I want to change my basic halogen downlights to LED. Is it OK to simply replace them with the 3 or 4 globe LED lights that i see for sale from China or Hong Kong, for example advertised on ebay? Are they safe re heat, not likely to mess up any of my electronics? Sorry this is such a basic question but I am new to this, and don't want to end up with something unsafe, as it is, the halogen ones worry me especially the way they get so hot, but will I be better off with the replacements, which are quite cheap around $4 - $5, or do I need to buy the ones that are around $20 each? Is there a real quality difference? Thank you to some kind soul, who hopefully can help.
Those Chinese LED globes on ebay
(17 posts) (8 voices)-
Ebay lighting is a real mixed bag. There are some terrible bulbs/fittings but also some semi-decent ones. Colour tone, intensity deterioration and longevity seem to be the main issues. If you see one that looks reasonable I suggest you buy a sample and try that out before stumping up for a larger quantity. Returns via ebay are also usually more troublesome so the cheap upfront price may not deliver you the cheapest overall outcome.
Posted Monday 5 Sep 2011 @ 12:40:11 am from IP # -
dbindoff
MemberI bought some 'Eco Light Up' 5w LED from Ebay, said to be directly interchangeable with 50w halogen MR16, so far so good (around 8 months I think), light is substantially less than 50w but that is not an issue in the context , colour tone of warm white is OK.
From World of Thought I bought a 10w expensive ($50+) bayonet globe for the stairwell, it's excellent , bright light better than 18w cfl, smaller is better, instant on.
Posted Monday 5 Sep 2011 @ 1:01:53 am from IP # -
Ueee
MemberIf you want to get a true replacement for a 50w halogen then unfortunately at the moment you simply cannot get the same light out of an MR16 LED fitting. Brightgreen have released a new 10w MR16 globe, and i have ordered some for testing, but they are still not available yet. They are pricey though at $70 each. To replace a 50w halogen you really need to go to a purpose built fitting- Bunnings now sell the osram ones, and many more can be found on ebay and other internet stores. look for 5x3w fittings. However the price is still inhibitive if you want to do it on the cheap.
With all the globes i have tested, it seems that about $60-70 is the cheapest you will get a true 50w halogen replacement for. Having said that you may be happy with some of the 3x3w globes you can get depending on what you are trying to lightupPosted Monday 5 Sep 2011 @ 1:44:18 am from IP # -
hi dbindoff.. Yes true i also have purchased off eco light up. They claim that their 5w is equivalent to a 35w (which is pretty close). i also bought some 10w lamps off them and they're much brighter than a 50w halogen. really happy with them. I might go with their 6w ones for the rest of the house only because im finding their 10w ones a tad too bright for some rooms. Id say they would equivalent to a 65w downlight. Do you have any of their 6w downlights??
Posted Wednesday 7 Sep 2011 @ 3:06:17 pm from IP # -
Ueee
MemberI must apologize for my other post-i had not found the eco light up site but their products look very impressive 85lm/w is very good efficiency in a GU 5.3 fitting. I think i'll have to try some. The 6 watt globes should be about the same as a 35w halogen, not the 40-45w they claim (going by a simple rule of thumb)
Posted Thursday 8 Sep 2011 @ 5:43:44 am from IP # -
went it my local store and picked up one of the eco light up 6 watt GU10s in the yellow warm colour. Pretty impressed. Great light output so i might sit with these and not their 10w ones. I think their 10w may be too bright. Great light output on the 6w (just seems the beam angle is more like 55 degree rather than a 60 degree though). But it does the job.
Posted Thursday 8 Sep 2011 @ 9:55:47 am from IP # -
Janet
MemberHad a look at the 'eco light up' site, and other Australian sites, but why the huge price difference? up to 10 tines dearer than the Chinese, Hong Kong ones! Does this really mean a difference in quality, and in particular safety? Would like to buy from an Australian company, but only if I am getting a better product, or are they just marking up the same product?
