spotlights

teflon

Hi guys,
Im doing a bit of DIY in my kitchen this weekend and I want to change my standard light fitting and replace it with 8 spotlights (4 each side) throughout the kitchen ceiling. I was wondering if I can just install them all in a 'ring' and connect it to the connection that was there, or would I be overloading the fuseboard by doing this?

Also, whats the difference between the normal spotlights and the ones with transforners? I replaced the light in my hall with 3 spotlights but havent used the transformer ones before. Are they special?

Thanks

Teflon

fishdog

would I be overloading the fuseboard by doing this?

It is not possible to know if you are overloading anything without looking at it.

I was wondering if I can just install them all in a 'ring' and connect it to the connection that was there

Dont take this the wrong way, but I think you might be in over your head if you are asking something as basic as this.

If they use a transformer (generally 12 volt) they produce 40% more light for the same energy consumption.

IMHO 12 volt down lighters produce a much higher quality than the mains voltage type (GU10). The GU10 lamps also blow alot more I have found.

Good luck!

Stoner

teflon,

you should have no more then 1000W on a 10Amp circuit.
using 8 x 50W will be 400W and will account for 40% of this
You should check all the wattage of the lights you have on a circuit. You could do a check on this yourself but turing off the MCB and seeing how many lights were fed off it.
You'd be better with 9W CFLs IMO this would only be 72W and would not be an issue as you are dropping out a light that may have had a 60W or 100w lamp in it.

there are issues dimming CFLS, but there are ones that will allow 3 step dimming from a standard light switch, they are more expensive though.

In the current climate 50Watt bulbs may be difficult to replace with the new laws etc, so an LED or CFL option would be the best way to go IMO, with jumping electricity costs they pay for themselves quicker now.

Remember if you have not done this before then get a sparks, you will need a basic knowledge to tackle this, 8 fittings is a lot of connections the get right, but if you are handy it should not be too difficult, make sure you get the perfect wholesaw to fit your spots though.

Good luck.

teflon

Finally getting around to this at the weekend.:rolleyes:

I want to replace the GU10 50W bulbs though with something less power consuming as the kitchen is quite dark and generally the lights are left on quite a bit. I was looking into leds and cfl's but some of the threads say that they will not fit the same connections as the spotlights I bought. Any ideas? The lights have that circular clip/pin in the end to hold the bulb in place.

need something thats as bright as the 50w if possible.

Thanks guys

Stoner

the 11Watt CFL lamp something like a megaman lamp from the wholesalers (see Sticky) will connect into a GU10 holder, they are not as bright but they are getting ther, the connection match, but the lamps are a bit longer so they dont fit in all fittings, but standard downlights (not eyeball) will be fine