LED Bulbs

LED Bulbs Versus Halogen

LED Bulbs – The Ultimate Low Energy Lamp

Anyone who’s ever used halogen bulbs before knows they don’t last very long and have to be constantly replaced. What most people don’t consider is the energy they use; at 50 watt per bulb this costs a lot of money. LED (light emitting diode) bulbs are a longer lasting, low energy alternative. LED bulbs now provide the same clear, bright lighting effect that halogens have become known for. Whether you are looking to replace your existing inefficient halogens or installing new downlights, using LEDs instead is the wisest option. Here are the reasons why:

Would You Leave the Kettle Constantly Switched On?

A common problem with downlights is that you need to use a large amount to achieve a satisfactory lighting level. If you have thirty 50 watt halogen downlights running at the same time they are consuming 1500 watt (or 1.5 kilowatt) of electricity. This is the same amount of energy as a kettle. Would you leave the kettle left on all the time? No, so switch to LEDs and stop wasting money.

LED bulbs are a long term investment and should last for twenty to thirty years. The life expectancy of a 7 watt Philips GU10 Master LED is forty thousand hours. If this LED is left on constantly it will last for over five years. For obvious reasons, not many people leave their lights switched on all the time. To more accurately calculate how long a light source will last we base it on six hours a day use. Based on six hours a day the 7 watt Philips GU10 Master LED will last for over eighteen years. This time frame could increase to thirty six years if used for three hours a day.

LED bulbs are designed as a long term ‘fit and forget’ solution and should last for many years to come. Downlights Direct has discovered that most unbranded, imported LED bulbs are unreliable and have a very high failure rate. If a large percentage of imports fail within the first year how will they last for twenty years? We recommend using Philips Master LED range which is highly reliable. Paying that little bit extra assures better quality and more reliability. Unlike cheap imports Philips LED bulbs come with a three year guarantee.

There are currently no regulations in place to stop people from over-exaggerating the performance of their LEDs. Some companies claim that a 4W SMD (surface mount device) LED is as bright as a 50 watt halogen when it is nowhere near. This makes it hard for consumers to accurately compare which one is best when they are being given misguided information. We tell it like it is and offer 100% customer satisfaction on all of our LED bulbs. If it does not meet your expectations simply return it for a full refund.

Which LED Bulb?

This mainly depends on which halogen bulb you are replacing and if it is dimmable. Not all LED bulbs are dimmable and dimmable LEDs are more expensive. Most of the Philips range has dimmable LEDs as standard but care must be taken when selecting a dimmer switch to prevent the LED from flickering.

Mains Voltage GU10

Mains voltage LED bulbs are easier to replace than low voltage bulbs as there are no low voltage transformers or LED drivers involved. The main consideration is the physical size of the bulb. The Philips 7W Master is much deeper than a halogen and won’t fit in most fire rated downlights.

Low Voltage MR16

The advantage of using low voltage MR16 bulbs over mains voltage GU10s is that they are thirty percent brighter. Some low voltage LED bulbs such as the Kosnic ones must be used with a special LED driver. This is because they operate on DC (direct current) voltages. Philips low voltage MR16 LED bulbs operate on AC (alternating current) voltages and are compatible with most existing low voltage transformers making them the ideal retrofit solution. Although the Philips LEDs are more expensive you do not have to purchase an additional LED driver.

As well as GU10 and MR16 LED bulbs we can now offer an LED replacement for almost all other types of lamps, including LED tubes and 2D lamps.