LEDs for the suspended ceiling in the bathroom with 12 or 230 volts

Hello everyone,

In the bathroom, we want to lower the ceiling and install swivel Paulmann spots with GU10 sockets there. Now the question arises for us regarding the LEDs: what are the advantages and disadvantages of 12 or 230 volt LEDs? The only thing I know is that with 12 volt LEDs you need an LED driver / transformer. So 230 volt LEDs would be cheaper because you save the transformer. Or do 230 volt LEDs not last as long?

The Philips Hue, for example, are 230 volts, and we want to install two of them in the bathroom (one above the toilet and one above the bathtub) in the ceiling. So basically, that speaks in favor of choosing the other LEDs as 230 volts too, right?

Thank you very much for your answers.

PS: Is it really that important to look for LEDs with a CRI over 90 (color rendering index) for the kitchen work surface?

230V in the bathroom with a suspended ceiling is not a problem.

Just use the Hue lights everywhere in the bathroom.

Is it really that important for LEDs in the kitchen work area to have a CRI of over 90 (Color Rendering Index)?

That is independent of the installation location. If you want natural, beautiful light and decorations, furniture, or even clothing to still look good when the light is on.

Thank you. So you only use the 12 volts when it could be dangerous "with water," or am I interpreting it wrong.

Okay, thanks. But the Philips Hue White Ambiance only have 80 CRI as well, right?

No, 12V or 24V is used for various reasons. Sometimes it is optical, sometimes due to construction. It can also be that the desired light source is only available as a low-voltage variant.

In any case, 12-24V is used if you want to "properly" dim the LEDs without flickering, flashing, glowing, etc.

Philips Hue White Ambiance

Philips and Osram only specify a value of 80 because this value is prescribed by the EU as a minimum standard and must be met. And since these are lamps (all retrofit, not just Hue) with a whole load of compromises, that is just how it is. For Max Mustermann, however, it is usually exactly what he was looking for and completely sufficient.

You mean that the Philips Hue White Ambiance with 230 V cannot be dimmed properly? I ordered two and will test them, but for the relatively expensive Philips Hue, I do expect flicker-free dimming. I am very curious to see how it works via the Bluetooth app.

The Hue lamps are a hybrid. They are operated connected in series with 24V so that a DC-DC with 48V powers the whole system. This is then controlled via Zigbee and you can dim or switch via phone, etc.

Thus, you have several systems in one, which has nothing to do with the usual dimming (as commonly known). My statement referred to the usual 230V LED retrofit. Hue and other pseudo-smart light bulbs are naturally excluded, here every manufacturer cooks their own stew.