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I'm thinking of installing down lighters/spots. Can anyone tell me the benefit of 12volt over mains? Or disadvantages? I might like to be able to use dimmers too?

Hi Bluesmonkey,

welcome to the forum.

12 volt ones are normally more expensive as you need to purchase a transformer to reduce the voltage down to 12v.

They normally use the same amount of electricity, I believe that the 12 volt ones could actually use more electricity because the transformer looses some energy as heat output, so in theory a 240 volt 50watt lamp would use less electricity than a 12 volt 50 watt lamp. You are probably only talking pence, and it may not even be true, but it sounds like a reasonable theory to me.

The mains powered versions tend to use lamps quicker than the 12 volt versions, but with the low voltage ones you may need to eventually replace the transformer and so it is swings and roundabouts really.

You can get some low wattage 240v spotlights like this-

http://www.eurobatteries.com/sitepages/ ... 20Lighting

You can get dimable flourescent lamps to fit in these.

I hope this helps a little with your descision?

Do you have plenty of space above the ceiling where you are fitting them?

Thanks for that, the lights are going in ground floor room so the space is a regular depth of ceiling-floor void, I've seen some 'fireproof or shrouded downlighters, would they be for installing among roof insulation or anywhere?

This has been discussed before on here- viewtopic.php?t=1283

Read the post by Ban-All-sheds, he knows everything about electrical rules and regulations.

You should easily have enough room to fit the low wattage lamps in the link that I posted. I asked because they are longer than normal fittings and so there are some places where you cannot use them.

Even though theymay be cheaper to run , the mains voltage halogens are very dull in comparison to their 12V partners. I would always use 12Vfittings as the light is so much more crisper and whiter than mains voltage halogens. Try looking at some on diplay in B+Q or a lighting showroom and you will see what i mean. Most transformers are guaranteed for 5 years anyway well the IBL ones are that i normally use.

Hope this helps

Nick