This may sound like a silly question, but I'm not into lighting.
We have down lights using 13W energy saving globes (GU10 type). The globe measures 50mm in diameter and 82mm in height (including the terminals).
Is it possible to replace them with LED globes without changing the base unit? Does LED globe require transformer or some sort of converter?
Any recommended brands or EBay ones is no different?
Cheers!
I swapped my 50W halogen down-light globes for 5W 'Mirabella' LED globes (transformer in the housing) a couple of years ago, and have had no problems. They were a bit exy, but IMHO this was far outweighed by the reduction in electricity consumption, the quality of the product/'build', and (in a related point) the lack of heat they generate.
I replaced my GU10 globes with some cheap-arse ones from Bunnings.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/click-5w-gu10-led-warm-white-glob…
However you'll find these 3w LEDs as well. They are real cheap and probably real nasty, but hey, 15 bucks for a pack of 4 is hard to pass up.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/ledshine-3w-led-gu10-4-pack-globe…
Yes I did this too, but found some on clearance at Aldi for about $4-5 each.
These ones from Bunnings are 240 volts, so no transformer is needed. Same story with me.
However OP just check the voltage on your existing globes. If the voltage is 240 then no transformer is needed.
Likely here have more qualified and skilled tradesman can advise here,
My experience was:
Bought heaps of cheap ones on eBay to start with. They were cheap like just over $2 each. Quick local delivery. Some did not work on arrival. Good customer service and resent new ones FOC. But they do not last more than months and not that bright.
Price varies, so as brightness. Light can come with different angle, narrow and wide.
End up getting some multi packs from Bunnings. I do not know why but few of the LED lights flicker but no problem with halogen. Used12W halogen in IKEA instead.
The leds flicker because the input voltage is too high hense the need for constant current led drivers.
Thank you nocure. Is there a cure for this DIY or must it be s professional job?
Yep,you need a sparky.
OP, as indicated in the very the first comment, all GU10 specified lamps - halogen or LED - are 240 volts and have an inbuilt transformer. No external transformer required. Plug-and-play.
Cheap, and expensive, GU10 replacements all quote a high LED lifespan.
The difference is that - in the el-cheapo units - you'll be lucky to see the transformer componentry survive even a third of that stated life.
Up to you to decide on price-to-pay.
Also keep in mind that the very cheapest can have very inaccurate colour temperature (Kelvin) - relative to stated, have a lousy (often inaccurately quoted - if quoted at all) CRI, and some can have a noticeable blue, or even greenish colour-cast.
Most people don't realise this, but the making of high output LED's of consistent quality is still very much a 'black art', with a high percentage off the production line still not quite making the required grade.
There are very few actual manufacturers of high-output LED's, but many assemblers of lighting equipment.
Those at the cheaper end are sold those somewhat lower performing and otherwise inconsistent 'rejects'.
I do appreciate that some of them are temptingly cheap.
I've had good luck with the Aldi ones, problem is they aren't always available. Bought a couple from Bunnings too, but haven't installed them yet. I picked them up for half price, so $8 for 4. We've got 6 globes out the front of the house and two are warm white, four are cool. I got the Bunnings ones to rpelace the cool white and will use the cool whites out the back in some new fittings (one day soon)
Thanks guys, I bought a couple to test, turns out the height of the globe is not important as there's a catch to hold it in place. And silly me I was looking for 12W LED globes to replace the existing 13W energy saving globes, totally unnecessary because a 4W LED is plenty bright enough.
By the way, it gets quite hot.
You can get GU10 LED lights. They have a transformer inside the housing. The quality on ebay is variable, you get some good ones and some not-so-good ones. I used to have the power supplies on the ebay jobs blow up after about 9 - 12 months.