12v Downlighters hot

[Spiceman]

Hello everybody. Could somebody give me some advice on the following please.

Installed downlighters in my bathroom about 10 years ago which have been working fine. At the time of installation I made sure the loft insulation was not surrounding no where near my lights due to the heat that they output.

Im now re-insultating my loft and wondered how I go about covering the lights with insulation? I have seen like these fire proof covers in screwfix and metal shields but I thought they were quite expensive. Then I noticed they now supply these 12v lamps and label them as coolfit.

Could anybody point me in the right direction in to what would be suitable so I can totally cover my lights with insulation.

Thanks Tony.

 

[Phase2Phase]

hi tony

i personally use fire rated downlights from JCC then it doesnt matter what you cover them with have a look on there site :- JCC Lighting | Fireguard | Leaders in fire-rated downlights | Fire safety in the home | Independently tested for fire-rated ceilings

 

[Spiceman]

Thank you for your reply Phase2Phase. Nice looking lights.

Would you know what the difference is between these lamps

Sylvania MR16 Coolfit Superia Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Halolite MR16 Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Osram MR16 Decostar Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Would it mean anything to do with the amount of heat they output?

Thanks

 

[Phase2Phase]

Thank you for your reply Phase2Phase. Nice looking lights.

Would you know what the difference is between these lamps

Sylvania MR16 Coolfit Superia Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Halolite MR16 Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Osram MR16 Decostar Low Voltage Halogen 50W Lamp 12v

Would it mean anything to do with the amount of heat they output?

Thanks

the coolfit lamps actually throw the heat downwards therfor keeping the fitting cool however they should be used with fire rated downlights like on the JCC site the pthers as far as i no are just normal lamps which wil coz the fitting to gain heat

 

[Spiceman]

Great, Thanks for your quick response. I will buy some now.

 

[Phase2Phase]

buy the lamps of the fire rated fittings? you should really have the fittings

 

[Spiceman]

I will be buying the whole unit. Just to make sure its all safe.

Thanks

 

[Phase2Phase]

nice one glad i could help

 

[jimmyjazz]

At my last assesment I showed my assesor the fire rated downlights I'd installed in a bedroom. He said you could just as well use clay flower pots, a lot cheaper & still keeping the isulation off the fitting. Anyone else heard of this or similar, I'm not sure.

 

[Phase2Phase]

nope never heard of that lol sounds a bit rough lol

 

[Davey101]

Hadn't thought of flower pots, what a good idea!
I was going to suggest making a 'box' out of plaster board, this seems a fairly common solution, and much cheaper than the rip-off priced hoods.

Aren't low energy downlighters cool enough so as not to worry about insulation?

 

[Eggster71]

I notice you said they're 12 volt?
Make sure you either leave the transformers uncovered or make sure they can get air around them as they'll overheat and pack up.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I've used sections of large plastic soil pipe placed over the downlight and cut to just above the level of the insulation.Personally I wouldnt want to cover any type of downlight with insulation.

 

[Guest123]

Personally I wouldnt want to cover any type of downlight with insulation.

No, nor me.

 

[Spudnik]

Low energy downlights are perfect if they have to be covered.

Used them many times with no probs ....yet.

 

[Davey101]

I've used sections of large plastic soil pipe placed over the downlight and cut to just above the level of the insulation.Personally I wouldnt want to cover any type of downlight with insulation.

No, nor me.

Why not? What about LED downlighters?
Is putting plastic pipe near a downlighter a good idea? I've heard of empty water pipes have holes burnt in them by downlighters before.

 

[bramboy]

jcc rep. says insulation can go over down lights, but as long as it doesn`t get tucked in tight to joists.

Taken with a pinch of salt thou, when their 12 volt fire rated down lights came out they would melt the wires in the fittinig if the wrong lamp was inserted. Ok if the people never moved house who knew the problem. But any custumer will always put the cheapest lamp in place as long as it fits.

megaman 11w is my prefered option near insulation / plastic ceiling

plant pots are good thou...

 

[harrymonkfish]

the electrical safety council published an interesting article this month entitled 'Downlighters can they be a fire hazard?'

see here: Downlighters can they be a fire hazard? | Electrical Safety Council

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Why not? What about LED downlighters?
Is putting plastic pipe near a downlighter a good idea? I've heard of empty water pipes have holes burnt in them by downlighters before.

The pipe we have used has been of sufficient diameter to sit over the downlight with plenty of air space and there have been no problems. We have done this on several rewires where there is no existing loft insulation and we were informed that it was to be installed at a later date after we had completed.These insulation clowns cover everything in sight with 12" of fibreglass,when they did my fathers they covered over the C/H pump!
Regarding LED downlights I guess they would be ok covered....but low energy CFL's still generate heat and I wouldnt want to cover them.

 

[jimmyjazz]

the electrical safety council published an interesting article this month entitled 'Downlighters can they be a fire hazard?'

see here: Downlighters can they be a fire hazard? | Electrical Safety Council

As they say 'watch this space'