Halogen spotlights

[jimbo5050]

This cropped up in a previous query of mine when I was wondering what the advantages. and disadvantages. where of low/high voltage lighting. The thing of loft insulation and reference was made to constructing boxes to keep the insulation away.
I'm beginning to wish I'd stuck with traditional lighting as it seems that I need to buy these expensive hoods for the purpose of keeping the downlights cool.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Bazdaa]

And then there were 2!

I'm in the same boat Jimbo. I find it hard to believe that everyone that has spots, as the fire hoods as well! I'm wondering if this is only required where there is insulation i.e. loft? Hence no insulation no hood required.

 

[jimbo5050]

Unfortunately mine are in the loft space

 

[Qedelec]

Have you looked a LED lighting.
The first reaction, is 'I want to be able to see where I am'. But modern advances in LED lights means they are compararable with conventionable means of illumination.
They also don't get hot and are virtually maintenance free.

 

[jimbo5050]

I should have said that I've already bought the downlights

 

[Qedelec]

Shed's 'll take em back

 

[jimbo5050]

Dare I say I got them from a certain catalogue firm

 

[Bazdaa]

Have you looked a LED lighting.
The first reaction, is 'I want to be able to see where I am'. But modern advances in LED lights means they are compararable with conventionable means of illumination.
They also don't get hot and are virtually maintenance free.

LED lights! Have you got any examples?

 

[Steve]

And then there were 2!

I'm in the same boat Jimbo. I find it hard to believe that everyone that has spots, as the fire hoods as well! I'm wondering if this is only required where there is insulation i.e. loft? Hence no insulation no hood required.

AFAIK, you're all wrong. Fire hoods are used to maintain the FIRE RATING of a ceiling - when there is a fire, intumescent material expands and fills the void where the light is, in order to keep the fire contained in the room above or below. They are not nessecary where you dont have a fire rated ceiling.

Building a little wooden box is the way to go if you merely want to keep insulation away from the lights. Drill a few holes in the top for dissipation.

 

[ebee]

LEDs are getting better but I don`t think they`re quite there yet, but sooner rather than later and this is really exiting for all lamps I think. Downlighters etclook pretty but you`ve always gotta think about heat dissapation, power wasted and fire safety (nightmare0

 

[ebee]

LEDs are getting better but I don`t think they`re quite there yet, but sooner rather than later and this is really exiting for all lamps I think. Downlighters etclook pretty but you`ve always gotta think about heat dissapation, power wasted and fire safety (nightmare0

 

[jimbo5050]

AFAIK, you're all wrong. Fire hoods are used to maintain the FIRE RATING of a ceiling - when there is a fire, intumescent material expands and fills the void where the light is, in order to keep the fire contained in the room above or below. They are not nessecary where you dont have a fire rated ceiling.

Building a little wooden box is the way to go if you merely want to keep insulation away from the lights. Drill a few holes in the top for dissipation.

Building the wooden boxes sounds cheaper than some of the things I've seen for sale, but how do you know if you have a fire rated ceiling?

 

[salem2000]

you would normally find a fire rated ceiling in a integral Garage, between separate dwellings, (ie:Flats, apartments) boiler rooms and sometimes kitchens.

Salem.

 

[jimbo5050]

Thanks for that, Salem2000 that means I'm okay.
I'll get making my boxes!!

 

[salem2000]

One thing if making the boxes from timber, make sure you leave room for ventilation. Halogens get very hot, very quickly.

Salem.