In message , Simon Stroud
writes
I put some CFL ones in my kitchen GU10 fittings (normally 5 x 50W
ones). They were VERY disappointing and I quickly went back to the
halogens. The CFL ones are just about OK in my study but they take a
LONG time to reach brightness. For fun I also tried a couple of LED
ones from CPC as these of course are instant-on. They were even more
disappointing and a strange colour.

One thing to consider is the use of 12V 20 watt lamps with a small
electronic power supply tucked up through the hole. The 12V lamps are
much more efficient and last longer too.

The LED GU10 lamps are a novelty only suited to decoration at the
moment. Most of them use a small capacitor based current limiter inside
which means they die quickly when used on a dimmer.

Here's the inside of a cheap LED lamp....

http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/candle2.jpg

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com

"Clive Mitchell" wrote in message
...
In message , Simon Stroud
writes
I put some CFL ones in my kitchen GU10 fittings (normally 5 x 50W ones).
They were VERY disappointing and I quickly went back to the halogens. The
CFL ones are just about OK in my study but they take a LONG time to reach
brightness. For fun I also tried a couple of LED ones from CPC as these of
course are instant-on. They were even more disappointing and a strange
colour.

One thing to consider is the use of 12V 20 watt lamps with a small
electronic power supply tucked up through the hole. The 12V lamps are
much more efficient and last longer too.

The LED GU10 lamps are a novelty only suited to decoration at the moment.
Most of them use a small capacitor based current limiter inside which
means they die quickly when used on a dimmer.

Here's the inside of a cheap LED lamp....

http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/candle2.jpg

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com

Hmmm that is a bit cheapo.

Probably explains why the one I tried died after a couple of months.

Regards,
Simon.

In message , Simon Stroud
writes
Here's the inside of a cheap LED lamp....

http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/candle2.jpg


Hmmm that is a bit cheapo.

Probably explains why the one I tried died after a couple of months.

There's nothing wrong with the circuitry really. It's a typical
capacitive dropper. The problem with early lights was the quality of
the LEDs themselves.

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com