LED downlights are attached to the ceiling, creating a clean look that illuminates your space unobtrusively, without any bulky or hanging fixtures. They are not only able to produce impeccable brightness but also serve your minimalist aesthetic requirements.
These lights are famous for their versatility, timeless design, and energy efficiency. LED downlights, whether it be recessed downlights, fire-rated downlights, etc will have bright beams that you can use to highlight key areas while adding a unique character to your room. Having focused lighting (with different colour temperatures) is an excellent way of drawing attention to specific areas or pieces and provides both task and ambient lighting.
Typically, you'll see these lights in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, reception areas, and office lobby. However, you can use them anywhere you like. Just make sure that the IP rating of your LED downlights is compatible with the elements that they might come into contact with (eg. IP65 rated for bathrooms).
How to Wire Downlights?
Disclaimer: The accuracy of the information below is not guaranteed. Only qualified people should carry out electrical installations, and if you are not qualified, we urge you to seek professional advice.
Wiring LED downlights can be a bit challenging so you are better off calling for an electrician to do it for you. However, if you just want to know how it's done, then here's a simple step-by-step to guide you through.
- Start by making sure the electrical control box is off.
- Using wire tape, feed a 14/2 cable through the wall, lining it up to the spot where you’ll be mounting your LED downlight. In the 14/2 cable, you'll see a neutral, ground, and hot wire. If you have a junction box, it is better to use that to wire your downlights.
- Strip the wires of both the fixture and the switch. Using a wire stripper and clamp, tug the cable’s end to peel off the insulator.
- Join the matching wires from the LED downlight and the switch by twisting the ends of each wire together with a plier. Then, place a wire cap over each wire to secure it. If your LED downlight has a connection box, line the wires from the 14/2 cable, place them across the matching wires in the box and secure it. Just complete installing the fixture, and you’re done.
How Many Downlights do I Need?
The number of downlights you need depends on several factors. Here are some:
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Purpose - Do you need, task, ambient, or accent lighting? What’ll you do in that space? Determine the purpose of the room to identify the number of downlights you'll require. The more task-oriented the area is, the more downlights you'll need.
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Size - The bigger the room, the more downlights you’ll need. So, if you have a big kitchen and you need ample illumination, you'll require more fixtures. Alternatively, if you have a medium-sized bedroom, you’ll require less.
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Ceiling Height - Instead of getting more for your high-ceiling living room, it's better to get a downlight with a higher lumens count. This will help lessen the fixtures you'll need to install.
How to Install Downlights?
Again, it's best to let professionals handle the installation if you're not confident doing it. But if you can then, here's an easy-to-follow guide:
- Map out the placement of your downlights, mark the central points in the ceiling, and drill a small pilot hole.
- Check for joists, pipes, or wires and make sure that there are none in the way of your installation.
- Check the cut-out hole measurements and use a hole saw to cut to the stated size.
- Wire your LED downlights, and you're finished!
How Long Should LED Downlights Last?
As the light-emitting out of the LED light bulbs is extremely energy efficient, this bodes the question of how long should LED downlights last. Compared to incandescent light bulbs and halogen bulbs which should last you roughly 1000-2000 hours, you can expect LED downlights to last you roughly 50,000 hours.
Can LED Downlights be Dimmed?
LED downlights are becoming increasingly popular over the past few years. A common question that we receive at LED Supplier is, can LED Downlights be dimmed? In short, LED downlights can be dimmed, but there are some factors that you need to consider.
The first is to check the LED light bulbs first to ensure that they are dimmable. Should these be dimmable, you should then opt for a dimmer switch. Please check our dimmable downlights collection for our products.
Are LED Downlights Better Than Halogen Bulbs?
Should you be using halogen lights, you might be wondering are LED downlights better than halogen bulbs. In short, you can expect LED bulbs to be better in almost every way. Regarding longevity, you can expect the led light bulbs to last for about 50,000 hours compared to halogens which will remain operational for roughly 1000-2000 hours. Not only this, but the amount of energy that halogens produce is considerably a lot more than if you were to opt for LED lights. Resulting in light bulbs that not only last longer but are more energy-efficient.