Posted Sunday 11 Sep 2011 @ 12:15:32 am from IP # -
Hi Janet, well firstly I have purchased LEd lights from Ebay in china etc . Many 6 watt globes for instance and they are probably as bright as a 15w halogen with very very bad beam angle. Same thing goes for all the 9w ones I have bought from Hong Kong etc. Where are they now? All in the bin. This is due to cheap running gear they use and bad quality chips. They can get away with it because they dont care about their reputation because they open and close businesses all the time and make a quick buck by dumping bad quality stuff on the market. Another thing that you have to be careful of is that they are not Australian compliant which means that you're not covered by insurance. The list of negatives about buying directly from there is massive. About the 10 times dearer, not really. For example I bought about 24 of the 6w globes from eco light up for about $15.50 each free post. From China I got them for $9 each and the difference between the 2 are like day and night, plus i get warranty and can swap them over if im not happy with them and im also insured. I hope I was of some help.
Posted Sunday 11 Sep 2011 @ 1:54:59 am from IP # -
genocide
MemberI've also bought some of the eco light up branded LEDs. Love them.
I started with 9W Crees (3x3W warm wite dimmable) in Feb. They were nice, excellent reproduction of a 20W GU10 halogen, colour, intensity and angle.
A tad dark in my living room, even though a great mood setter, not bright enough for sustained reading.
Upgraded to the 6W ecolightup globes (they're cheaper on ebay), which arrived the next day! This new model (5x1.2W warm white, dimmable), is marginally brighter than a 35W GU10 halogen globe (side by side comparison). They're a a smidgeon cooler in colour (in the warm white version). The angle is a little different, but acceptable, and way better than CFLs.
I've just been lent the ELU 10W "MegaBright" model, by a friend. These are the same colour as the 6W version but noticably brighter. My friend is using them to replace his 50W MR16 downlights, as they're cheaper (transformer death is common), lowwer power too, cooler, and a little brighter.I converted a skeptic to LED's. I've just ordered a pair of the 10 watt'rs as a gift for the inlaws, who were impressed with my spare 6w globe in their kitchen, on the back of my friends order.
If you look on ebay, and buy within Aust, you can buy a single globe for $24.95 inc postage, and try it yourself. They're cheaper the more you buy. Also ELU did a colour mix up for my friend, two in cool white, "awsome bright". ECL asked they be sent back, and was sent 3 correct ones as replacement.
If you're working in the Melbourne CBD (like me) I can loan you my spare 6W globe.
Hope that helps anyone, who hasn't already made the switch.
Posted Monday 12 Sep 2011 @ 4:27:28 am from IP # -
Thanks for the info on that one genocide. Havent tried their cool whites yet. Havent done the kitchen yet, would you recommend the eco light up cools for the kitchen/bathroom or stick to their warm white?
Posted Monday 12 Sep 2011 @ 8:07:06 am from IP # -
genocide
MemberColour choice is more of a personal preference.
I have a florescent tube in my kitchen, so it's cool while. I've just ordered cool white LED strip lights off eBay (5mtrs 5050 size), to go under the shelves to eliminate the shadows there, as the previously tried CCFL tubes (warm white) didn't last nearly as long as claimed and I wasn't a fan of the colour.
As my kitchen is a seperate room, in an old house, the lighting can be different to the ajoining rooms. I prefer the cool white or daylight white light, when preparing food.
Either colour choice, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the eco lighup globes.
A quick translation of perceived intensity (for warm white GU10) LEDs:
5W = ~20W
6W = ~35+W
10W = ~50WCool white lights are usually perceived as even brighter. Might get some cool whites for the rangehood, then I'll know how brown my food really is
Posted Wednesday 14 Sep 2011 @ 5:46:44 am from IP # -
genocide
MemberForgot to point out that the eco lightup globes are longer than regular halogens, because of the heat sinks.
Note the dimensions before you buy. Dimmable globes are longer than non dimable.My fittings have heat shields in the ceiling, and the 10 watt model didn't fit. They are tapered better than many dimmable CFL downlights, towards the connector. My old 9W crees will be used on the bedroom ceiling fan, as the 20W halogens die.
Posted Wednesday 14 Sep 2011 @ 5:53:58 am from IP #
