Halogen spotlight conversion to LED?

1077 Views 20 Replies 6 Participants Last post by flofloflo, May 10, 2020

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2020

Hello,

My basement has a few spotlights that seem to have a very short lifespan.
I believe they are halogen MR16 120V 35W and I'm wondering if it'd be worth changing them to LED.

From my initial research, it seems likes I'm going to need some kind of transformer that I'd connect directly to the wires in my ceiling.

Would you recommend making that change? What kind of transformer do I need for that? Anything specific I should avoid / look for?

Thanks,
Florent

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

Datawise

· #2 · Apr 16, 2020

My experience is that it is less expensive and work just to replace the lights with new slims.

You have to take the box apart, find approved drivers and purchase all new lamps.

You also might be able to find some 120 volt MR16 lamps; not sure if they would fit in your cans though.

Cheers
John

Nealtw

· #3 · Apr 16, 2020 (Edited)

I am in the middle of replacing 4" can lights with 4 1/4" flat discs that wire right up to 120 volt. Just like these bigger ones.

https://www.lowes.ca/product/led-un...VgiCtBh21Vwx4EAQYBSABEgIKmPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wiredindallas

· #4 · Apr 16, 2020

What base Do the existing bulbs have? That determines the voltage. Either one can be replaced with LED directly, no additional transformer.

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 17, 2020

Wiredindallas said:
What base Do the existing bulbs have? That determines the voltage. Either one can be replaced with LED directly, no additional transformer.

It's a screw. These would do for instance? https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ph...medium-base-led-light-bulb-2-pack-/1000658588

@Datawise, @Nealtw: Thanks for the tip. I like that option as well. Changing the bulb only sounds like the simplest but I really like that other option too!

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 17, 2020

Those are actually the only ones I can find: Looks pretty expensive for a single bulb, does CAD55 a bulb (USD42) look like what you'd expect? https://www.wayfair.ca/lighting/pdp...ht-bulb-e26medium-standard-base-klr10077.html

Note, mine are on a dimmer, so they need to be dimmable.

@Nealtw, how's the light coming form your slims? Looks good?

Wiredindallas

· #7 · Apr 17, 2020

That bulb is actually a PAR16 bulb. 120 volts not needing a transformer. I never saw it listed as MR16 before. Not being a high volume bulb, that price is normal.

Wiredindallas

· #8 · Apr 17, 2020

Correction: I just looked and the price is $6.00. Lowes has a 2 pack for $7.00

Wiredindallas

· #9 · Apr 17, 2020

1 more thing: PAR16 is a spot light (narrow beam spread). R16 is a softer wide flood. Check bulb lengths to be sure they fit correctly in your fixture.

carmusic

· #10 · Apr 17, 2020

always use led bulbs, led fixture will have to be replaced after 5-7 years (most still works, but light output is reduced)

Reactions: 1

Nealtw

· #11 · Apr 17, 2020

flofloflo said:
Those are actually the only ones I can find: Looks pretty expensive for a single bulb, does CAD55 a bulb (USD42) look like what you'd expect? https://www.wayfair.ca/lighting/pdp...ht-bulb-e26medium-standard-base-klr10077.html

Note, mine are on a dimmer, so they need to be dimmable.

@Nealtw , how's the light coming form your slims? Looks good?

I am replacing halogens so thes really light up the room, they are dimmable so I will be doing that,

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 26, 2020

Well, after many tries and pick-ups at home depot (missing a few tools etc..), I ended up realizing that the lights suggested by @Nealtw (thanks for the suggestion), while they have a really nice light, the transformer does not actually fit inside the metal casing in my ceiling. Total fail on my part, I should have tried to see if it fitted before going through the trouble of connecting it. Lesson learned for next time! :smile:

Back to the halogen bulbs for now, hopefully, next time there's a massive amounts of bulbs dying, the compatible LED ones are a little more available!

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 26, 2020 (Edited)

Hmm. Looks like the little piece of metal that holds the lamp assembly and allows it to pivot broke. Is this what a "gimbal" is?

Would this be the right combo to replace it:
- Replacement gimbal (but this one is for GUI10 bulbs): https://www.homedepot.ca/product/halo-flush-gimbal-gu10-trim-gloss-white-4-inch-aperture/1000169490
- 35W halogen bulb: https://www.rona.ca/en/ge-halogen-bulb-gu10-35-w-soft-white-3-pack-93117209-32285159

Oso954

· #14 · Apr 26, 2020

I’m not following you.

