Mains or extra-low voltage downlighters?

[marksparky]

12v mr16 all the time! far better quality of light and providing u use good quality bulb and transformer no worrries! imo cfl r crap customer supplied them on a job i done a while back i informed her i didnt think they wud be suitable for a kitchen cos of the warm up time...... when i turn a light on i like to be able to see straight away, not stand in the doorway for 30 secs waiting on them warmin up! she didnt take my advice and went on about savin the planet and reducing her carbon footprint............ needless to say she called me back 2weeks later and changed them to 35's lmao

 

[cjp1]

Although I have fitted a lot of GU10 cfl lamps and quite like them I do have to agree with marksparky about the warm up time.

 

[nathandance1996]

mains....!!

no messing about with stupid 12v transformers!!

Always extra-low voltage, those GU10 things blow so often, it's more of an inconvenience changing a bulb every 2 weeks than it is to fit a few transformers here and there. I have had the same 12v bulb for years, but when I installed the GU10s I went through 5 in a month.

most GU10s are rated at 230v, but British houses are still 240v, hence the problems.

 

[Fin170]

Since this thread was created in 2010 approximately 90% of the 12v fittings since then have probably failed by now :lol:

Feels weird now back then I found quick warming CFL ones to be pretty good, glad LED has shown me the (much cleaner/cooler) light

 

[nathandance1996]

Since this thread was created in 2010 approximately 90% of the 12v fittings since then have probably failed by now :lol:

Feels weird now back then I found quick warming CFL ones to be pretty good, glad LED has shown me the (much cleaner/cooler) light

two words - toroidal transformer. doubt they will fail within a few years, or even decades.

 

[Fin170]

Toroidal transformer ~£11
Basic fire rated down light ~£10
Junction box ~.50
Decent lamp ~£2

Total ~£23.50


Basic fire rated down light ~£10
Robus LED lamp ~£6

Total ~£16

The transformer does not cover the lamps damaging the fittings (I've changed quite a few where the lamp meets the base and it's heat damaged) etc. Also much more time consuming and difficult to install in tight spaces

For the cost of a good 12v set up you can nearly afford a JCC led 7 fitting (~£28) and those come with a 10 year warranty, a basic LED set up is also cheaper, more reliable and won't murder your customers with electricity bills. That's why I steer clear of 12v

 

[t-s]

in my experience had much less chew with mains

 

[louy]

i used to fit gu10 fittings but found the lamps didnt last long, started fitting extra low voltage which has a superior light quality, but have recently fitted l.e.d. fittings which are quite expensive to purchase but in theory should last longer, and are ideal for vaulted ceilings full of insulation.