Paddlefreak1
Junior Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2011
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Hello,
There are 12 x 50w gu10 240V halogen lamps in the kitchen fitted in fire rated downlights on 2 separate circuits, 6 and 6.
It is a 2 storey dwelling and fittings installed in a plasterboard ceiling.
Basically my query is this; existing lamps persistently blow? not always the same fittings, but often. Obviously there is the issue of air circulation and possible overheating caused by the very hot lamps but could anything else be causing the constant demise of lamps. (other than cheap lamps).
Wiring is ok, no odour of overheating (although seal at the lip of the fitting against the ceiling reeks on closer inspection) no flickering, no dimmer or soft start switching (which would be better). Am I missing something? They cannot stay as they are...
Almost a solution; install cool white, 3w LED lamps (not the 7w longer type). The problem is then that the fire rated body is about 2mm to shallow for the length of the lamp to be retained correctly/satisfactorily (I do not know the brand of fitting at this time). So in the interest of cost and taking into consideration the lower operating temperatures would it be acceptable to simply replace the fire rated fitting with a standard gu10 fitting? My theory, based on the fact that it is a house over 2 floors and not 3 negates the requirement for fire rated fittings, I understand that the fire rating is regarding the time a barrier is maintained against fire and not the prevention of fire caused by the fitting/lamp itself.
Alternatively, is there a deeper (to carry longer lamp), reasonably priced equivalent, brushed chrome fire rated fitting available? Surely there must be with the recent explosion in LED lamps.
Is it feasible that the enclosed space created by the fire rated fitting may prevent the LED lamp from cooling properly (I refer to the integrated cooling fins here) and subsequently shorten the life of the lamp, possibly in a similar fashion to a standard halogen? This would not be a good result either!
Any thoughts or solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
There are 12 x 50w gu10 240V halogen lamps in the kitchen fitted in fire rated downlights on 2 separate circuits, 6 and 6.
It is a 2 storey dwelling and fittings installed in a plasterboard ceiling.
Basically my query is this; existing lamps persistently blow? not always the same fittings, but often. Obviously there is the issue of air circulation and possible overheating caused by the very hot lamps but could anything else be causing the constant demise of lamps. (other than cheap lamps).
Wiring is ok, no odour of overheating (although seal at the lip of the fitting against the ceiling reeks on closer inspection) no flickering, no dimmer or soft start switching (which would be better). Am I missing something? They cannot stay as they are...
Almost a solution; install cool white, 3w LED lamps (not the 7w longer type). The problem is then that the fire rated body is about 2mm to shallow for the length of the lamp to be retained correctly/satisfactorily (I do not know the brand of fitting at this time). So in the interest of cost and taking into consideration the lower operating temperatures would it be acceptable to simply replace the fire rated fitting with a standard gu10 fitting? My theory, based on the fact that it is a house over 2 floors and not 3 negates the requirement for fire rated fittings, I understand that the fire rating is regarding the time a barrier is maintained against fire and not the prevention of fire caused by the fitting/lamp itself.
Alternatively, is there a deeper (to carry longer lamp), reasonably priced equivalent, brushed chrome fire rated fitting available? Surely there must be with the recent explosion in LED lamps.
Is it feasible that the enclosed space created by the fire rated fitting may prevent the LED lamp from cooling properly (I refer to the integrated cooling fins here) and subsequently shorten the life of the lamp, possibly in a similar fashion to a standard halogen? This would not be a good result either!
Any thoughts or solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
