As professional electricians, we often get asked about what kind of lighting is best for homes - in terms of energy efficiency and creating a specific ambiance. Our answer is always the same: LED downlights are the way to go! They are much more energy efficient than their Halogen counterparts..

If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint and save money, we highly recommend switching to LED downlights. Melbourne Wiring Services can help you with the LED downlight installation so that you can start saving money and energy right away!

What are LED Downlights?

LEDs (light emitting diodes) are more energy efficient and have a much longer lifespan than traditional halogen lighting. They also run significantly cooler than Halogen downlights, limiting the risk of burning insulation/timber in your ceiling.

Downlights are fittings recessed into a ceiling, leaving a flush, clean finish. They can be placed anywhere that has a cavity ceiling of more than 50mm. Downlights provide both functional and ambient lighting, which means they can also be used for decorative purposes such as highlighting artwork on your walls!

Downlights with a broader angle are perfect for creating soft ambient lighting, ideal for high-traffic areas such as living rooms. On the other hand, downlights with a narrow angle produce sharper, more concentrated light, ideal for accent lighting and highlighting specific areas of your space.

This article will help you understand the benefits of downlight installation and what factors you need to consider when installing LED downlights.

Types of Downlights

Downlights come in a range of colours and sizes. Most common downlight that we install is the 90mm Tri Colour downlight. This is the standard size for most homes and produces the best amount of light and beam angle for most ceiling heights. Our 90mm downlights come with a 7 year warranty and are fully dimmable.

Gimbal Downlights

Gimbal downlights have a swivel built in which allows the light to be aimed in a certain direction. These are usually used on angles ceilings or for feature downlights to shine onto walls or artwork.

Square Downlights

Downlights can come in different shapes, but you don't have to settle for just a round one. You can get square or rectangular ones, and they may have two or even three lights in them! So there's a lot of room to express yourself when it comes to what kind of recessed lighting you place in your home. Some people prefer having downlights shaped as pinhole lamps because they produce a narrow beam and low glare - so you can use them for special effect lighting.

Bathroom Downlights

When choosing a lighting fixture for your bathroom, focus on bright downlights that offer good color rendering and help protect the device against water damage.

Benefits of LED Downlights

LED downlights have aesthetic and economic aspects, making them ideal in commercial and residential spaces.

The significant benefits of installing LED downlights are:

✓ Produce less heat

✓ Use less energy and are efficient

✓ Are more effective in lighting large spaces

✓ Require little to no maintenance

✓ Stylish designs and easily customizable

Cost to Install LED Downlights

Downlight installation costs will change depending on the ceiling access and type of existing lighting present. We provide a custom quote for every job, we can give a per downlight price. Downlights are suitable for most homes and we will always come up with a solution for your needs!

Choosing the Right LED Downlight Unit

When choosing a downlight the main things you have to consider are;

The size- If you are replacing old downlights with new downlights make sure the same size cut out downlight is chosen. This will make the installation easy. Remember, you must be a qualified electrician to touch any electrical wiring. Do not try and replace your downlights yourself.

The colour- Make sure you choose the correct Kelvin range for your house or to match the existing lighting in your home. Another option is to choose a downlight that is tri colour, this allows you to change the colour using a selector switch. This can be changed anytime.

Installing the LED Downlights

Only a licensed electrician should install downlights in your home or office. Make sure to choose someone who is fully licensed and insured.

To get the most out of your LED downlights, contact expert electricians who know how to install them correctly and consider your lighting design. Melbourne Wiring Services can advise you of the optimum spacing, the number of LED downlights required, and whether warm white or cool white is best for your needs.

For more information on getting most out of your LED downlight installation project or lighting upgrade, contact our expert electricians today!

Lighting Design Considerations

1. When selecting LED downlights for a specific application, consider the type of light output and lumens needed. Downlights with a high lumen output can be used to light more extensive areas, while lower lumen outputs are better suited for smaller or more specific areas. You always have the option to install a dimmer switch if the downlights are too bright for the required area.

2. Consider the installation location and layout of the downlight. The installation height should be considered as well; too low an installation may result in inadequate light coverage at specific distances from the fixture, while an installation too high may cause shadows or glare.

In addition, consider whether or not downlights will need to be mounted on a ceiling or wall surface; if they need to be mounted on a surface, make sure that it is secure and easy to work with.

LED Downlight Installation