Hi guys,
I'm building with metricon and wondering what I should go for.
Future LED points for $66ea or standard point for $56?
I'm building a two story house and I've heard it's hard to get LEDs on the ground floor?
That's the reason for the Question.
What are the difference between these 2?
I'll be getting local electrician to do the first floor later on.
Please refer to my comment below to Euphemistic
LED's they are the future. The extra money you spend now you will save on your electricity and pain and hassle of changing halogen bulbs. The LED's should last a lot longer then the halogen.
What is your builders definition of LED point and std point? It sounds like either a GPO (power point) socket to plug an LED into, or a standard batten light bulb socket. LED fittings usually have a DIY plug that can be fitted into a standard GPO. LED fittings (transformer and globe) can cost $20-$30ea. To me $66 seems too cheap for a builder to install the actual LED downlights.
Also keep in mind that you will need more downlights fitted than standard light fittings. For example our loungeroom has 2 oyster lights (that would be fitted in place of std fittings) but would need probably 6 downlights to cover the room effectively. The bedrooms have 2 LED downlights, but would only install one standard light fitting.
Thanks for the comment. LED is with GPO and standard is junction box or a batten light bulb. 56 and 66 are the wiring cost. Plus I've got $85 11W LEDs which are on special for $55 which covers 1.5sqm and chose few $90 15W LEDs which covers 2sqm area. So pretty much $110 for 11W ledlux and $146 for 15W
I bought 3 10W LEDs a few weeks ago for my renovations. $35ea and I thought they were expensive! I have 2 10W LEDs in a 3.5x3.9 bedroom and it's plenty, maybe they have better coverage than 1.5m² you have been quoted.
Always go GPO, it means you can change out the full light later without an electrician. I am assuming your lights are about 800 lumens. We installed 850 lumen full faced lights about 2M apart and they are great (2.7m ceiling).
Hi Dozingquinn,
Thanks for the reply. If I get GPO is it hard to remove standard lights and install LEDs yourself? Mine is 2550mm high ceiling. Do we not need to cut the whole of the same size n stuff?
OK, so you are talking about general lights (where the bulb protrudes downward) and downlights where the bulb sits flush with the ceiling. I only thought you were talking about downlights. To be honest, I wouldn't recommend DIY'ing the change from general to downlight. Just get it done properly the first time. I recommend downlights in living areas, but general lights in bedrooms. General lights give off more light, so you really only need 1 per room. If you were to go downlights in bedrooms you need at least 4 per room.
I recommend downlights in living areas as they don't protrude downwards, thereby making the room larger.
Also you can get LED general lights and LED downlights - so make sure you're not confusing the two.
Yup, definitly sounds like you need to know more about lighting before continuing on.
Disagree on the comment on needing 4 downights in a bedroom. We have 2 LED down lights in our bedrooms (other than main) and it is plenty. The rooms aren't huge, but not tiny either being around 4m x 3.5m. Four per room would make it too bright. We've got 4 in the kitchen, but you need extra light there.
I think a lot of people confuse LED lights with downlights. The LED is just the bit that puts out the light, they come in all shapes and sizes and fitting types. OP make sure you are clear on what you are specifying.
@Dozingquinn: so when I say LEDs I'm talking about downlights. I don't have a lot knowledge with these stuff so bear with me.
Did some research.
Metricon is providing:
Total lights in the house will be 44.
11w LED for $55 with $56 wiring which are on special from $85
15w LED for $90 with $56 wiring
Future downlight points costs $66 from them.
My standard wiring points are 26, so I'm only paying for extra 19 points which come up to around $1000.
If I buy LEDs off like schnap or other dealers I get a 13w LED downlight for $18. If I get someone to install them, by an apprentice they would charge me around $700/$1000.
Buy buying from these dealers saving me almost $1700 just for wiring.
So I'm thinking to get downlight wiring done from them, buy LED downlights from schnap and get it done.
Any suggestions before I lock this in?
Firstly, see if Metricon allow you to do this. If they do, go for it.
Know the specs of the downlights you are after. 13w is pretty useless without knowing the lumens (brightness) and there lamp life. I would be aiming for a 10W 800lumen light with 50,000 hours life.
@Dozingquinn: 950 lumens Samsung light.
http://www.schnap.com.au/lighting/down-lights/12w-led-downli…
Thanks for all the advise definitely helpful. Not just for me but for future readers too.
No worries. Good specs on that light, but 13W is a lot of power. It's the same as a general globe. Go ahead!
You mean light build sockets…? Or down lights…?
It's hard to get stuff installed in the ceiling of the ground floor after the house is built.
If you haven't finished building, now is the time to get fancy lights, home theatre wiring, ducted AC, etc, not later…