Which is better, low voltage or mains halogen lighting?

Question

Can't find any sensible answers to help me decide whether to fit low voltage halogen downlights or mains voltage downlights. I know that mains voltage fittings are cheaper but the bulbs don't last as long.
Is there a difference in light quality?
Does having a transformer per light make any difference (like a background hum if you have 10 lights each with their own transformer)?
Anything else I need to consider?

Answer 1

It all comes down to total wattage used.
1- Fluorescent bulbs - the new ones are good for 10,00 hours.
2- Halogen are generally brighter.
3- Recessed (quartz) with or without transformers get hot too.
4- The bulbs in the low voltage ones seem to last longer.
(the ones we have in Spain - 220 Volts main) 5 or more years I only have changed 2 out of 9).
5- Two types of bulbs in this class 1 has a glass cover so you can't touch the tiny bulb with your finger and the other is open (gets more air and lasts longer) [Don't touch it! ! !]
6- We have two surface mount fixtures (2 bulbs each) with swivels and the living room is 10 sq meters.
Good Luck ! ! !

Answer 2

you wrote so much yet still didnt give enough info.and the info you gave isnt all correct. location of fixtures? size of area? required lumens? I can answer some, yes all lights give off differant specific color variations....also some more heat than others...and why say the main(I dont know what you mean by that) lights dont last as long? why not? If you mean main voltage as in 110 volts, yes many do last even longer than halogen. there is so many new products on themarket just check first

Answer 3

Halogen adds too much thermal load to your air conditioning system. Try low voltage LED clusters to replace the halogen bulbs and high efficiency flourescents.

Answer 4

halogen

Answer 5

WATTS IS WATTS, AMPS IS AMPS