LED lighting in the house

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody here has had any experience with LED lighting for the kitchen. We've lived here for a fair while now and our halogen light fittings are in need of replacing, the under cupboard units have all but one failed and the main lights (3 fittings) are at the end of their life as well.

I am curious about LED because as I understand it there is nothing that can break *unless you do it on purpose* - is that correct?

I also wonder if the light production is better. The halogens were alright, but never perfect, either too bright or too dim for the time of day and the light needed so I was thinking of replacing those three with bigger LED units and somehow get them on a dimmer.

Any tips?

Have them in one room. Very good I think. They stay cool, and I think they only use like 10 to 15% of the energy a regular bulb would use.

Don't know the specifics of dimming led lights, but it's possible (how's that for useful info!). They can be quite a cold light, a bit light flouresent tubes but worse, and they aren't cheap either, go brighter than you think you need. There used to be a place on eccy road that did lots of lighting, including led stuff. Very knowledgable when I went - so much so I've forgotten the name

LED lighting has improved greatly in the last few years. Really impressed with 16 of these in our kitchen:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SEBSON%C2%AE-dimmable-Replacement-Technologie-Spotlight/dp/B00JM7SH3E/ref=sr_1_10?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1416514057&sr=1-10&keywords=sebson+gu10

Much better and cheaper than the LEDs we bought 4 years ago. The older LED bulbs had multiple LEDs which produced a mottled effect, whilst these have one large LED which works much more like a traditional spot.

Actually much brighter than traditional 50W bulb, but can be dimmed, or maybe try cheaper 5W version.

Don't know the specifics of dimming led lights, but it's possible (how's that for useful info!). They can be quite a cold light, a bit light flouresent tubes but worse, and they aren't cheap either, go brighter than you think you need. There used to be a place on eccy road that did lots of lighting, including led stuff. Very knowledgable when I went - so much so I've forgotten the name

Haha, very useful Mr. Hat! The thing about atmospheric lighting (it's a kitchen/diner or living kitchen as we Dutch call it) is that it can be achieved in different ways (side lamps, candles whatever else my wife can think off) what we have a need for first and foremost is much improved overall lights to work under. Whether this is cooking, cleaning or using the laptop and papers and stuff at the table.

I will see if I can find the place on Eccy, although I have found a few online sites that offer good value products and seem specialised, so I might use that.

I have gone down the LED route for most of the house.

Initially I made a few mistakes and wasn't happy with the light output, but

with the help of Which magazine tests I found some excellent bulbs.

The latest ones come in a choice of hues (white warmwhite cool etc.) They have dimmable versions but these can make some dimmer switches buzz?

I have also replaced the outdoor lighting with LED and this has been a revelation. Incredibly bright pure light at almost zero power consumption

compared to the old halogen bulbs (I just replaced the bulbs in the old fittings)

My advice, don't buy unless the shop has them on display for you to see lit.

Take a note of make and model then shop around for the best price.

There is a half decent selection at that place in Heeley round the back of Machine Mart.

Hope that helps.

Haha, very useful Mr. Hat! The thing about atmospheric lighting (it's a kitchen/diner or living kitchen as we Dutch call it) is that it can be achieved in different ways (side lamps, candles whatever else my wife can think off) what we have a need for first and foremost is much improved overall lights to work under. Whether this is cooking, cleaning or using the laptop and papers and stuff at the table.

 

I will see if I can find the place on Eccy, although I have found a few online sites that offer good value products and seem specialised, so I might use that.

You can pick plenty up from China via eBay at not a huge cost. Aldi have some cheap ones from time to time. Go for neutral rather than cool white as well. Light and shade was the name of the shop I've just been reliably informed.

I have gone down the LED route for most of the house.

 

Initially I made a few mistakes and wasn't happy with the light output, but

with the help of Which magazine tests I found some excellent bulbs.

 

The latest ones come in a choice of hues (white warmwhite cool etc.) They have dimmable versions but these can make some dimmer switches buzz?

 

I have also replaced the outdoor lighting with LED and this has been a revelation. Incredibly bright pure light at almost zero power consumption

compared to the old halogen bulbs (I just replaced the bulbs in the old fittings)

 

My advice, don't buy unless the shop has them on display for you to see lit.

Take a note of make and model then shop around for the best price.

There is a half decent selection at that place in Heeley round the back of Machine Mart.

 

Hope that helps.

Good advice, cheers! I had to assist in designing a library and an essential part of that is lighting so I know my way around Kelvins and Lumens, which is why I am not too worried about seeing them, as long as they are reputable brands I am quite confident I know what sort of light they will give.

I will add the place round the back of Machine Mart to the ;to find; list

---------- Post added 20-11-2014 at 20:23 ----------

You can pick plenty up from China via eBay at not a huge cost. Aldi have some cheap ones from time to time. Go for neutral rather than cool white as well. Light and shade was the name of the shop I've just been reliably informed.

Cheers, I will now move them from the: To find to the To visit list

Edit: btw Andrejuan, our outdoor light needs replacing as well (never noticed during Summer!) so will look into using LED there as well.

More edit: thanks Waldo and Milque as well, I did read your posts with interest!

Bought my led kitchen and bathroom lights from screwfix - the ones that are a bit dearer than the value ones - after reading the reviews. They are excellent.

My house is now about 95% Led. Mostly dimmable. All my internal bulbs have been bought from http://www.ledhut.com

Did a lot of research before buying and they had by far the best reviews and prices.

I went the cheap from China route with external lighting as I don't have trust in them for inside as there are currently no standards in place for LEDs so who knows what you're getting.

If you go for dimmable be warned that not all dimmers work with LEDs and it can be a case of trial and error finding ones that work with the bulbs you buy. Even if they state they are for LEDs they may not work with some makes, again due to no standards being put in place.

Always buy from somewhere with a good returns policy. I had to return loads before discovering the site above. Everything has been spot with their bulbs so far.

If you do use the site I have linked do a Google search as there are loads of discount codes available but they change regularly.

Also base the brightness of the bulbs on lumens and angle not wattage. The ones in places like B&Q have a very low light output in relation to their wattage.

@MrBloom, hadn't thought of ScrewFix yet, good shout.

My house is now about 95% Led. Mostly dimmable. All my internal bulbs have been bought from http://www.ledhut.com

Did a lot of research before buying and they had by far the best reviews and prices.

I went the cheap from China route with external lighting as I don't have trust in them for inside as there are currently no standards in place for LEDs so who knows what you're getting.

If you go for dimmable be warned that not all dimmers work with LEDs and it can be a case of trial and error finding ones that work with the bulbs you buy. Even if they state they are for LEDs they may not work with some makes, again due to no standards being put in place.

Always buy from somewhere with a good returns policy. I had to return loads before discovering the site above. Everything has been spot with their bulbs so far.

If you do use the site I have linked do a Google search as there are loads of discount codes available but they change regularly.

Also base the brightness of the bulbs on lumens and angle not wattage. The ones in places like B&Q have a very low light output in relation to there wattage.

I found that site and wondered about using them, some excellent advice here pal, thanks!

@MrBloom, hadn't thought of ScrewFix yet, good shout.

 

 

 

I found that site and wondered about using them, some excellent advice here pal, thanks!

Screwfix returns have been excellent over the years - well, the one at Rotherham has been anyway. They'd probably be your best bet for the switches etc. lyco might be worth a look too.