What it costs
$60 to $120 per fitting to replace existing halogens with LEDs where the wiring is sound. New downlights where none exist cost more per point because of the cabling and hole cutting, and more again if the lighting circuit has no earth and needs rewiring.
How fast
A room of downlight replacements is a morning. A full house of new downlights in a character ceiling is a day or two, and worth setting out properly first.
Old ceilings, and the earthing problem
Two things come up constantly here. The first is the ceilings — lath and plaster, pressed metal, ornate roses and deep cornices. Cutting downlight holes in pressed metal or original decorative plaster is not always the right idea, and where it is, placement needs setting out first. Sometimes the better answer is wall lighting or pendants that leave the ceiling alone.
The second is earthing. Pre-1970s lighting circuits frequently have no earth conductor. That was fine with a bakelite batten holder and a fabric shade. It is not fine with a metal-bodied downlight or a metal pendant, and it's the point where a lighting job becomes a circuit that has to be rewired. We check before quoting so you're not surprised halfway through.
- LED downlights — new installs and halogen replacements. Halogens run hot and are a documented cause of roof-space fires where insulation has slumped against them.
- Pendants and feature lighting in entries, over benches and dining tables.
- Dimmers matched to the fittings. Most LED flicker and buzz complaints are a mismatched dimmer, not a faulty light.
- Outdoor and security lighting — sensor floods, path and step lighting, facade lighting.
- Restoring original fittings, which usually means new flex and a new ceiling rose behind an old shade.
Common questions
How much does it cost to install LED downlights?
$60 to $120 per fitting to replace existing halogens where the wiring is sound. New downlights cost more per point, and more again if the lighting circuit has no earth.
Can you put downlights in a pressed metal or ornate plaster ceiling?
Sometimes, but it's often not the best idea — the holes are permanent and the ceiling is usually the room's best feature. We'll set out placement with you first and say so if wall lights or pendants would suit better.
Why do my LED lights flicker or buzz?
Almost always a dimmer that isn't compatible with the LED driver, or too few fittings for the dimmer's minimum load. A trailing-edge dimmer rated for the fittings fixes most cases.
Are old halogen downlights actually a fire risk?
Yes. Halogen lamps run extremely hot, and where ceiling insulation has been installed or slumped against the fitting that heat has nowhere to go. Converting to LED removes the heat source and cuts running cost substantially.
Related
Serving Unley, Parkside, Goodwood and Malvern. See what electrical work costs in Adelaide.