MR16 Halogen or LED? Pros and Cons?

marlowe · Mar 8, 2016

Need to replace some MR16 50w bulbs. Looking at prices at TLC direct do I go for:
MR16 Halogen £1.25 average life 4000 hours = 0.031p per hour
or MR16 LED at £8.50 average life 30,000 hrs = 0.028p per hour
Price per hour difference in terms of life expectancy is negligible but what about energy consumption? Is there much saving there?

My one concern is I bought a standard ES LED bulb from Homebase not so long ago and it only lasted a few months so actually worked out more expensive.
It's a risk if the LED fails earlier than expected. Any experience of reliability of MR16 amongst NSC

marlowe · Mar 8, 2016

Added to my dilemma is do I go for these supposedly better quality MR16 LED from TLC from TLC Direct at £8.50

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_I...Energy_Saving_Lamps_Index/MR16_Led/index.html

or do I go for these slightly cheaper, not sure about quality MR16 LED from QVS at £7.19

http://www.qvsdirect.com/4-5w-120degrees-smd-led-50mm-gu10-non-dimmable-lamp-light-bulb-warm-white

They both look quite different from each other. Prefer look of more expensive supposedly better quality one from TLC

deletebeepbeepbeep · Mar 8, 2016

I'm sorry but this must be one of the most boring posts ever of NSC.

Cian · Mar 8, 2016

Take out the transformer and go GU10 LED. Did that for ~90 sockets in work and the heat and power savings are immense. New sockets were about a pound apiece.

marlowe · Mar 8, 2016

deletebeepbeepbeep said:
I'm sorry but this must be one of the most boring posts ever of NSC.

Not quite. I think you might have beaten me to that accolade with this one
http://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?334880-That-s-for-sure

deletebeepbeepbeep · Mar 8, 2016

marlowe said:
Not quite. I think you might have beaten me to that accolade with this one
http://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?334880-That-s-for-sure

Haha, fair play :laugh:

.

Deleted member 2719 · Mar 8, 2016

This thread is important to the nation so bumped it with a genuine question to sparkys.

We too have had issues with LED lights on dimmable switches, they are always blowing (lasting anywhere between 10 and 60 days).

Can i blame China

happypig · Mar 9, 2016

Gu10s in Poundland for err, a quid each.

sebtucknott · Mar 9, 2016

For MR16 you probably have 12v transformers. The LEDs generally don't draw enough so end up flickering like a strobe!

You can get low draw transformers but they're about £20 a pop. Never thought of just switching to gu10 sockets!

Justice · Mar 9, 2016

Mouldy Boots said:
This thread is important to the nation so bumped it with a genuine question to sparkys.

We too have had issues with LED lights on dimmable switches, they are always blowing (lasting anywhere between 10 and 60 days).

Can i blame China

Are they led dimmers?

Deleted member 2719 · Mar 9, 2016

Justice said:
Are they led dimmers?

Yes,we have tried different prices and different brands they all seem to blow within 60 ish days.

Justice · Mar 9, 2016

Mouldy Boots said:
Yes,we have tried different prices and different brands they all seem to blow within 60 ish days.

How many led lamps is the dimmer trying to control and what wattage are the lamps?

drew · Mar 9, 2016

Mouldy Boots said:
Yes,we have tried different prices and different brands they all seem to blow within 60 ish days.

Is the switch itself specifically for dimmer led bulbs. I don't think you can use ordinary dimmer switches for LED lights.

https://www.led-lighthouse.co.uk/dimming-led-lights

Deleted member 2719 · Mar 9, 2016

Justice said:
How many led lamps is the dimmer trying to control and what wattage are the lamps?

We did have 5 bulbs on each dimmer (2 dimmer/light fittings in lounge) they were candle led not sure of their wattage. We have recently fitted 2 new fittings (3months ago) these lights have 3 X g9 bulbs each at 27watts. The light fittings allow 33watts each.

Deleted member 2719 · Mar 9, 2016

drew said:
Is the switch itself specifically for dimmer led bulbs. I don't think you can use ordinary dimmer switches for LED lights.

https://www.led-lighthouse.co.uk/dimming-led-lights

No I didn't realise there were led dimmers. the dimmers are probably 10 years old. The diy shops are surely missing a trick not selling led dimmers next to the bulbs if this is the case.

Justice · Mar 9, 2016

Mouldy Boots said:
We did have 5 bulbs on each dimmer (2 dimmer/light fittings in lounge) they were candle led not sure of their wattage. We have recently fitted 2 new fittings (3months ago) these lights have 3 X g9 bulbs each at 27watts. The light fittings allow 33watts each.

If the led lamps are dimmable and you have a 200w led dimmer things shouldn't really be an issue from what you have told me.

Deleted member 2719 · Mar 9, 2016

Justice said:
If the led lamps are dimmable and you have a 200w led dimmer things shouldn't really be an issue from what you have told me.

Thanks, it appears I may need to change my dimmer switches to led ones!!

GOM · Mar 9, 2016

To summarise, you need led bulbs that are dimmable, not all are and you need a LED dimmer switch, an ordinary one won't do.

Perfidious Albion · Mar 9, 2016

Have to say that I hate MR 16 bulbs & fittings. I am certainly not an electrician. We bought this house with attractive recessed Halogen light fittings.
First problem, removing a spent bulb.. After cobbling together an improvised tool to pull it down, ( Thanks YouTube) there is the fiddly job of putting in the new one. Exasperation rules! ..Then it only lasts a few weeks.
Now we don't bother with them.. Have free standing up lighters from the power socket ...simple

nicko31 · Mar 9, 2016

Try Integral these offer exc. performance at a better price than branded stuff. Decent non dimmable for about £4

The Poundland stuff is bottom of the pile using LED's with lower LUX output, you get what you pay for

Think ROI is very fast versus halogen, so much better than CFL's. Pay attention to colour, ie warm / cool white it makes a difference

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