Lighting Solutions in Top Floor Strata Unit - Solartube v artificial skylight v normal LED?

raquethead111 on 11/05/2020 - 15:08
Last edited 13/05/2020 - 00:11

Potentially moving into a new home that may not have as much light as we would like and was looking for some natural lighting solutions. I have heard that the least intrusive are the solar-powered LED which replicate daylight, and the worst are traditional skylights due to their leaking problems.

Would consider solartube as well but I think it is more troublesome and costly.

Does anyone have any experience with these kind of lighting solutions? Do they replicate natural daylight and do they actually bring in a decent amount of light as advertised?

Also, is there a reason why I wouldnt trust install LED lights?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • 87percent on 11/05/2020 - 16:05

    We have an illume in our hallway, and also one in each bathroom. We looked at traditional skylights, but the price difference was staggering. Makes a huge difference in light

    • raquethead111 on 11/05/2020 - 17:25

      Sorry to bombard you with questions but…

      What sizes ilume do you have?

      Does this mean 3 solar panels?

      What is the difference between ilume and regular LEDs? Some people suggest that these solar-panel LEDs are overpriced as LEDs would do just the same job.

      • 87percent on 11/05/2020 - 17:42
        +1

        The one in the hallway is 600x1200, bathroom are 400

        An illume uses a solar panel, and an led diffuser. So during the day, it’s like there’s an actual skylight. During the night time, there’s nothing.

        When I had it installed, we were doing a renovation and the builder put them up in like 10mins

        • raquethead111 on 11/05/2020 - 17:44

          so helpful thanks!

          • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 09:02

            @raquethead111: An illume is fairly easy to install . I helped a mate installed one in his half bath and it took under 20mins to do it. Neither of us are tradies.

            • raquethead111 on 13/05/2020 - 10:56

              @[Deactivated]: Was this a house? I'm not sure strata would allow unqualified me to do something like this!

              • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 11:31

                @raquethead111: Yes, a house. My mate's renting it from me until he can get his mortgage approved to buy it. Didn't need to get permission to do it.

                I wonder how much a handyman would charge you for it.

  • Ocker on 11/05/2020 - 16:17
    +3

    You could possibly need Body Corporate approval to install a skylight as it involves tampering with the roof of the building

  • MynyMouqe on 11/05/2020 - 16:27
    +2

    I was going to get an illume - ended up picking up some Nanoleaf lights and put them up instead. They stick up with the 3m strips (supplied - and easily removable), and you can either do plain "light" at varying %'s, or turn it on to music and colours for if you've got music playing!

    Only thing is that it doesn't change automatically based on outside light like the illume - but it may be easier if you're not allowed to run the illume panel outside.

    • raquethead111 on 11/05/2020 - 17:28

      ilume seems to be the way to go! How are the nanoleaf lights in terms of natural lighting?

      • MynyMouqe on 11/05/2020 - 17:32

        I like them - you can put them at pretty much any colour you want; I just run them at a warm white ~4000k colour pretty much all waking hours.

        • raquethead111 on 13/05/2020 - 00:09

          What’s your configuration with this? Do you just stick it on the ceiling?

          • MynyMouqe on 13/05/2020 - 07:27

            @raquethead111: I had some on the roof for a while, but then went to having them on the wall as a bit of a feature. Still lights up the room fantastic.

            • raquethead111 on 13/05/2020 - 07:51

              @MynyMouqe: How many would you recommend buying at one go? I’m just not sure if it would fit in theme / how to use it in the living room. Got any pics for inspiration?

  • uradox on 11/05/2020 - 17:07
    +1

    A friend has one of these led solar skylights and to me the light looked authentic, was quite impressive actually.

    You might be more likely to get strata permission to install the solar light rather than a proper skylight too. Should check that with them as it may automatically limit your option to the led anyway - which is fine.

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