Recommendation for LED dimmable spotlights with holders?

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:41 pm

My house is being renovated and as part of that I'll be getting many spotlights throughout the house. I need to get LED dimmable spotlights but I heard some of the very cheap brands will do an annoying humming noise which would drive me nuts. Is there a reputable brand (but still has value for money) that I can go with, which reduce the chance I'm going to have issues. Also, I need the spotlight holders as well so what brand should I get for those. Ideally they come as a spotlight and holder package so then it'll be easier. Looking to get cool white.

Thanks in advance

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:59 pm

Also, given this is a brand new install with brand new electrical wiring, I assume going with GU10 connection is the best way forward? I read something about GU5.3/MR11/MR16 but these seem to require 12v which would actually be more effort to install.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:19 pm

Look on line, you can get just as you ask that are LED lamps in a "can" that are dimable

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:40 am

Anyone got experience/thoughts on the Aurora EN-DLM981X holder? They seem a pretty good price and have options for difference bezel finishing colours (white plastic, shiny metal, polished metal). With regards to bulbs, I'll have a look at dimmable rated LED bulbs. I just gotta make sure there are no compatibility issues between the holder and the bulb. Thoughts?

stevei · Post by **stevei** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:39 am

My advice for downlighters is don't use them. They are a pain when decorating, if you haven't got access from above, removing them is nigh on impossible without damage to the plasterboard and fixing that is another nightmare.

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:43 am

stevei wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:39 am My advice for downlighters is don't use them. They are a pain when decorating, if you haven't got access from above, removing them is nigh on impossible without damage to the plasterboard and fixing that is another nightmare.

I'm confused, what other options/solutions are there for spotlights in the ceiling?

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:47 am

Doh I thought downlighters were another name for spotlights. Just to clarify, what I meant throughout this post are downlighters that are recessed and flush with the ceiling. Given this, what are the possible solutions? I thought the only option available was a holder (like the Aurora EN-DLM981X) and a GU10 bulb.

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:25 pm

rapidnailer07 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:43 am
stevei wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:39 am My advice for downlighters is don't use them. They are a pain when decorating, if you haven't got access from above, removing them is nigh on impossible without damage to the plasterboard and fixing that is another nightmare.
I'm confused, what other options/solutions are there for spotlights in the ceiling?

GX53 although never used them. But it is a balance between looks and functionality. I had in my old house kitchen extension a single fluorescent fitting 5 foot long so good spread and 64 watt old fat tube 5' fitting, when son took the house he fitted 12 x 5 watt GU10 lamps, nearly the same wattage, and same lumen output, if anything less efficient to tube. but looks better.

However in Turkey I see they split up lighting for rooms with two switches, 1/3 on one switch and 2/3 on other switch, so they have three lighting levels with two switches, and no worry as to if the bulbs will work with dimmers. Looks better if the lamps are different style, so it is clear intended to only have some lamps working, and not simply blown bulbs.

So a panel lamp and spots, so it looks right.

I got it wrong with lumen output when moving to LED, large room originally two 100 watt tungsten bulbs, moved to two three lamp fittings at 40 watt bulbs, swapped for 11 watt CFL but looked rotten, so swapped for two five lamp fittings with golf ball CFL 8 watt each, far too dim and hard to find replacements so as an emergency fitted some 1.8 watt LED candle while looking for replacements and was impressed, so got 10 x 3 watt LED bulbs, the room looked bright, but found not good enough the read with so replaced with 10 x 5 watt LED. OK this was over some 30 years, but the point is twice we made errors, so you need a lamp which you can swap, if GU10 come in 2 to 6 watt, look at 4.5 watt lumen output and select how many so you can increase or decrease if error make.

This is what my son did to kitchen lights when he bought my house

: Kitchen bike.jpg (60.76 KiB) Viewed 2261 times

not sure my wife would consider a bike on the wall as appropriate decoration for a kitchen? But more down to what it looks like, not how much light per watt.

stevei · Post by **stevei** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:27 pm

I'm confused, what other options/solutions are there for spotlights in the ceiling?
[/quote]

Track lighting, suspension lighting, pendant lights: have a look online, there's lots to choose from. Even Ikea do a track system.

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:18 pm

stevei wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:27 pm I'm confused, what other options/solutions are there for spotlights in the ceiling?

Track lighting, suspension lighting, pendant lights: have a look online, there's lots to choose from. Even Ikea do a track system.
[/quote]

Ah okay, I thought you meant there were other options with recessed lighting that are flush with the ceiling. I'm not planning to do any decorating soon so will stick with the recessed downlighting. I do really really like the look of them.

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 3:09 pm

Down lights and spot lights are not the same, I have fitted spot lights in the ceiling to shine on pictures, and will have something like Beam Angle 36 Degree, the problem is to light an area you need to shine it on a white wall and get the reflected light. A down light is often larger

one shown is 18 watt and 225 mm diameter not 50 mm. As a result it gives a good spread of light.

I tease my son and refer to his planetarium kitchen, and have said they should have been arranged like the great bear, but he has a lot of lights, can't remember the number but to avoid shadow it needs a lot, low wattage but a lot of them, was told on a shop refit no more than 18 inches between lights, and this with a high ceiling.

I have made my fair share of mistakes, lighting is not easy, it is not just lumen output but also spread, the problem in the home is the trade off, what they look like and how they light the room.

rapidnailer07 · Post by **rapidnailer07** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 11:49 pm

I bought a couple of Aurora EN-DLM981X holders along with some Aurora LED GU10 bulbs. Tested them at home and they seem to be great. The LED bulbs gives a 60 degree light spread. One thing is, I thought the cool white bulbs were what I wanted but turns out they seem a little too yellow, I actually prefer the daylight bulb that gives a very clear crisp white (I was actually surprised by this).