Any lighting experts who can help please (which LED bulbs)

4 years ago

We’re coming to the end of the renovation of our house and the builders are putting bulbs in all our new LED light fittings. I specified 2700k and CRI 95+ having read advice that that gives the “best” LED lighting (most similar to halogen) but forgot to specify wattage ‍♀️. They have put in 5.5W which I believe is equivalent to about 42W (although builders say it’s 50W).

Anyway it’s all looking a bit dingy. Nice for a relaxing evening but not enough light if you have to do anything. We have dimmers on virtually all circuits, so would rather have more light and dim down for the relaxing times. So we’re looking at swapping the bulbs.

Question is, should we swap the bulbs for 5W/3000k or 7W/2700k ? I don’t know what difference each will make.

Or should we stick with the 5.5W/2700k that we have and hope it’s ok once the rooms are all painted... ? (most just plaster at the moment which doesn’t help).

Thank you

Featured Answer

PRO

Syte Architects

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Those Philips bulbs aren't bad and it does look like you have allowed for a lot of lighting, so I would suggest waiting until it is painted. A white ceiling really does make a big difference.

If you do find it too dim after it is painted, I would have suggested using a bulb like this:

https://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/item.aspx?i=17256

The LED United Pro-Reality range is great quality, although a little expensive. It has a high CRI and a lot of Lumen per Watt. The bedrooms with 4 x downlights would likely be sufficient with the lower lumen Philips bulbs you have.

Link to the manufacturer site: http://www.ledunited.com/pro-reality-gu10-retro/

Let us know how you get on!

Sasha

Comments (7)

PRO
Syte Architects
4 years ago
Hi Minipie,

Kelvin refers to the warmth of the light - 2700K is quite warm, 3000K is a little less warm, a bit more like daylight. I usually suggest to clients putting 2700K/2800K in Living Spaces, and 3000K in bathroom, utility and hall spaces.

In terms of the brightness, it would depend on your lighting layout and how spaced out your fittings are. I would look at the amount of Lumen the bulb provides, rather the Wattage - as you can have two 5W bulbs, but one may provide 350Lumen and the other 480Lumen which is quite a big difference. Are they GU10 bulbs?

Do you have a lighting layout?

Sasha

Syte Architects
minipie
Original Author
4 years ago
Yes I’m trying to figure out which bulbs we have, I think it‘s probably the Philips expert colour 2700k 5.5W. If I’m right, they are only 355 lumens... So that explains why they look dim <sigh>

I do have lighting plan, will see if I can upload. We’ve got quite a lot of lighting!
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minipie
Original Author
4 years ago
Here’s the ground floor
minipie
Original Author
4 years ago
First floor
minipie
Original Author
4 years ago
Hmm it doesn’t seem to like the first and second floors! But generally each of the bedrooms and bathrooms has 4 or so ceiling spots, plus two wall lights.

Thanks for your help!
minipie
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Sasha, that’s super helpful. I’m just checking with the builder that I’m right about what we’ve got.

I reckon we might need to change the bulbs in the utility room but elsewhere might be ok with the Philips once painted. I’ll have a look at the alternatives you’ve suggested, thank you!

Any lighting experts who can help please (which LED bulbs)

Syte Architects

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Any lighting experts who can help please (which LED bulbs)

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