Erwinong

Hey guys.... I just went to some shops to look around. I did a comparison between LED downlights and the energy-saving non-LED type. (Think it's called PLC?) The energy-saving one is noticeably much brighter than LED ones (even at high wattage). The shop owner told me for main lighting, there's really no point in going for LED type. The overall effect will be dimmer than energy-saving kind. He said most people go into LED because they were misled by the "lower energy" consumption. But that's only if you turn on the lights for a very long time like in shops (unlikely for residential homes). The disadvantage are that LEDs cannot compare in terms of brightness. For those of you who have used LEDs extensively in your home, eg in Living Room and bedrooms, do you find your lighting to be dim? I'm quite confused now. Dunno whether to get LED downlights or the energy-saving non-LED lights.

Hey thanks for filling me in with the technical details. Yes, I agree, but all these technical explanations will not make sense when it comes to purchasing the LED lights. I can't possibly go into the shop and ask what sort of reflector they use inside, and not all shops will have the ability to show you the lumens. They'll probably ask me to leave the shop. But what I do know is, comparing apples for apples, a 10W LED light will be brighter than 7W of the same brand. This shop told me they are using an in-house LED that is 14W. I felt a bit doubtful.... Now I'm told it has no brand at all. Is there a way I can check how good it is? Or verify it's really 14W? As far as I know LED lamps don't come in higher wattage than 10W. Am I right?

Thanks "bro" for the safety mark advice. whisper, what you bought is just the downlight bulb? Does it come with the cover and transformer or have to be separately bought? Oh by the way, there are different ratings on the LEDs. How do you all gauge which wattage is sufficient for say, living room? The shop guy told me it's 14W LED downlight. Is there such a high rating?

thanks everyone for the reply. folwer, when you said workmanship, you mean installation? that one is done by electrician. wow, i didn't know LED downlights so expensive? I don't quite believe the shop. Once installed, can i check the brand or anything by removing the LED light from the ceiling?

I was quoted by a lighting shop for LED downlight for living room. It's about $110-120 per piece. Seems like pricey but was told it's better than the Made in China type. Is it that expensive to buy a good quality LED downlight? The shop somehow refuses to tell me the actual wattage. Said something like it's variable wattage. Definitely bright enough and will look nice. I was like HUH? Got such a thing as actual wattage can vary? There are so many different brands and wattage from different shops. How do you all choose? Thanks....

hey thanks so much etmoto. I checked style nordic but seems like they sell only furniture and lighting?

Could someone kindly recommend me a good shop to buy nice looking ceiling fan (with or without lights) for bedroom use? Thank u!

Ya, I thought it's high power consumption also. I don't have the chance to try with this lamp but I've tried normal halogen bulb. Yes, it's warm. LED ceiling mounted lamp or chandelier seems not common. I find for main light, LEDs still lose out to halogen in terms of brilliance and light quality. Most people these days also seem to use downlights that make using a main light unnecessary. But I feel a main light will "decorate" the room.

Hi all, I am thinking of getting a lamp for my living room main light. It uses 2 x 200W of halogen bulbs. Is this considered high power consumption? I have no idea on what is considered energy-saving or normal for such ceiling-hanging lights. Hope I can get some help here. Thank you!

I'm looking for outdoor lights for my balcony -- for ceiling mount as well as floor-standing types. Anyone knows where I can buy them from good shops? I don't really get direct rain but I think it's good if the lights can be the outdoor kind as there's still a lot of dust and some slight wetness when there's heavy rain. The usual lighting shops don't sell them or the variety is very limited. Thank you so much for any advice!

Okie... thanks for the clarification. Then this makes it very confusing. Cos we can't compare apples with apples.... For eg, shop A may have 3528 with more LEDs than 5050 on 1 strip so shop A will tell me 3528 is brighter than 5050. Which was what I was told. But shop B may have more LEDs on 5050 than 3528 on 1 strip and they will tell me 5050 is brighter than 3528.

gnipihz, Thanks for sharing your nice reno. On the LED lights part, it's strange. I was told the 3528 is brighter than the 5050. I saw it at the shop and indeed it's brighter. But you mentioned otherwise. Or maybe there's something about LEDs I'm not sure....

