Sparks Electrical News February 2024

LIGHTING

15

Get the lowdown on choosing the correct downlights for you home T hey are small but punch well above their weight when it comes to lighting solutions. The downlight has come a long way in terms of design and performance, with LED rechargeable bulbs making this fitting even more popular for rooms throughout your house and office. But how do you choose the right downlight and maximise your lighting solution to provide the best performance that meets your needs while also saving on electrical consumption? Illumination specialist Radiant has a handy guide that will make your decisions easier when it comes to selecting downlights… Room size The space you are illuminating needs to be accurately measured not just in terms of length and breadth, the ceiling height needs to be factored into your calculations as well. “The general rule of thumb is to install one downlight per every 4m 2 , but this can vary from room to room,” says Radiant. Room shape also needs to be taken into consideration – rooms that are not square or rectangular may require additional downlights to illuminate angled areas. room will be used for when designing and implementing an illumination solution. “Is it a task-oriented space, like a kitchen or home office, where you will need the light to illuminate activities such as reading, working or preparing food? Or is it a space to relax and unwind in a cosy ambience?” says Radiant. The former will require more downlights being installed, while the latter will necessitate a more subdued solution. Best brightness While downlights should offer sufficient brightness in the room, they should not create glare or cause eye strain. Installing a dimmer switch will allow users to adjust the brightness levels with ease, making it comfortable to be in the room. It is important to make sure that you are buying LEDs that are dimmable to save headaches when trying to return bulbs. Colour temperature As with traditional lightbulbs, LED down lights are available in a range of different colour temperatures, from warm white to cool white. “The user needs to choose a downlight with a colour temperature to suit the mood they want to create. Warm white is recommended for rooms where you want softer, relaxed lighting such as the living room, dining room and bedroom. Cool white is better suited for rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and garage,” explains the lighting brand. Ease of installation & integration It is critical to know everything about your existing system before purchasing and trying to install your downlights, says Radiant. It can happen that certain lightbulbs are not compatible with some systems; in which case you will need to either return your downlights and exchange them for compatible LEDs or Room purpose & usage It is important to remember what the

hours to charge fully and can provide more than three hours of illumination during loadshedding cycles. Style The style of downlight you choose comes down to personal preference. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and finishes and can be recessed or exposed. This is where your building aesthetics determine your lighting.

upgrade your system.

Energy efficiency With the rising cost of electricity in South Africa, coupled with the instability of the national grid, installing energy-efficient lighting solutions has become a priority for citizens. “LED downlights are a great alternative to incandescent options as they use less power and last longer,” says Radiant. Rechargeable emergency LEDs are also available – they take, on average, three

Enquiries: www.radiant.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 2024