Guide to choosing the right downlights

Have you ever found it hard to choose what type of downlights to choose for your home? With so many options out there we have just made a simple visual guide that will educate you and help you make the right decisions when selecting the right Downlights.

Downlighters operate on either mains voltage (230 Volts) or Low Voltage powered by a Transformer (12 Volts). Downlighters can also 'Fire Rated' which means that the light fitting itself has a built in fire protection that seals the downlighter in the event there is a fire in the room. This will help protect the fire and smoke from spreading to other areas of the building. You can see what a fire rated downlight and a standard downlight looks like in our illustration at the bottom.

When installing Ceiling Downlights it is advisable to choose a Fire Rated version with bulbs with a Aluminium reflector, to ensure that excessive heat and fire are kept out of ceiling cavities. Take a look at the top of our illustration which helps you understand what types of halogen lamps are available and the difference between a Aluminium Reflector and a Dichroic Reflector (cool beam). The only possible issue you may have when selecting the Fire Rated downlights is that you will need additional space in the ceiling cavity for it to be safely installed. So it is always worth checking with a qualified electrician to access your ceiling cavity before purchasing fire rated downlights to ensure there will fit correctly and avoid fire hazards. There are now new Fire rated downlights that are much smaller in depth and energy saving which included LEDs as a means of light take a look at our online store under LED fire rated downlights

There are two main type of halogen lamps that usually fit standard downlights a GU10 Mains (240v) operated bulb twist and lock fit and a MR16 (12v requires a transformer) push fit that has two small pins these are shown in the middle of our illustration. Each downlight has its own specific connection that allows you to fit the correct type of lamp, all downlights will specify on the box or manufacturers instructions what the maximum wattage that is allowed to be fitted into each downlight and it is imperative that you do not exceed the recommended maximum wattage for your safety.

I hope this simple small guide on how to choose downlights for your home has given you a better insight and been informative to ensuring you get the right product but most importantly ensuring you are educated with the safety aspects of the different option available. If you have any questions what soever please do not hesitate to contact us.