How to replace a halogen bulb on your own LED
LED lamps instead of halogen lamps are a justified decision, as they are much more economical, safer and efficient. They will work longer, and if necessary, burned out LEDs can be replaced by new ones. The only drawback is the price.
But LED bulbs will quickly pay for themselves, as their owner will not need to replace them for the next few years. After installing the LED bulbs, it is important to monitor the correctness of the work. Sometimes they may flicker. If the problem is left unattended, it will affect the service life.
Pros and cons of swapping bulbs
Many people try to swap halogen bulbs for LED bulbs in the chandelier, as they work on the same principle as incandescent bulbs. Inside the bulb is a tungsten coil and a chemical mixture that prevents the product from failing and wearing out. Power comes from a 12-, 24-volt power source.
The advantage of the LED lamp is the rapid yield to full power. The brightness of incandescent, fluorescent or halogen lamp increases gradually. Diodes are easier to tolerate voltage fluctuations, especially if it is an expensive and high-quality device.
In addition, safety is important to customers. Chips are powered by a minimum voltage, so the elements do not pose a danger in the process of replacement. If an incandescent or halogen bulb stops working, they cannot be repaired. Speaking of LED devices, it's often easy enough to to replace a burned-out LED for a new one. If you have experience, you can do it yourself.
Disadvantages of LED lamps:
- over time there is a degradation of the crystal, which reduces the brightness of the luminescence;
- high price;
- neutral or cold light suppresses the release of melatonin, it can provoke sleep deprivation.
Chinese low-quality products can have poor color performance and a high ripple factor. Also, buyers are often faced with defective devices.
Video: How to choose the right LED lights.
Peculiarities of Replacing Lamps
Before you replace the lamps, you need to take into account a number of peculiarities. For example, if it is an ordinary chandelier with halogen bulbs, it is not possible to reinstall the light source because of the installed transformer, which converts the standard voltage specifically for "halogens".
In this case, you will have to change the chandelier completely. If the LED chip is designed for a lower voltage, it simply will not turn on. Also, some chandeliers have a remote control. If you install other bulbs, it will stop working.
In a spotlight.
First remove the fixing ring, then it is necessary to remove the device from the socket (you should wear gloves on your hands before doing this). Then a new bulb is installed, and then the body of the lamp is fixed in place.
The LED bulb for a spotlight is considered the best counterpart because it is economical and safe. Displacement of halogens occurs because of the high power consumption. If the socket in the lamp corresponds to the purchased LED bulb, you can make a replacement of one type of product for another.
Install the LED counterpart instead of the halogen lamp for 220 volts is much easier, because the design provides for the presence of a current stabilizer. But if you need to perform a conversion of halogen 12-volt model with an equivalent supply voltage, there may be difficulties, which only a master can cope with.
In a suspended ceiling
Replacing bulbs in a suspended ceiling takes place in the following order:
- De-energizing the room.
- Dismantling the internal mechanisms, that is, the installation of the driver instead of the transformer. This is necessary to convert the current of 220 V to the required rating for LEDs.
- Removing the socket.
- Installation of the LED lamp.
- If necessary, insulation of the wiring.
- Assembly.
Before turning on the bulbs, you should check again whether everything is correctly installed. It is important that the transformer works correctly, otherwise it can cause the diodes to burn out.
Can a halogen bulb be converted to LED?
Some halogen lights can be converted, for example if it is a small table lamp. You will need a heat sink, an aluminum board to solder the chips, LEDs, and a power supply for the job. The first thing to do is work on the heatsink. If it is big, a part can be sawed off.
The LEDs are soldered onto the board, and then they need to be connected to the power supply. If everything works, a bulb or lens is installed on top, after which the device should be checked again. Then you can proceed to install the board in the lamp housing.
The power supply should be in a plastic tube with holes through which cooling will flow. The power wire goes through the foot of the lamp and is installed in the housing itself as an additional heat sink. In this way, a 100 watt lamp can be used to make a 4 watt LED light. If the work is done correctly, the heat sink will not get hotter than 30°.
If a person has no experience with electrical devices, to make a modification of a halogen lamp to LED yourself is not worth it, it is better to invite a master. This will directly affect the service life of the chandelier or lamp.
How to avoid mistakes
Before you remake a halogen chandelier to LED, you need to learn about common mistakes and problems that may arise. Often masters face difficulties at the stage of changing the circuit of the chandelier. Also, not every craftsman can choose the right LEDs. You should consider their characteristics, the type of holder in the chandelier, the color temperature and the size of the plafond.
Halogens have a warm glow, so you should buy diodes with a temperature of 2700 to 3000 K. You should also remember that LED sources for 220 V shine brighter than 12 watts.
The 220 V LED lamp has an AC voltage stabilizer. 12 V devices do not have a stabilizer and are not bright when operating on AC, so they work on DC, which is regulated by the driver. Therefore, you will have to rework the circuit to work correctly.
