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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> DOWNLIGHTS https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1090918397 Message started by Dusty on Jul 27^th, 2004, 9:53am

Title: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by Dusty on Jul 27^th, 2004, 9:53am

I�m building a new kitchen and want to fit loads of new lights, such as ;)

:)� 8 ceiling down lights and be able to dim them.
:)� Decorative d/lights to the overhanging cornice, but they need to be smaller and not have much body height or you�ll be able to see them.
:)� Lighting to the underside of the wall cupboards.

Any ideas as to what I should fit ???

What are the pros and cons of mains and low voltage lights :o
What�s the difference between gu10 & gz10 8)

Thanks
Dusty :D

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by L.Spark on Jul 27^th, 2004, 10:14am

disadvantage is with ELV Dowlighters is they create more heat, they cost more, and they blow more often (it seems)

either the Mains or the ELV should be no problem to make dimmable, as long as you have the correct ELV Transformers

the lamp models come in both ELV and Mains voltage, GU10 is Mains Voltage normaly, MR10 is the ELV, GZ10 is also Mains, but im not a downlighter expert, hopefully some one can advise you which models are best to go for, but ofcourse it's up to you in the end

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by scotspark on Jul 28^th, 2004, 3:13am

for your overhang use 20 watt capsule lamp starlights, these r small so you wont see them standing on top of the cornice

as for the difference betweem 240vGu10 and 12v dichroic. dichroic means the light goes forward, heat backward. 12v ELC dic, produce a crisp white light, the 240volt halogen a warmer more traditional glow.

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by rabbit_rabbit on Jul 28^th, 2004, 12:46pm

Blimey Scot you making the most of 'daylight' hours up there tiz 03:15!!

Ray

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by ban-all-sheds on Aug 9^th, 2004, 10:57pm

wrote on Jul 27^th, 2004, 9:53am:

What�s the difference between gu10 & gz10 8)

Thanks
Dusty :D

There are 2 common types of mains halogen lamp bases, GZ10 and GU10.

GZ10 lamps are the dichroic (cool beam) type, where a lot of heat comes out of the back, and GU10s have internal reflectors (the lamps are also known as PARxx - Parabolic Aluminium Reflector) where the heat comes out forwards.

If you look you'll see that you can put a GU10 lamp in a GZ10 fitting, but not the other way around. This was done so that you couldn't put a dichroic lamp into a luminaire designed for PAR lamps, as the rearward-reflected heat would damage it.

Well guess what - people have now started making dichroic GU10s ::)

If a luminaire has a GU10 base, then unless the instructions explicitly say otherwise, you must only use PAR GU10s in it, not dichroic.

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by The_Trician on Aug 11^th, 2004, 10:39pm

My advice is forget downlighters altogether, unless you want the inside of your house to resemble a high street store interior.

Bad for the environment, bad for your eyes, bad for people like me to have to install, bad spread of light, bad heat dissapation.
Watch your leccky bill soar...

Nuff said about downlighters methinks.

TT

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by ban-all-sheds on Aug 11^th, 2004, 11:05pm

The problem is that, chandeliers in stately homes aside, not one lighting manufacturer in the whole world, in the last 100-odd years, has succeeded in making any form of pendant luminaire that is even marginally attractive.

I've disliked every one I've ever seen in anybody's house.

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by HandyMac on Aug 11^th, 2004, 11:37pm

The only good thing I can say about this stupid downlighters is that they have been a source of income for me.

I wouldn't have them in my house, but I can lie like the rest of 'em when I say "ooh, doesn't that look luvly luv?" ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by dingbat on Aug 14^th, 2004, 11:48pm

wrote on Aug 11^th, 2004, 11:37pm:

The only good thing I can say about this stupid downlighters is that they have been a source of income for me.

They're the gift that keeps on giving - in a few years time they will be the source of work for lots of plasterers, installing new ceilings! And then you get to come along and install stylish 'new' pendant fittings!

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by plugwash on Aug 15^th, 2004, 12:25am

the LED G10 bulbs get around the heat and electricity usage problems

i dunno what the light from them is like though and they are quite pricey

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by L.Spark on Aug 15^th, 2004, 1:18am

If there anything like the types used in the design of bars/clubs/restaurants, then they must be pretty sharp

Title: Re: DOWNLIGHTS
Post by ban-all-sheds on Aug 16^th, 2004, 1:12pm

wrote on Jul 27^th, 2004, 9:53am:

:)� � � �Decorative d/lights to the overhanging cornice, but they need to be smaller and not have much body height or you�ll be able to see them. �
:)� � � �Lighting to the underside of the wall cupboards.

http://www.withknobson.com/acatalog/cornice_lighting.html