LED Downlights Installation

There are however a few factors that you’ll need to consider should you be running dimmable LED downlights, 12V LED Downlights or a combination of both. Here there are some requirements to ensuring that your LED downlights operate at 100% efficiency while also protecting them from unnecessary damage.

Popular LED Downlight Installation Scenarios

AC / 230V LED Downlights
This is the easiest and most common application for LED Downlights – straight into your mains (including a GU10, E14 or E27 fitting type). This is straight plug and play and is as easier than screwing in a light bulb.

DC/ 12V LED Downlights
If you want to run your LED Downlights off a 12V system (which requires a MR16 fitting type) then you will need a Magnetic Transformer for your LED Downlights to operate effectively. The Magnetic Transformer is the most popular application in most homes and businesses and if you don’t already have one they cost well under R100 from any electrical shop (+/- R60 as of 2010). Electronic Transformers (or for the more technical term: Switch Mode Power Supplies) will NOT allow your LED Downlights to operate effectively. If you need help ascertaining what kind of transformer you have installed, call in a trusted sparky (electrician) or experienced friend to advise you on whether you need to replace an electronic transformer with a magnetic one or not - and you might as well get him/her to do the swap out for you!

Dimmable LED Downlights
Regardless of whether you’re running your dimmable LED Downlights off an AC or DC application, you’ll have to purchase a dimmable LED Downlight (at a slightly increase price) and you’ll need what is called a Bell Push Dimmer Switch to correctly modulate the electrical output so that your LED Downlights dim correctly - the older Push-Button dimmer switches will NOT work with your LED Downlights. A Bell Push Dimmer Switch can operate between 2 and 12 LED Downlights per circuit. Installing a Bell Push Dimmer switch is fairly straight forward, but should you not have any experience or not feel confident doing it yourself, then call in a trusty sparky (electrician) to do it quickly for you.

Popular LED Downlights

LED Downlights Installation Steps and Advice

• Whenever you install something into an open socket, it’s a very good idea to turn off electrical current to your lights (and your plugs) from your mains (or DB);
• If you have Halogen downlights that have been on, you’ll need to give them a while to cool down (+/- 5 minutes) before you try and take them out without something to protect your fingers. Remove the halogens from their sockets once they have cooled;
• If you are going to run your LED downlights off a DC (12V) application you’ll need to ensure that you are running a magnetic transformer. If you aren’t, we’d recommend getting an electrician to source and install one for you;
• If you require dimmable downlight operation, again you’ll need to ensure that you have a Bell Push Dimmer Switch installed (if you don’t have one already). We’d also recommend getting a n electrician to do this for you;
• Once you have connected everything up (including the magnetic transformer and bell push dimmer switch), plug in your LED Downlights;
• Turn the mains on again;
• Test and enjoy your LED downlights for years to come!

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