Halogen Downlights vs LED Downlights

Energy Usage

When comparing the two lights it is clear that LED lights use less energy to provide light than halogens. The incandescent bulb in a halogen bulb does not use energy as efficiently as LED downlights. To produce the same amount of light the halogen will need much more electricity than LEDs. This will mean that energy saving will be hard if halogens are installed. 

With one third of the overall power bill coming from lighting, it is important to have efficient lights. This is a main advantage of LEDs over halogens due to using energy more efficiently. Halogens will require more power to light up a room meaning more costs are spent.

Quality

LEDs are built with newer technology which means that they can shine brighter than halogens. Comparing 460 to 630 lumens, LEDs light up the room by 30% than halogens. A halogen light bulb also creates much more heat than LEDs which can be dangerous. 

Both are great at lighting a room but LEDs work to light a specific direction. Also, halogens are suitable for dimmers, where not all models of LED lights have dimmers available. 

Life Span

The LED lights will last longer than the halogen downlights. From 50,000 hours to only 1000 to 2000 halogen lights will need replacing more often. Even though halogens are cheaper, it is more cost effective to have LEDs installed even though they are expensive. Purchasing one LED can last up to 10 years where the halogen will only last up to 1 year.

If these lights are installed in the home there are some advantages which come with them:

• They are cheaper to purchase and can provide a temporary downlight when waiting for better lights.
• These lights offer a warmer glow compared to newer lights which are often more white. 
• Can be installed into older homes more easily if upgrading the electrical system is too expensive.

There are also many disadvantages which come with halogen lights and why LED lights are often preferred:

• Halogen lights become extremely hot which means that they can start fires at times. In places like the kitchen to the living room this extra heat might also be unsafe.
• Exploding halogen downlights can happen at times if there is high pressure present.
• They do not use energy that efficiently which will raise the power bill by a lot.
• Having a shorter life span means that they need to be replaced constantly which is less cost effective than having LED lights installed.

It is possible and recommended that halogen downlights are replaced with LED downlights. It is strongly encouraged as well that an electrician undergoes the process of installing the new lights. The electrician will make sure to correctly inspect the system and understand how the lights will be installed.

Purchasing the new LED lights should be the same in terms of the connector at the bottom. The new LED might also provide information on what current halogen it can replace. Having an electrician undergo the process is important to ensure no complications occur. Such as incorrectly installing the lights or experiencing electrical shock, the electrician will install the lights properly. 

We recommend reading our blog ‘10 designs of LED downlights for your home’ to see the best ones to replace the halogen downlights with.

Halogen downlights are safe but can also be risky in how much heat they produce. If the light is not correctly insulated then this can cause a fire as they can reach up to 370C. That is why regularly scheduling maintenance with the current halogen lights will help prevent these concerns. A licensed electrician will inspect each light and ensure that they will not cause a fire. 

Halogen lights are also recommended to not be installed close to timber due to providing a lot of heat. Ceiling insulation should also not cover the transformers and lights in case they might ignite from the heat.