Old 240/120V or 12 Volt Halogen downlights are a money-draining device. They consume so much electricity. I admit they look great but a side effect is wasted energy via heat. Changing out your old Halogen downlights can be a simple money-saving tip for your home
Halogen downlights can get so hot they have been known to start fires if not adequately ventilated, in your roof space.
The two common types of downlights are shown on the left is the:
- GU10 which is a mains 240 or 110 volt supplied downlight.
- MR16 is a low voltage 12v transformer lamp.
Table of Contents
Halogen Downlight Removal
Remove the old lamp to convert them over to an LED lamp you must first work out which type you have. Just remove your old halogen light by first
- Isolating our power supply at the main switchboard.
- Turning off the light switch.
- Waiting for the lamp to cool down.
- Twist off the halogen lamp cover ring and pull down the lamp.
- GU10 lamps must be twisted off anticlockwise whereas MR16 just pulls off.
You can take the lamp to your local hardware and purchase the relevant LED lamp, Bunnings or online at Banggood.com has a great range.
Thanks to The Ultimate Handyman for the in-depth DIY Down Light Replacement Video
Replace Halogen Downlights with LED Lamp Tips:
Buy the highest wattage LED lamp you can find or afford. Usual wattage for LED should be 5w and above to get a nice bright light similar to halogens.
If you have dimmer make sure you buy a dim-able LED otherwise they won’t work or will flicker.
Some MR16 LED lamps won’t work with the old-style iron core transformers that would be inside your roof space. If you find that your 12v transformers don’t power up your LED lamps you will have to get them replaced by an electrician
Different Shape Light Bulbs and Codes:
Colour of LED Lamps:
Colour of the emitter lamp is also important to the lighting effect you are after downlight replacement colors
- Cool White is a very light blue type of light that is suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Warm White is a more orange/yellow type of light and is perfect for the living room and bedrooms.
If you would like to know the procedure to install your own LED lighting kit which is far superior to the GU10 plug-in types check out this DIY step by step Kitchen LED lighting Project
I am a qualified Industrial Electrician for the past 20 years and I love to share my knowledge on home repair jobs.
I love fast toys like Motorcycles, Cars, Jetskis, and Boats so writing about them is easy.
To keeps costs down I do all my own mods, repairs, and servicing. These skills I want to share with everyone. DIY is a skill everyone can learn.
