Halogen lamps have been firmly established in the electrical equipment market for a very long time. And even now, in the age of higher technology, despite the fact that, in fact, they are incandescent lamps with high energy consumption, the demand for them is not decreasing. And yet, many would like to replace the existing halogen lamps at home with a more economical lighting option - elements on crystals.
A person encountering LED lamps for the first time may think that there can be no difficulties in replacing halogen lamps with LED lamps. It seems that the voltage is the same, and the base is suitable - change one for the other, and that’s it.
But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. Of course, with the same luminous flux, LEDs consume much less electricity, but without certain knowledge it is unlikely that it will be possible to replace halogen bulbs with them.
The fact is that the power supply for halogen lighting elements, although it provides the voltage they need at 12 V, does not stabilize it, which is necessary for the normal functioning of LED lamps. With such a battery, the LED backlight will flicker so sensitively and noticeably that you can forget about comfortable lighting. It makes sense to figure out how to replace halogen 12-volt light bulbs with LED ones, while getting even and clean lighting.
Technical aspects of installing LEDs instead of halogens
The difficulty in switching from halogen lamps to diodes lies in modifying the power circuit. The power supply for halogen sources provides the voltage required for LEDs at 12 Volts, but does not stabilize it. Without stabilization, the LEDs will flicker, causing eye discomfort that is harmful to health.
You can replace the power supply in several ways:
- Complete replacement of power supplies. Transformers from the chandelier body are replaced with DC converters or LED drivers.
- The simplest option is to replace halogen devices with diodes with installed rectifiers that operate at the same voltage. In this case, replacement of power supplies is not carried out; it is enough to simply install diodes in place of the halogens. An important disadvantage of the method is low illumination due to voltage drop; brightness can be increased with lamps of higher power.
- Selection of LED lamps that operate on 220 Volts. Such sources are connected in parallel from the household network. Auxiliary elements will require step-down transformers. If the lamp operated on 12-volt halogen lamps, and instead of them LEDs with a voltage of 220 V are installed, then the connecting cables will need to be replaced.
The first method is the most reliable and safe, but it is also the most labor-intensive and expensive.
If you use a remote control to operate the chandelier, then with a complete transition to LEDs, it will not be able to control the lamp. This is due to low power consumption.
Power selection
LED lamps differ in power from conventional lamps. In order to choose the right analogues, comparative tables are used.
Many packages immediately indicate this information.
In order not to worry about calculations for a long time, remember the optimal power ratio between LED and simple lamps - 1:8
However, most often the factory parameters of cheap brands are overestimated, and in fact you will not get the lumens that they claim. As a result, having made seemingly correct calculations, you will get dark rooms in your home.
The only way to avoid being scammed is to buy no-name models from Ali Express, but to choose trusted brands that value their reputation.
Pros and cons of replacing halogen lamps with LEDs
Changing an electronic circuit requires large financial and physical costs. Converting a lighting fixture will pay for itself in 2-3 months with daily use, so it is important to understand whether the procedure will be worthwhile.
What is the difficulty?
The main problems lie in changing the chandelier layout. Difficulties also arise when choosing LED light bulbs - they are selected taking into account the characteristics and type of holder in the chandelier, the size of the lampshade, and color temperature. The last factor directly determines the quality of lighting in the apartment. Halogen sources emit light of a warm yellow hue with a temperature of 2700-3000 K.
Diode devices are more diverse, the color temperature range is from 2100 K to 10000 K. Lamps with bright cool colors can be connected to the office, kitchen and other work space. Appliances with yellow color are suitable for bedrooms and children's rooms.
Cost-effectiveness assessment: is it advisable to change
The cost of diode devices is quite high, but this is justified by their long service life (over 30,000 hours), high efficiency and low power consumption. As a result, diode devices pay for themselves quickly. Halogen lights are cheaper, but they last less than 4,000 hours and require more energy.
What will the replacement give?
The main purpose of replacing lamps is to significantly save electricity. It is important to note that LED lamps do not flicker, unlike similar sources, which has a positive effect on health. LEDs are also safer - they do not contain harmful elements, and they do not heat up during operation. Halogen lamps produce high heat, which increases the risk of fire. LED lights are more durable, while halogen bulbs are easy to break.
Appearance of the chandelier
Diode lighting fixtures are larger in size than halogen ones. Due to the bulbs protruding from the shades, the appearance of the chandelier will differ slightly when turned off. When turned on, the difference will not be visible.
