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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1242681949 Message started by Tika on May 18^th, 2009, 10:25pm

Title: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Tika on May 18^th, 2009, 10:25pm

Back again!!!

Since I thought fluorescent lights only came in strip form and I wanted "delta" lights because there is no plinth and they can be seen, I settled on the idea of halogen ones since LED's wouldn't be bright enough (hence my last post).

Then I was browsing the internet when what did I find - fluorescent delta lights!! Can it be true? They are obviously not in strip form. This is what they say about them:

Manufactured from Stainless Steel
Fitted with 7w CFL Lamp
240V Mains Voltage
Energy Saving
Transformer NOT required
Long Lamp Life "

It appears they are cooler than halogens and that the bulbs last much longer. Would these be brighter than halogens too? If so, they sound perfect. Are there any drawbacks? I would be grateful for your professional opinions. Thanks so much for all your help and advice. I really appreciate it.

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Zambezi on May 18^th, 2009, 10:32pm

Hi again Tika,
I told you that there were fluorescent under-cabinet lights and I listed out the pros and cons of each in the first thread. Trawl back over the previous thread...

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Tika on May 18^th, 2009, 10:51pm

Sorry Zambezi; the website you referred me to previously has changed and I forgot that fluorescents were not necessarily tubes! So are these as bright as strip lighting then?

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Zambezi on May 18^th, 2009, 11:13pm

I have updated the link in the previous post to...
http://www.aurora.eu.com/ProductPages/LampProductDetails.aspx?g=3285&c=65&b=71&oc=65
They are 7W, so will be as bright as a 7W strip light, if that makes sense?
They are much the same as energy saving lamps that you get in all the DIY stores (and the same as the ones BG sent to all it's customers a few months ago). They are just a different shape.

Your best bet would be to find a lighting showroom somewhere near you and have a look at what is available. You will be able to compare them all side by side. Look on the website I linked to above for a list of the dealers in your area.

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Tika on May 18^th, 2009, 11:34pm

How would a 7W fluorescent compare with a 20W halogen for brightness then?

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Zambezi on May 19^th, 2009, 8:20am

Have a look at a lighting showroom, even places like Homebase have light fittings on display. Lighting is down to personal preference, much like choosing paint colours.
I prefer fluorescents and others prefer halogens, you may not like either...

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by plugwash on May 19^th, 2009, 9:50am

It will give a bit more light output and they also tend to give a wider spread of light.

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by scotspark on May 19^th, 2009, 3:30pm

we fit round ones that take the same lamp as the ones zam has linked to.

similar to this but nicer

http://www.aurora.eu.com/ProductPages/LampProductDetails.aspx?g=3949&c=65&b=71&oc=65

you can get the lamps up to 13 watt

you get more light output but not as bright as a halogen

best to get cool white lamps

you can also get led lamps but haven't used them myself

http://www.aurora.eu.com/ProductPages/LampProductDetails.aspx?g=3957&c=543&b=71&oc=543

SS

Title: Re: Undercupboard fluorescent kitchen lights
Post by Tika on May 20^th, 2009, 7:45pm

I was comparing the delta lights I found with those in Zambezi's link and the main difference is that they can only take 7W bulbs (as opposed to 'up to 13W') and don't have integrated electronic ballast. Oh, and they cost a fifth of the price! Is that suspicious? I don't actually know what integrated ballast is, but I enquired why they didn't have it and was told they didn't need it because they worked straight off the mains without a transformer. However, so do those in Zambezi's link and they have it. So, what is integrated electronic ballast and do I need it?!!