Replacing halogen spots for LED

[flugelhorn811]

Boring post, sorry!

We've recently moved into a property with a large number of halogen spotlights, some of which aren't working. An electrician has recommended we replace them all with LED and has given us a quote for the work. I'm happy to go ahead but did just wonder if this is something we should be able to do ourselves? A Google suggests it might be a job for an electrician, but I'm not at all handy so really don't know!

Thanks all.

Well I've just replaced 2 halogen spots in the bathroom with led bulbs...?! And I am not remotely handy and dh (even less handy) has replaced our kitchen spots in the past. So I'm not sure why it would be an electrician job?

Something to do with transformers apparently? Was it just a case of replacing the bulbs then? I've done some research which suggests the transformer bit is an electrician job, but not sure I'd recognise a transformer if it hit me in the face (which is a distinct possibility )

Ooh not sure then. The only transformers i would recognise are the toy variety! when I did the bathrooms recently I unscrewed the waterproof casing and a metal clip houses the bulb so I just replaced the bulb. The guy in Homebase didn't mention anything complicated either...?

I replaced a couple of halogen bulbs in the kitchen with LED, so now have a mixture of halogen and LED. I've had no problem.

Hmm Google suggests it is straightforward to swap them - but I've also just learnt that it's best not to mix. So I'd better replace the rest of mine then!

We replaced our bulbs and ended up tripping or blowing (not sure what the right word is!) our transformers across our kitchen light circuit

Apparently it's to do with the difference in power and you may need to change the transformers too. But I've no idea how you'd check!

Perhaps worth asking for advice on how to check before making the same costly mistake we did (replaces two bulbs and ended up redoing the whole circuit and all transformers on it)

It depends on which type of halogen light you currently have. Halogen bulbs tend to be low voltage and so need a transformer. The same is true of LEDs. Some bulbs (such as the GU10) have the transformer/driver built into the bulb and so you should be able to simply change the bulbs. Others (12V MR16/GU5.3) need an external transformer. It is possible to get LEDs that work with a halogen transformer, but others will not. Some people will tell you that any bulb will be fine as long as it has the same equivalent wattage - this is, of course, utter nonsense as the equivalent wattage refers to light output not power input. You can get adaptors that convert your existing fittings to GU10, or you can replace the entire fitting. I would expect a trustworthy electrician to tell you whether they are just changing bulbs or changing the fittings - what does the quote say?

We did it ourselves. You need to change the transformers to appropriately rated ones. If you aren’t sure then get someone to do it but it’s not a difficult or dangerous job

Ah, ours are gu10 so should be okay then? Interestingly, we came home yesterday to the whole upstairs lights having been tripped - but that was before we replaced the bathroom spots!

If the existing bulbs are 50V then you should be able to do a direct swap. I changed all my 12V - they had individual transformers for each bulb so it was just a case of taking the transformers out and wiring the fixing back in. But I wouldn't advise it unless you know what you're doing.

Dimmer switches can be an issue too.

If you do get an electrician to do it, it might be worth buying the bulbs yourself rather than him supplying them.

We changed the bulbs but they didn't perform, either they 'slowed down' or 'shimmered'...made our kitchen dark but not having enough light. Realised we should've changed the transformers.