Non-standard xenon
A decade ago, after the start of widespread sales of simple gas-discharge headlights that could be installed in standard car seats, the traffic police sounded the alarm. Such lighting devices began to blind drivers even when using low beam headlights. Xenon beams were reflected from the standard reflectors in such a way that their edge went up, right into the eyes of oncoming drivers. The operation of converted light devices was considered dangerous, and the State Traffic Inspectorate began to restore order on the roads.
In accordance with Article 12.5.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, “driving a vehicle on the front of which there are lighting devices installed, the color of the lights and the operating mode of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Operation, entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of from six months to one year with confiscation of the specified instruments and devices.”
Article on the topic
I tweaked it a little and here it is. Why can a car be removed from warranty? In other words, drivers were deprived of their license for installing “collective farm xenon”. Having noticed abnormal lights on the highway, traffic police inspectors willingly stopped such cars and drew up reports.
However, last year the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation gave clarification on the application of Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Now the installation of non-standard lamps is already interpreted under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which implies a fine of 500 rubles. The demand for non-standard lamps has increased again.
Replacement features
You need to replace the light bulbs in the chandelier by following the step-by-step instructions. It is similar for suspended ceilings and spotlights.
In a suspended ceiling
Replacement algorithm for a suspended ceiling:
- It is necessary to de-energize the room;
- The transformer is being replaced with an LED power supply;
- the socket is pulled out from the lamp;
- LED light is installed;
- if necessary, the wiring is insulated;
- check whether the chandelier is tightly fixed.
In a spotlight
Replacement steps for spotlights remain the same:
- the room is de-energized;
- the fixing ring is removed;
- the halogen lamp is pulled out of the chandelier;
- a new device is installed;
- The lamp body is securely fixed.
The algorithm for replacing an LED spotlight for halogen lamps is the same; it is important not to forget to change the power source to a transformer. It is better to wear gloves when installing a new halogen lamp so as not to leave marks on the surface of the housing.
Ripple
For some reason, many people forget that LED lamps, in addition to saving money, can be a very harmful source of lighting.
It often happened that a person, having replaced incandescent light bulbs in his room with modern LED ones, began to experience discomfort and get sick more often. And the point here is not at all a lack of quantity of light, but its quality!
We are talking about harmful pulsations.
They are very easy to identify even at the stage of purchasing a lamp in a store. Just ask the seller to turn on the light and look at it through your mobile phone screen.
Please note that many LED lamps begin to pulsate intensely only after reducing their brightness with a dimmer.
In normal mode, you may not notice this.
Positive features of halogen lamps
This chandelier has a convenient design component. The light source is capable of shining much brighter than the incandescent lamps we are used to. The bulb bulbs are made with quartz filler added to the glass. This shell option is very durable and airtight. Halogen light bulbs heat up to high temperatures and are able to withstand them independently due to their protective functions. In addition, they have the ability to withstand exposure to chemical irritants.
Basically, the purpose of replacing halogen lamps with LED lamps is considered to be the usual desire of a person to save energy. However, simply buying a light bulb with the same base and power is not enough. There are still a lot of subtleties hidden in the dismantling procedure.
Color temperature and color rendering index
A simple incandescent lamp has a color temperature of 2700K. Our eyes are already accustomed to seeing objects in this light.
If you buy an LED light bulb with T>5000K, you will not get a cozy atmosphere in your home, but something resembling a surgical office.
The most popular and pleasant to feel are models with T=4000-4500K, which corresponds to neutral or white natural light.
Don't forget about the color rendering index. This is the ability of light to display the real colors of an object.
This parameter is measured by the CRI index.
A relatively good light source should have a CRI>80. High-quality models have a CRI>90.
Do not buy light bulbs for living spaces with smaller parameters. This value is especially important in grocery stores and art galleries.
If the lighting is incorrect, juicy and tasty products can result in a completely unattractive looking product. Or one single incorrectly selected light bulb can ruin the artist’s entire work.
However, this rule applies equally in the opposite direction.
How to change a halogen light bulb in a suspended ceiling?
Due to the desire to endlessly save light, many do not understand the importance of exchanging halogen lamps for an LED analogue. We have discussed the difficulties with you, and the conclusion is up to you whether it is worth resorting to such a procedure. For those who are not afraid of the task, we suggest that you refer to the instructions and read in more detail how the sources are replaced.
- Don't forget about de-energizing the room.
- The most important thing that is done first is to replace the internal mechanism of the chandelier, that is, the transformer with a driver. This device is capable of converting a current of 220 Volts into the required power for LEDs.
- The next thing is to remove the cartridge.
- Then the LED source is installed, all fasteners are put in place, if necessary, the wiring is insulated.
Don't forget to check the fixation of the chandelier.
