HALOGEN DOWNLIGHTS WERE AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR LIGHT FITTING THROUGHOUT THE 2000S BUT THERE ARE NOW A NUMBER OF SAFETY CONCERNS RELATING TO THIS TYPE OF LIGHT FITTING.
COMMON PROBLEMS
1. Heat stress
Halogen downlights can reach internal temperatures of up to 370 degrees! This heats up the light fitting as well as the surrounding space. If the halogen downlights are incorrectly installed too close to insulation or timber in the ceiling, they pose a serious fire risk. In 2006, 36 house fires were caused by halogen downlights. A good indicator of heat stress is the discolouration of the fitting or flaking paint,and it is common for electricians to find charred timbers in the roof space when upgrading the lighting!
2. Old technology
The transformers in halogen downlights are unreliable and can cause lights to turn on and off randomly. They also operate at a high temperature so they waste a lot of energy in generating heat rather than light.
3. Poor light output
Halogen downlights lose their brightness far more quickly than LED downlights, with a 1-2 year old halogen downlight being only half as bright as when it was first installed!
4. Shorter lifespan
Halogen downlights are rated to last up to 8,000 hours. While this might sound like a lot, it isn’t very much when you compare it to the average LED downlight which is rated to last over 40,000 hours!
5. Highly inefficient
Halogen downlights use up to 10 times more electricity than LED downlights. When you add up the number of downlights in your house, they can easily become very expensive to run.
6. Possible halogen ban
Europe has recently banned halogen downlight replacements, so if Australia follows suit it will be much harder to buy replacement halogen globes.
WHY UPGRADE?
- Modern LED downlights are safer, more energy efficient, more reliable and longer-lasting
- Upgrading to LED downlights could save you $18 per year in running costs for each light fitting
- Halogen downlights are being phased out, so it will get harder to buy replacement globes
- LEDs have a brighter, longer-lasting light output and now come in various colour options to suit your space
- Less heat output from LED downlights makes it easier to cool your house down in summer
- Most LED downlights are fully sealed, so there’s no heat loss in winter through gaps in the ceiling
