35W Halogen Bulb / LED Replacement

• 

  poboy on 16/05/2017 - 13:51

  +1

  Sounds like you're looking to replace halogen downlights with LED downlights. Some LEDs are compatible with your halogen transformers - some aren't. So perhaps buy some from an outlet you can return.

  Don't so much look at the wattage - look at the lumens (brightness). If your downlights are clustered together - perhaps aim for a lumen count of ~400lm (~5W). If they are spaced further apart go for ~500-700lm (~7W).

  • 

    Euphemistic on 16/05/2017 - 14:12

    +3

    GU10 don't use a transformer. They are designed for 240v.

    • 

      poboy on 16/05/2017 - 14:23

      You're correct. My mistake.

      • 

        letmethefuqin on 16/05/2017 - 15:54

        Not exactly down lights, but more of the fitting that have 3 bulbs on a bent rod..
        Similar to this : https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/8~EAAOSwnHZYf2bW/$_86.JPG

        Ill buy a few bulbs and see how i go, thanks!

  • 

    Sunny84 on 16/05/2017 - 15:58

    +1

    I have changed halogens over the years to LED and your advice is spot on.

    I would add go to Bunnings and look at the Osram/Philips range

    • Make sure you pick bulbs that have 60degree output and as of the 35degree will look very spotty
    • Pick 3000k bulbs as they will closely match halogens colour
    • Some led's are dimmers other not so read the packaging
    • Approx 5w/400lumen Osram/Philip LED bulbs will look a little dim compared to halogen but in more cases will suffice especially if your trying to save power, otherwise pick 7w
• 

  sane on 16/05/2017 - 14:06

  +1

  Thing is, the angular distribution can make a lot of difference to the effective light you see. I'd be inclined to split the difference and look at ~5W LED. Change a few first and make sure you are happy with the illumination level/pattern. Focus on the lights that get used a lot, and use the halogens you take out for less used areas.

  35W > 5W means you save 30W. If you assume the lights are on an average of 3 hours per day, then at 23c per kWH you are looking at ~$7.5 saved over a year - so make sure you get a decent LED in a sale (eg liked the Woolies $2.50 each sale).

• 

  Euphemistic on 16/05/2017 - 15:11

  +1

  The only way you will be able to tell if a globe is suitable for your application is to try it. Buy a couple and test them in a few locations, if they aren't quite right put them in lesser used spots and get something different. It might be better to trial a few from a local shop so you can return and exchange rather than buying online and having to post back.

  I've used a few different LEDs MR16s and they can be very different in output.

• 

  Fergy1987 on 16/05/2017 - 15:33

  So are MR16's a straight swap? You can just take the halogen out and put an LED in?

  I've had a few issues with some cr@ppy Mirabella bulbs (not downlight) where I replaced a CFL with the LED and they just start flashing for no reason in the middle of the night at random times with the light switch off. Makes me worried to replace all the downlights in the house if they aren't compatible!

  • 

    John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 15:37

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/4691985/redir

    BensonP is apparently a sparky

    • 

      Diji1 on 16/05/2017 - 21:16

      An e-sparky. Seems legit.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 16/05/2017 - 16:49

    MR16 should be a straight swap, but the transformer might need to be LED compatible. Halogen is a lot more forgiving for a cheap transformer. More suitable transformers will also be more energy efficient.

    Dropping in LED MR16s might be cheaper, but it might be more efficient to swap out whole fitting and transformer.

    All the transformers on the LEDs in our house are about half the size of the old halogen transformers.

• 

  John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 15:36

  +1

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/303619

  BensonP is apparently a sparky

• 

  pjetson on 16/05/2017 - 16:28

  There are lots of web sites that can help you calculate possible savings. Here's one:

  http://www.ledified.com.au/interpreting-kilowatt-hours-on-yo…

  How much is your electricity bill? It seems that you might be able to save maybe $1 per day by changing all your lights to led, based on their example calculation of ten lights. Obviously the capital cost in buying the new led globes also has to be taken into consideration (they're not cheap!).

• 

  cheepwun on 16/05/2017 - 17:47

  -1

  Looking around the house today, and the power bill..

  Keep in mind the Average Grid Slave is paying around $500 a year in daily service charges. In other words, just to have an electricity connection at the premises. These costs will never disappear unless you go off-grid. And will only get higher as time goes on.

  That's without getting into the world-leading kW/h usage charges. All in a country that doesn't need to import energy. And with a population so dumb they have signed on to be Solar Slaves in high numbers…stuck to the grid, instead of investing in their independence from the Network.

  If your insulation could do some work, I'd look into this too. Heating and cooling (air conditioners) are typically the biggest users of power. As winter appraoches, most bills go higher in this period than other times of the year. It's also a really good idea to turn off appliances at the switch.

  Typical 'standby' current use is a joke.

• 

  Givemethemoney on 27/08/2017 - 20:21

  Bunnings seems to have a sale on LEDS 900lmn