Ceiling And Downlight Questions

[jaycency 0]

couple of thoughts and question ran thru my mind while visiting several lighting shops.

1. regardless for downlight or hanburger light or some deco ceiling lights, most shop says can convert PLC to LED or vice versa.

Q1: Meaning, can i just buy 1 light fitting and convert myself

Q2: or when the shop says convert, is actually 2 type of fitting. but same price

2. As I have source to get all the electrical stuff, what i really need are the light casing.

Q3: for PLC, what are the components needed? (Osram Bulb/Tube, Ballast. Starter? Bulb holder usually comes with the casing?)

Q4: For LED, what are the components needed?

I think the saving to DIY would probably be more for LED, since the price has been heavily speculated and marked-up.

just thought of DIY the lights myself and learn something from this experience.

if anyone has this experience or in this line can share?

[hawthorne 0]

My 2 cens in blue

1. regardless for downlight or hanburger light or some deco ceiling lights, most shop says can convert PLC to LED or vice versa.

Q1: Meaning, can i just buy 1 light fitting and convert myself

Technically yes.

Q2: or when the shop says convert, is actually 2 type of fitting. but same price

PLC and LED are different technologies. It requires different components. So u need to check if the shop will need you top up if u opt for LED instead of PLC. LED is more ex than PLC, hence I dun think they will give u the same price for PLC and LED. What I will do is to check with the lighting shop on the difference between:

1. Light fitting alone

2. Light fitting with PLC

3. Light fitting with LED.

After that, do a comparison and see is it worth the effort and the savings u will get if u DIY, Or if u intend to engage an electrician, you can also see if u want to buy all the components and ask him to wire it up for u. If u DIY, nobody will provide u tech support if something fails.

2. As I have source to get all the electrical stuff, what i really need are the light casing.

Q3: for PLC, what are the components needed? (Osram Bulb/Tube, Ballast. Starter? Bulb holder usually comes with the casing?)

PLC circuits consists of Ballast and Starters and, of course, the PLC tube and the necessary bulb holder.

Q4: For LED, what are the components needed?

LED circuits do not use the Ballast and starters. However, as LED lights runs on 12V DC, a 240VAC - 12VDC transformer is normally needed. (either built in the LED buib or wired separately to an external transformer.

For my case, I have gotten my contractor to change some of my existing false ceiling downlights from G24 PLC to LED. What he did was to removed the ballast from the existing circuit. Then removed the G24 PLC and replaced it with a new G24 LED array. G24 LED array has a built in transformer to work with our domestic 240VAC power supply.

Edited April 22, 2013 by hawthorne