Lighting plays a significant role when adding luxury into your home. This is why when buying LED downlights, it pays to consider a number of factors that affect the appearance and longevity of the product. LEDs are the solution to saving energy costs, while downlights remain a practical choice for their discreet appearance and incredible power to blend well with other lights. Get the ones that are not only durable but also top performing with the following dos and don’ts.
Do consider the room’s characteristics to determine the right brightness level of your LED downlight
Brightness is not equal to wattage in LED lights, but to lumens. The right brightness level of your LED downlight should depend on the room’s characteristics, such as its height and width. It does not always mean you go for the highest possible lumens. In standard homes that are 2.5 metres to 2.7 metres high, brightness of 710 to 1340 lumens should be enough. Rooms with high ceilings need brighter lights.
Don’t just go for cheap LED lighting products
When buying LED downlights, you often get what you pay for. Suppliers won’t mention about build quality. Materials play an important role in a light’s durability and performance. When thinking materials, consider the quality of the frame, heatsink, LED driver and diffuser. If you want the best down lighting products, choose an aluminium frame and heatsink, and not plastic. External LED drivers are more durable than built-in LED drivers. Check if the diffusers are cheap and flimsy because chances are, they diffuse light poorly.
Do choose the right colour temperature
Colour temperature has a significant impact on a room, so it’s important that you choose it correctly. Measured in Kelvin, colour temperature is not a measure of brightness but of appearance. Modern LED downlights mainly have three options for colour temperature. These is extra warm white of 2700K, warm white of 3000K, and cool white of 4000K. Extra warm white is like a conventional GLS light bulb, while warm white is clearer but still warm. Cool white is clear but is commonly used in commercial applications. Warm white is a popular choice these days.
Don’t buy LED downlights with no heat dissipation system
LED downlights must have an effective heat dissipation system that helps protect the major components and lengthen their life. To have this, high-quality materials should be combined with specialised skills. If there is no heat dissipation system, heat can compromise the performance of the chip or the lens. With this technology, heat is dissipated to the casing to protect inner components.
Don’t neglect the warranty
If possible, choose those with a longer in-home warranty. It can save your money by not paying electricians to replace downlights if they fail. Warranties can be between 3 to 5 years, so be sure to keep your receipts.
There are many LED downlights on the market, so expect that not all of them are the same. This is why it pays to do a bit of reading to learn about your options. Read labels, look for important marks on the packaging.
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