Hello guys, dear K1300S,
I assume that your LED solution is based on a constant current or constant voltage source for operating the LED.
The advantages of this system lie in the fact that the LEDs can be dimmed a bit better than the retrofit LEDs, but only in the lower percentage range, up to about 30%, and up to 30% no light reaches the floor anyway.
In addition, this "future system" is simply still too expensive.
When you look at the individual components needed, you feel differently and wonder where you want to save the electricity costs again.
And regarding your huge sums, I do think the costs can explode very quickly here.
My Osram LEDs cost 10€ each (7.5W). The solution you promoted is offered for example by Brumberg. There, the light fixture costs about 60€ each and does not offer the color tone and brightness (I tested it myself because my neighbor definitely wanted to install them).
With 33 pieces, that’s already a 1650€ difference, plus every third Brumberg fixture still needs a corresponding driver that also costs about 15€. And if you only have a 3-wire cable in the ceiling, you can’t use this system because of the needed drivers (my neighbor had this problem).
By the way, I still have 23 pieces of the Brumberg here because my neighbor made a bad purchase. If you’re so into the "new" technology, send me a PM, I can gladly sell them to you.
My tip:
Lay a 5-wire cable into every box and pull the power supply individually from the distribution board and not from the switch, connect the switch with 5 wires to the distribution board as well.
Then in 10 years you can convert if these systems are available at the price of a lightbulb.
Regarding space:
What you’re saying is simply nonsense. These overpriced halogen boxes are much smaller than the solution I proposed, whether in height or diameter.
There is enough space to also install a transformer or constant current dimmer or constant voltage dimmer, and I also have more air volume for cooling.
I can fully understand Kisska86 and you don’t have to take everything as gold that industry presents.
In the past, for example, people used metal cookie tins and poured them into the ceiling. The houses are still standing today…..
Of course, you should discuss the procedure with a structural engineer.
An installation box should cost me 40€, I have 33 pieces, i.e. 1320€. I had 40€ in material costs for everything instead. Plus a full Saturday of work, about 10h, let’s say 200€ for my labor.
So I’m left with about 1000€. I gladly invest that in other things rather than letting it disappear in the ceiling.
Kisska86:
Yeah, this was a bit sweaty for me too, but after the second hole it went quite quickly. My approach:
Put the core drill in, stop when I noticed it hit metal. Then chiseled out the drilled attachment with the hammer drill and chisel attachment. Since I already had the circular cutout, there was only minimal chipping and the concrete came out surprisingly easily.
From above, I removed the metal with a small grinder. Then drilled again.
If I was a bit too harsh in tone in the first few paragraphs, I apologize for that.
I’m simply tired right now of hearing life-saving solutions from all sides that cost a fortune and at the same time have to listen to "It doesn’t matter for those few € anymore."
Cheers