Many of our customers ask us what the difference is between adjustable and fixed LED downlights and which would be best for them based on what they need.
The main difference between the two seems apparent, with one allowing you to be able to adjust the tilt in a range of around 20 - 40 degrees while the other remains static.
Downlights can be placed just about anywhere, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, recessed or attached to your ceiling fan and are wonderful for lighting your homes with the perfect ambience.
Throughout this blog, we are going to be explaining some of the key differences between adjustable and fixed LED downlights and the best uses for both of them.
What is a Downlight?
A downlight is a type of LED lighting that is typically placed on your ceiling in any room and is designed to shine white light in a downward direction. This makes these types of lights very unsuitable for being placed on walls.
Downlights are available as integrated LED lights/ LED lamps or as general bulbs, the product that you buy will entirely depend on what you need for the room you plan to install them into.
These lights are also incredibly safe as they are available in IP and fire-rated editions making them very desirable for families due to the lower risk of damage.
Downlights can come with halogen, incandescent and LED bulbs as they are incredibly versatile products however there is much more energy saving to be had when using LED downlights.
The most common form that we see among many brands is an LED recessed downlight meaning that the source of light is placed inside a hole in the ceiling and isn’t hanging down like a chandelier or traditional light bulb.
Downlights are also available in various shapes, whether this is round or square, colours and rotations.
Adjustable Downlights
Adjustable downlights are most commonly used in sloped ceilings due to their ability to tilt and move - a fixed downlight would not work here due to its positioning.
These types of downlights are perfect for ceiling installations in which there may be some obstacles in the way, requiring you to move your light into the optimum position.
Adjustable, LED recessed downlights are some of the most popular on the market with many people opting for these with style in mind.
Advantages of Adjustable Downlights
One of the main advantages of having an adjustable downlight is that it is obviously able to be tilted and gives you a lot more control over the direction in which it is shining.
This makes for greater levels of customisation to your lighting set-up and does not constrict you to one look for your lights.
These lights also allow you to bypass major obstacles that would have otherwise ruined your lighting aesthetic, making them perfect for many of the more difficult spaces in your home to illuminate.
Adjustable downlights also provide the advantage of dimming and light control, which many other types of light do not - although this is a more general advantage of downlights as a whole as it is not specific to adjustable lights.
Disadvantages of Adjustable Downlights
With all of the advantages that these present, there is also a selection of disadvantages to consider too.
These lights tend to be much more expensive than the fixed versions of the downlights which may be a decisive factor when buying a new set of lights for your home.
Another disadvantage of downlights, in general, is that there may be added costs for installation if you do not already have the correct wiring in your home however if you do, this should not be an issue for an electrician and won’t take too much time.
Fixed Downlights
Fixed downlights are a type of downlight that cannot be adjusted or tilted in any way, these are rooted in their original position.
Fixed downlights are definitely the choice for people who do not plan on altering the position of their lights, they are considerably cheaper making the step up to adjustable lights seem that little bit less necessary for many.
Advantages of Fixed Downlights
As we previously mentioned, fixed LED downlights are generally cheaper than adjustable alternatives. This may make people who were considering the adjustable lights reconsider their initial ideas.
If people are unsure of whether they would use the adjustability features on the other downlights then the price may turn them away as it is not a major necessity for many.
Another advantage of fixed LED downlights is that many models can also be dimmed, like the adjustable downlights, which can be a massive bonus for people who may wish to set a relaxing atmosphere for your dinner parties, get-togethers or even just nights in.
LED downlights are also much more energy efficient than incandescent or halogen lights, meaning that they can last much longer than usual.
Disadvantages of Fixed LED Downlights
Like the adjustable downlights, these can be rather difficult and time-consuming for an electrician to install if you do not have the correct wiring initially.
The main issue with fixed downlights, however, is the lack of customisation that you are able to have with them, once they have been installed there is no way for you to redirect your lights.
This lack of manoeuvrability could be what makes the difference when deciding between fixed or adjustable lights as it is incredibly important to many people and may even be necessary for their circumstances or indoor spaces.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, there are many differences between fixed and adjustable downlights and many reasons why you may wish to buy one or the other.
Downlights as a whole also provide a host of their own benefits from energy efficiency to brightness making them an incredibly desirable acquisition for most people.
We sincerely hope that we have managed to help you with some of your queries about which of the two will be best for you, if you would like to buy some of these products and receive free shipping on all orders over £75, you can search our website here.