Hmm I'm interested to know as well. Their prices are pretty standard I suppose. So which other company did you get eventually?

Ha... ya I guess so. But when I'm home, prefer not to use handphone. And if I'm talking long, I think I will use up the limited free outgoing calls very soon! Whua... serious... There are people with no residential phone line at all?

Hi... Does anyone know any good shop where I can buy modern-looking, maybe classy telephone to match a modern design home? Seems like the topic of telephone is the least discussed or not discussed at all. Thanks for any suggestion.

Heh heh... Thanks for the list Terrence! Hey everyone, how about we charter a minibus or something and all of us do our shopping there? Maybe we can really ask for better price from the shop. Then when we come back, we all give Poppylove a good treat!!

Lauer: Thanks for the further explanation. You do sound to me to know the stuffs well. Ok, I'll likely check out the difference. Seeing is believing I suppose. Ultimately, I just want to make sure I can consider the facts properly. The danger about going into the shops blindly is that everyone will say his or her lights are the best. I've learnt more from my own reading and also the good help over here. whisper: Ya, I think I'm more into T5 now. I've also just read the LED bulbs can blow and I can imagine if the bulbs go off here and there, the lighting will be uneven and ugly. Can't even change individually. I think life is very fair huh. We can't always get the best in everything. I set my mind on LED all the time thinking they will help to save costs. Now I know the disadvantages of LEDs....

Hi PoppyLove, Wonderful choices and wonderful writeup you have there. Is it possible you share with us where the shop in JB is? You may send me a PM if you wish. I'd rather support our neighbours in JB than buy from here if the price difference is so much! It doesn't make sense.... Thank you very much! Wish you more fun in planning for your reno.

Hi whisper, Thanks for the link and explanation. Yah, I've been trying to read more lately. So you not considering LED strips? I'm getting confused on this also. Many told me LED strips not as bright as T5. But a lighting specialist I spoke to said there are good LED ones which can rival T5. Advantage of LED is it saves electricity bill in the long run.

Hi... anyone bought sofa from Navinzi before? If so, how do you find it? I can't find much opinion from the forums. But I like their sofas.

I need to have some switches and power points shifted in my new HDB flat. When I told my electrician, he refused to do so as he said this is not allowed by HDB. I was shocked as I didn't know there is such a rule! *suaku* So after shifting the switches and power points, I will see trunking running along the walls. Isn't this so very ugly? I'm sure many will conceal right? Perhaps illegally? I wonder what is the reason HDB prevents us from doing this. As long as it's safe, and we are not hacking into some important structure inside the wall, there should not be any issue?

I've also heard LEDs are not as bright as T5 for cove lighting. But a lighting guy told me this is not necessarily true! He said there are already some LED models out there which can match the brightness of T5. Can anyone confirm this please? One disadvantage I've read about LEDs is that if any of the lights go off (and a few of them can happen within 1-2 years), it'll be very difficult (or impossible?) to change individually. What most people will do if that happens is to just leave it. But you will see shadows here and there at your ceiling. And if the transformers for the LEDs spoil, it's expensive to replace them. I think there are pros and cons....

Thank you arowana and Lauer. Pardon me for my ignorance. I'm confused with LEDs and T5. Prior to posting, I did some search and reading. I thought LED and T5 are the same? Cos when I did a goggle search, "LED T5", there is such a thing as T5 tube LED light. And when I read some postings here, I see people using LED strips for their cove lighting. That's why I thought LED is the way to go. So hope you all don't mind me asking further: What is T5 lighting? Is it fluorescent tube? Or some "PL-C" lighting as recommended by my ID? Thank you very much!

Hi all, I have a dilemma now. My ID said it is better to use PLC lights for the cove lighting. He said I need a lot more LEDs to brighten up the place which will add the cost. Above all, LEDs require some kind of generator to run them? These don't last as long as the LED lights and cost a lot more to replace. I'm confused now as I read LEDs are the "in thing" now and many have used LEDs for cove lighting. Do you all have any issues with LEDs so far? Anyone chose PLC lights instead? Appreciate any feedback. Thnx.