Experience of Low Energy Downlighters

[FLM]

Have been reading about low energy lighting on these forums and wondering how many of you out there have installed these and what you think of them.

I'm redoing a kitchen in a top floor flat and am considering putting low energy downlighters in the ceiling:
http://www.tlcdirect.co.uk/Main_Ind...hts_Index/Downlights_Energy_Saving/index.html

...and low energy downlighters underneath the cabinets:
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;j...CSTHZOSFFI?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=40416#

Can anyone comment on how these compare to halogens? Is the quality and pattern of light similar? Do they get hot?

 

[FLM]

Sorry - cut'n'pasting error:
Link to low energy downlight is http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...hts_Index/Downlights_Energy_Saving/index.html

 

[RF Lighting]

Have a read here:

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:gu10

Personally I like decent quality CFLs, and find the light pattern to be less directional, so you dont end up with pools of light and shadows everywhere

 

[FLM]

Great thank you.

Interested to see that they can be installed in insulation. Does that mean that I can be lazy and just poke them straight into the insulation (even if it touches) without using the famed inverted flower-pot?

 

[RF Lighting]

I would think it is best practice to ensure the insulation is still not touching as the CFLs do still get warm, but there is no where near as much heat as produced by a halogen lamp.

 

[IJWS15]

Our Kitchen is lit by 9 halogen downlighters and I recently bought one low energy bulb to try - replaced the one over the Kitchen sink.

SWMBO still nas not noticed, even though it takes a second or two to light and does not reach max brightness immediately.

Will get some more when I get chance (and can afford it) - will take some pressure off the electricity bill

 

[Steve]

We have them in our bathroom - 3no 9 watt lamps. they take a good 5 mins to reach full brightness, however, they get left on all night normally. The warming up light is sufficient to have a dump and read a mag. And if instant light is needed there is a 60w tungsten tube lamp above the sink.

 

[jono_h]

(Please don't shoot me down for having a differing opinion!)

Tried them in my kitchen and hated them. Couldn't live with the slight delay on flicking the switch, the fact that it's a bit gloomy until they warm up, and the fact that the light only came halfway down the room (admittedly we have high ceilings).

The closest I could come to saving the planet was to limit myself to 35w halogens!

 

[CallEdsFirst]

Depends how low energy you go! My folks have 2 number 2x26W PL downlighters in their lounge with drop glasses. They sure as hell ain't short of light!!!!! Mind you 104W plus ballast inefficiencies/overheads ain't all that low energy!