Downlights - 12V or 230V?

[Diyisfun]

Why not also look at replacing with low energy bulbs.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's a pretty basic question, and I'm probably just being dim, but I've often wondered what are the perceived advantages of (LV-driven) ELV lighting (as you indicate, some of the disadvantages are fairly clear), except in those situations in which one wants/needs ELV for safety reasons?

The filaments in ELV lamps are thicker, and so can be run hotter and tend to have longer lives.

http://donklipstein.com/lfunfact.html#li

 

[JohnW2]

[The filaments in ELV lamps are thicker, and so can be run hotter and tend to have longer lives.

Thanks. That makes sense. Is that the only advantage of ELV (other than 'safety' where relevant) of which you are aware?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yup.

I suppose, in theory, that given they are supplied by electronic power supplies there's the potential for soft-start and close control of constant lamp voltage even if the LV supply fluctuates, but I wonder how much of either of those the cheap rubbish sold in the sheds tends to do....

 

[JohnW2]

Yup. ... I suppose, in theory, that given they are supplied by electronic power supplies there's the potential for soft-start and close control of constant lamp voltage even if the LV supply fluctuates, but I wonder how much of either of those the cheap rubbish sold in the sheds tends to do....

Agreed - and thanks. I was just worried that I might be missing something 'obvious'/major, but it seems I probably wasn't.

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

ELV gives a better light than LV. As the filament runs hotter, ELV produce a whiter light than LV lamps do.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And more lm/w.

 

[bernardgreen]

Filaments in ELV lamps are also shorter and thicker than those in LV lamps of the same wattage which makes them physically stronger and less prone to breakage,

 

[mfarrow]

Has anyone else seen 20W 240V GU10 bulbs in action? As I recall they were quite yellow and had to be swapped for 50's.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Filaments in ELV lamps are also shorter and thicker than those in LV lamps of the same wattage which makes them physically stronger and less prone to breakage,

The filaments in ELV lamps are thicker, and so ... tend to have longer lives.

 

[securespark]

At my ma's house, there are still some Thorn ELV dicroics working that were installed in 1991.

 

[bernardgreen]

The filaments in ELV lamps are thicker, and so ... tend to have longer lives.

Ooops sorry I missed your post

 

[RF Lighting]

At my ma's house, there are still some Thorn ELV dicroics working that were installed in 1991.

I fitted 5 ELVs in my parents bathroom in 1998, and 4 of them are still the original lamps.