Too many ceiling spotlights

[rapidnailer07]

I've got ceiling spotlights that use GU10 bulbs. I've got 5W LED dimmable bulbs but they're on a simple on/off switch. There's some rooms that seem to be overly bright. Long term, I'd like to change the light switch to a smart dimmable light switch (I have neutral wires at the light switch) but as a short term measure, can I remove a few of the bulbs? Will taking out bulbs reduce the energy usage by 5W per bulb or will the spotlight holder be using some energy anyway? I thought I could either cover up the spotlight or if you can buy a dummy GU10 bulb to insert into the connector that just covers the connection then that would work.

Other options
1. Changing the switch to a rotary dimmer switch - a reasonable alternative if removing bulb idea doesn't work
2. Changing bulbs to lower wattage - doesn't seem as flexible in case there are times when I would want to have the room brighter.

Thoughts on this?

[Someone-Else]

It's up to you, you have to live with it, I don't

Yes if you remove a lamp, you will reduce your energy consumption by X (5 in your case) watts for each lamp you remove.
Sadly, not all LED lamps are dimmable. Only dummy lamp I know, is a failed lamp

I always liked the idea of (say you have 3 rows of 3 lights) 1 switch operates the centre row, another switch operates the two outside rows. With just 2 switches you have 4 options.

1) Just middle row
2) Just both outside rows
3) All rows
4) Darkness

Although more expensive, did you know you can get RGB GU10 lamps, that way you can have the room any colour, or a mixture, and for parties you can run most in "disco" mode.

Oh, and dimming LED lamps is a "dark art" it is often hit and miss if the lamps you have will work with the dimmer. The dimmer I have is "programmable" for the lights (No, its not a smart dimmer, you can teach the thing how to dim the lights)

[ericmark]

I agree with @Someone-else, but you could also replace some bulbs with smart bulbs. I have it in my kitchen, hey google turn on fridge light turns just one lamp on, but turn on kitchen lights turns on 5 lamps, as does flick switch off and on again. I have all 4 as smart GU10, but can also replace just some.

[Neelix]

Replace the bulbs with a lower lumen output?

[ericmark]

Back-ground use.jpg (4.81 KiB) Viewed 190 times

I look at my home, and with just the freezers and this laptop being used, I see 400 watt, and I do wonder how much is used by items on stand-by?

I could easy measure, but for me 400 watt is not really a problem, we live 8 miles from shops, and on a steep hill, so freezers with food is essential for me, and even on a dull day like this, the solar panels will likely cover the back ground usage.

Take a typical GU10 bulb, and we know an LED can produce over 100 lumen per watt, but many are well below that. Looking at a random advert "GU10 LED Bulbs, Warm White 2700K, 4W 345lm, 50W Halogen Spotlight Bulb Equivalent, Energy Saving" and as one goes advert to advert that watts to lumen ratio changes a lot. I looked up a 50 watt GU10 incandescent bulb, Luminous Flux 3000 lumen clearly some one is lying. I would guess the halogen bulb advert, but who knows?

Found a 5 watt at 500lm and in real terms I have fitted 10 x 3 watt candle bulbs and swapped to 10 x 5 watt bulbs, and to walk into the room, I see no change, sit down and try and read a book, yes can see the difference, but I now have 2 x 12 watt LED bulbs lighting the back of my house, and I can see my way at night just as well to when I had 2 x 300 watt halogen flood lights. I really don't care if I stood on an ant as did not see it, as long as I don't step on the cat.

[Neelix]

Also don’t concentrate on the wattage, look at the lumens output - far more important

[Bob225]

Colour temperature is the key here -a 4-5000K bulb is bright white what can be very harsh drop down to a 2700-3000k will give you a softer light otherwise dropdown to a 3w led

dimmers not all are equal you need on that is leading edge type and the correct bulbs even tho they may say they are dimmable you need a decent dimmer so they don't whine or flicker

Aurora Enlite bulbs work well (toolstation do the 10 packs at a reasonable price)