I am not an electrician, but a retired Hoover engineer in need of a little simple advice:
I intend replacing an existing pendant light in our conservatory, with eight recessed LED downlighters.
I only want simple lights operated by a compatible dimmer switch, but bright enough for all purposes. As the choice out there is enormous, can anyone advise which make or type of LED unit an electrician would normally fit.....
i.e.
Low voltage or mains?
Minimum watts per LED?
Spots or floods?
Any special items need adding to the circuit?
What rating dimmer switch do I need for 8 LED units?
Any help at all would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Downlighters for a conservatory?
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Downlighters for a conservatory?
Downlights in a conservatory 
Perhaps a picture would help as my understanding of a conservatory is a room with one or two brick wall sides and the remainder (Including the roof) glass or any material which lets in light.
A couple of things to note.
Mains LEDs are less hassle as they require no driver.
The dimmer would need to be compatible with the LED lamps (Most, but not all are)
You must use dimable LED lights (Not all are dimable)
A conventional dimable LED lamp and dimmer switch can only dim to around 50% by the way it operates.
Down lights often require 7+ cm above them to allow for the fitting. (Which is why I ask about a conservatory)
You can dim LED lights by 99% it's not the LED's that cost, it's the controls to make them do it that is the cost, making it too expensive for most situations.
Only an option, have you considered LED tape?
As for which ones, that is personal choice, I have 3W Lamps, others may say have 5W
Perhaps a picture would help as my understanding of a conservatory is a room with one or two brick wall sides and the remainder (Including the roof) glass or any material which lets in light. A couple of things to note.
Mains LEDs are less hassle as they require no driver.
The dimmer would need to be compatible with the LED lamps (Most, but not all are)
You must use dimable LED lights (Not all are dimable)
A conventional dimable LED lamp and dimmer switch can only dim to around 50% by the way it operates.
Down lights often require 7+ cm above them to allow for the fitting. (Which is why I ask about a conservatory)
You can dim LED lights by 99% it's not the LED's that cost, it's the controls to make them do it that is the cost, making it too expensive for most situations.
Only an option, have you considered LED tape?
As for which ones, that is personal choice, I have 3W Lamps, others may say have 5W
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Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me. Click Here for a video how to add/change picturesInept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
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Flash Harry
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Downlighters for a conservatory?
Hi SE,
Many thanks for the speedy and helpful reply. Just what I was looking for.
I have thought about LED tape/strip, but will stick with recessed lights, but a good suggestion.
I'm having the old conservatory revamped, so new glazed units all round and new half-flat rubber roof with a d/graised central unit. So the lights are going under the flat roof, where there'll be 4" of insulation, so I'll keep it in mind.
Thanks again for the help.
Many thanks for the speedy and helpful reply. Just what I was looking for.
I have thought about LED tape/strip, but will stick with recessed lights, but a good suggestion.
I'm having the old conservatory revamped, so new glazed units all round and new half-flat rubber roof with a d/graised central unit. So the lights are going under the flat roof, where there'll be 4" of insulation, so I'll keep it in mind.
Thanks again for the help.