Low voltage or Mains?

[CeeJay]

Just about to start to renovate the kitchen, new units, new cooker, and new ceiling which will now allow me access to fit a proper lighting system.

I have it in mind to fit downlighters, but am wavering as to have low voltage or mains. I realise the difference and potential savings between the two, but what should be the main considerations when choosing, is it just personal preference? I would anticipate having at least 8 units. Any advise welcomed.

[Pierre ZFP]

My choice would be low voltage and LED lamps.  More expensive initially but you'll probably never have to change a bulb, unlike my low voltage incandescent bulbs which are very inefficient and don't seem to last long.

[AnOther]

Albeit on a grander scale the topic was previously discussed HERE

[Quillan]

Reading the thread that Ernie points to and something to consider if you are going to use Fluorescent type lighting is machinery. You should not have them too close or directly above rotating machinery because you get a strobe effect and in a potentially noisy environment where you can't tell via sound if a machine is rotating or not it may look stationary. You can also find that it can interfere with other electronic equipement though to be fair I have never noticed this. Energy saving lamps use Fluorescent technology.

You can find more information HERE.

[Btuckey]

Hi Ceejay,

I have just finished our new kitchen and spent ages looking at suitable (and not so suitable!) lighting with an architect friend.  We have Tempo so normal incandescent and halogen lamps were out.  The florescent downlighters all seemed to fit in with hotel rooms rather than homes.  I finally found a range of directional lighting from ‘Paulmann’.  I am very pleased with the result as I hate poor lighting when I am cooking and the fittings have full WAF rating!  I found the lights, strangely enough, in Mr.Bricolage.  Previously, I must have visited over a dozen specialist lighting shops without success.    

Hope this helps.

Brian

[CeeJay]

BTuckey

Thanks for that reply however I am not sure why Tempo is a problem in lighting and could you please let me know what WAF is?

Very interesting to hear of the range of lights in Bricolage.

[Btuckey]

Ceejay,

>However I am not sure why Tempo is a problem in lighting

Only that electricity on Red days, like the last three, is very expensive so you don't want filament lamps burning away.

>and could you please let me know what WAF is?

WAF = Wife Acceptance Factor [:-))]  i.e. no strip lighting.

Cheers.

[powerdesal]

[quote user="Btuckey"]

Ceejay,

>However I am not sure why Tempo is a problem in lighting

Only that electricity on Red days, like the last three, is very expensive so you don't want filament lamps burning away.

>and could you please let me know what WAF is?

WAF = Wife Acceptance Factor [:-))]  i.e. no strip lighting.

Cheers.

[/quote]

Does WAF have a numerical scale, ie is a WAF of 10 even possible?????[:D]

[Etoile]

I detest low voltage lights in kitchens - one is for ever changing bulbs.

Whilst moaning I cannot believe the number of different bulb types in France. You have to keep so many spares, then still have to run up to the Bricolage when one goes. The whole thing is a mess. Britain is not much better either now; once upon a time all we had were the standard bayonets; they rarely went and we all knew where we stood.

[BIG MAC]

[quote user="Etoile"]

I detest low voltage lights in kitchens - one is for ever changing bulbs.

Whilst moaning I cannot believe the number of different bulb types in France. You have to keep so many spares, then still have to run up to the Bricolage when one goes. The whole thing is a mess. Britain is not much better either now; once upon a time all we had were the standard bayonets; they rarely went and we all knew where we stood.

[/quote]

And prior to that we had pretty much standardised gas mantles....

And prior to that we had candles

And ....

The good old days eh?