still question your physics!).

It's also good to be presented with other options which you may not have considered, such as the Thorn lights (although I also felt that they were a bit too office-y. Mrs HalfEatenFlapjack recoiled in horror when I suggested them).

I did get a bit cheesed off with people criticising my interior design choices. I wanted advice on numbers and types, not whether or not I should have them. I had actually seen downlights before I installed mine, and liked them, which is why I now have them. And funnily enough, I like them.

'Yet another room made to look like a high street shop' was one unhelpful and quite rude comment. As an amateur DIYer, I find this forum brilliant for getting advice of people with experience. Lets keep it informative and helpful.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's also good to be presented with other options which you may not have considered, such as the Thorn lights (although I also felt that they were a bit too office-y. Mrs HalfEatenFlapjack recoiled in horror when I suggested them).

The Chalice?

Fair enough. Another way of looking at them is hi-tech, which some people like. I've got one of these in my bathroom, and one in the loo:

http://www.bathrooms365.com/acatalog/Strata_Ceiling_Bathroom_Light.html

They've been in production for at least 8 years, so obviously quite a few people like them.

Not everyone, just like I can't abide fabric shades with tassels...

The flush PL downlighters seem so neutral though - when you look up you see a thin white ring and an etched glass circle. As close as you can realistically get to just having areas of the ceiling light up.

'Yet another room made to look like a high street shop' was one unhelpful and quite rude comment.

But absolutely spot on.

 

[macadonald]

Wow guys,

Thanks for all the advice, albeit many personal opinions, which I suppose was always going to be the case. Like many of you have said, it is down to personal choice and what you like.

I had my electrician over last night discussing options and he pretty much repeated what you all said. What he did say is that each room of 3m x 3m would probably need 9 downs in order to not be dissapointed in the long run. You can always reduce the brightness with bulbs. Not sure our living rooms with log burner etc is going to really suite this swiss cheese ceiling, so have decided on pendants in the living rooms and downlights in the extension, which has a more modern feel to it with a skylight in the middle.

I will work through all of your posts to decide which down lights to install and will 'thank' you at the same time.

Once again, thanks for all the advice. Much bigger response than I expected.

Regards

Mac

 

[SaladFingers]

I don't like them, they remind me of offices.

And a ceiling full of 2" spotlights reminds you of what, exactly?

Doesn't really remind me of anything to be honest.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So lights which you see in offices remind you of offices, but ceilings full of 2" lights which you see in High St shops and budget hotel chain foyers don't remind you of High St shops or budget hotel chain foyers.

Fair enough.

 

[SaladFingers]

So lights which you see in offices remind you of offices, but ceilings full of 2" lights which you see in High St shops and budget hotel chain foyers don't remind you of High St shops or budget hotel chain foyers.

Fair enough.

Not really, no.

I don't use budget hotels. I generally get put up in Hiltons or Thistles when away with work if there's no rooms left at the Officers Mess.

Can't say I've seen them in hight street shops, either, usually some form of discharge lamp.

 

[SaladFingers]

Its a tough one, been looking again and I can't really see anything else I like. I want some new bathroom lights, as the one I have is over the bath leaving dark spots, just nothing looks good enough apart from those bleeding spots but you need loadsa them.

 

[SaladFingers]

JCC Fire Guard LED7 look good, just saw some in action, was really surprised.