LED lights, fittings and insulation

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 5:11 pm

I want to install LED lights on plasterboard that is directly on top of PIR boards on a 5.1x2.2 metres garage that I'm converting to a home office. I was reading that I should have clearance between the lights and the PIR board to allow air circulation, so I was looking for slim profile LED lights, but with so many choices, it is difficult to find the right product and if I'm taking the right way. I initially wanted to put GU10 LED lights in place as there is a lot of options with colour temperature, beam angle and lumens. But slim led lights there is way less choice, also the brands are a bit more obscure.

I was hoping anyone could shed some "light" here to what is the best way forward. The GU light fittings are quite bulky but I have more options compared to the slim LEDS that have an external driver. I was hoping to leave as much insulation in place as possible.

Grumps · Post by **Grumps** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:32 pm

For a Home office, do you really need recessed lights. It's not as though you are going to sit there and admire them all day.

Add to that the fact that there will always be an area(s) where 'could have been sited better'.

Far better, I'd suggest, to go for LED Battens.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-oxbo-sin ... 00lm/590cc

3 would be more than adequate for that area.

I've fitted one (in my garage) to replace a [failed] twin 5' flourescent and the output is far better than the failed unit ever was.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pm

Sealed LED lights are the work of the devil. They don’t last long and you have to replace the entire unit …..

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 9:23 pm

Grumps wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 7:32 pm For a Home office, do you really need recessed lights. It's not as though you are going to sit there and admire them all day. Add to that the fact that there will always be an area(s) where 'could have been sited better'.

Far better, I'd suggest, to go for LED Battens.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-oxbo-sin ... 90cc

3 would be more than adequate for that area.

I've fitted one (in my garage) to replace a [failed] twin 5' flourescent and the output is far better than the failed unit ever was.

I tried a panel light from amazon, 2200 lumens but it was pretty dark and not wide angle, I have a batten light in the attic that I was testing, it works okay but the light doesn't dim if needed, as I'm going to do video recording from time to time that is quite important. I'm giving up the idea of GU10 LEDs as they not seem fit for purpose, I lost so many now due to possibly overheating that I may have to go these all in one options with external controller.

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 9:24 pm

Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pm Sealed LED lights are the work of the devil. They don’t last long and you have to replace the entire unit …..

I guess I'll buy some spare just in case

Nos · Post by **Nos** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:15 am

Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pm Sealed LED lights are the work of the devil. They don’t last long and you have to replace the entire unit …..

It depends which LED lights you are talking about if its downlighters you are wrong, I have them throughout my house and you can just replace the LEDs should you have a problem. If the space is for an office I would fit LED batten type lights I have ten in my large garage/ workshop they are very good and given two year faultless service, touch wood, they are V-TAC super pro, five year warranty LEDs by Samsung get from the river shop.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:55 am

Nos wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:15 am
Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pmSealed LED lights are the work of the devil.
It depends which LED lights you are talking about if its downlighters you are wrong,

Not being pedantic but Neelix did say "Sealed Led lights", sealed would be the ones you can't change the lamp, so he is not wrong.

example of sealed light.

example of non sealed light.

Nos · Post by **Nos** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 1:45 pm

I was referring to the OP they never said sealed units, I was informing them that other types are available.

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:38 am

Nos wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:15 am
Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pm Sealed LED lights are the work of the devil. They don’t last long and you have to replace the entire unit …..
It depends which LED lights you are talking about if its downlighters you are wrong, I have them throughout my house and you can just replace the LEDs should you have a problem. If the space is for an office I would fit LED batten type lights I have ten in my large garage/ workshop they are very good and given two year faultless service, touch wood, they are V-TAC super pro, five year warranty LEDs by <a href="http://www.samsung.com" class="skimwords-link" target="_blank" data-skimwords-id="2151331" data-skimwords-word="Samsung" data-group-id="0" data-skim-creative="300001" title="" occurrence="1" data-skim-node-id="437:ItdependswhichLEDlig_1" style="">Samsung</a> get from the river shop.

I suspect the main reason for LED lights failing is over heating as it happened to me, all places where fibreglass insulation was directly around the GU10 case, with no airflow, made the LED lights fail over 2-3 years. Other places where no insulation was in place they are still going. LED produces less heat, but I believe it is still very sensitive to heat on its electronics.

I've researched a lot and found this which is meant to be covered by insulation https://www.electricalcounter.co.uk/pro ... 3189793314

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:39 am

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:55 am
Nos wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:15 am
Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 8:39 pmSealed LED lights are the work of the devil.
It depends which LED lights you are talking about if its downlighters you are wrong,
Not being pedantic but Neelix did say "Sealed Led lights", sealed would be the ones you can't change the lamp, so he is not wrong.

[url=https://www.screwfix.com/p/luceco-ftype ... 092t] example [/url] of sealed light.

[url=https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-fixed-fi ... 478v]example[/url] of non sealed light.

the first model is what I came up as being the best solution so far, it sems jcc with their V50 is also a good candidate, but I'm betting on luceco

bleicker · Post by **bleicker** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:41 am

Nos wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 1:45 pm I was referring to the OP they never said sealed units, I was informing them that other types are available.

I'm open to use sealed units, the GU10 LED plus the fitting seems a retrofit more than a fit for purpose, I was not very happy long term with it anyway so I'm going down the sealed route way, considering I'm planning to use Luceco I'm expecting their light will be around for long if I need to replace any in the future