If you are getting that gimbal trim, it’s set up for a GU10 base Halogen bulb.
The mr16 pin base you linked to will not work in it because of the pin base. (The GU10 Pins are thicker and on a 10mm spacing. IIRC, the MR16 is thin pins on a 5.3mm spacing)

This would be a GU10 base LED that would match the socket in the gimbal.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/philips-50w-equivalent-glass-bright-white-3000k-gu10-led-light-bulb-energy-star-4-pack-/1001111943
However, it still may not fit. Those gimbals are often very tight fitting to the GU10 halogen bulb. The GU10 LED has a slightly different profile than the halogen.

My advice is take one of the trims down to the bulb aisle and try both bulbs in the store so you can see how the halogen goes in and how much extra effort it takes to install the LED, if it goes in at all.

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flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 26, 2020

Oso954 said:
I’m not following you.

If you are getting that gimbal trim, it’s set up for a GU10 base Halogen bulb.
The mr16 pin base you linked to will not work in it because of the pin base. (The GU10 Pins are thicker and on a 10mm spacing. IIRC, the MR16 is thin pins on a 5.3mm spacing)

This would be a GU10 base LED that would match the socket in the gimbal.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/philips-50w-equivalent-glass-bright-white-3000k-gu10-led-light-bulb-energy-star-4-pack-/1001111943
However, it still may not fit. Those gimbals are often very tight fitting to the GU10 halogen bulb. The GU10 LED has a slightly different profile than the halogen.

My advice is take one of the trims down to the bulb aisle and try both bulbs in the store so you can see how the halogen goes in and how much extra effort it takes to install the LED, if it goes in at all.

Thanks for the quick answer @Oso954. I actually realized the same thing then you said and I edited my post, probably at the same time you answered. I wish I could go to the store and compare, but it's not really an option these days.

I ended up ordering those: https://www.rona.ca/en/ge-halogen-bulb-gu10-35-w-soft-white-3-pack-93117209-32285159
They should work, right?

Nealtw

· #16 · Apr 26, 2020

flofloflo said:
Well, after many tries and pick-ups at home depot (missing a few tools etc..), I ended up realizing that the lights suggested by @Nealtw (thanks for the suggestion), while they have a really nice light, the transformer does not actually fit inside the metal casing in my ceiling. Total fail on my part, I should have tried to see if it fitted before going through the trouble of connecting it. Lesson learned for next time! :smile:

Back to the halogen bulbs for now, hopefully, next time there's a massive amounts of bulbs dying, the compatible LED ones are a little more available!

Mine were 4" cans wired to 120 volts, I thru them out and replaced them with these flat ones that just clip on the drywall and wire to 120 volt. :vs_cool:

Oso954

· #17 · Apr 26, 2020

The GE halogens should fit the gimbals.

Are your stores closed up there ?
I’m in Calif where hardware stores and big boxes are considered essential businesses. They are open, although they may be under reduced hours. Trips to essential businesses are OK under our stay at home rules, the government just wants them kept to a minimum.
It’s funny being in a 100,000 plus sq ft store and only seeing a few customers in it. Staffing is also cut way back, so it’s even harder than normal to find someone that really knows anything.

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 27, 2020

Oso954 said:
Are your stores closed up there ?

Up here in Ontario, home centres are only open for curb side pick-up. You can order online, and a few days later, you get an email telling you to go pick-up your stuff. As inconvenient as it is, I must say I've been super impressed by the folks at my local home depot. They're very organized and the pick-up process is super easy.

flofloflo

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 10, 2020

Quick follow-up, I had to replace one of the gimbals, and finally got it from the store. It came with a screw to GU10 adapter (see photos).
I used to have a screw base, but I had to cut the socket off. Now, I'm left with a white and a black wire coming out of the wall, and this adapter.

I could not find any information about installing this.
Should I connect my hot and neutral to the screw part of the adapter? Or just remove the screw part of the adapter just connect the wires to the ones coming out of my wall?

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3

Wiredindallas

· #20 · May 10, 2020

Cut off the screw-in and splice the wires together white to white an d black to black using a wire nut.

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