by ericmark »
Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:45 am
There are two types of MR16 lamps, 12 volt G5.3 where there are pins and normally a split ring holding them in place, and 230 volt GU10 which is a bayonet fitting so you turn anti-clockwise normally about 10 degs and then it drops out, some times you can get enough friction with your thumbs to turn them, but there is a rubber sucker that comes with the lamps to help grip and turn them.
Google "gu10 removal tool" and I found a range from 30p to £3 the 30p one was shown on tlc-direct.co.uk web site order code GU RS and called "GU10 Halogen Lamp Removal Sucker" they have worked OK for me.
If GU10 then the LED version is a simple plug in, B&M is where I got them, around £4 for 2 at 4.8W which is likely a little on the large size Lidi is the other place for cheap LED, you need at least 3W but as you go larger the surface area is reduced as it then needs cooling fins, so unless they are aimed at something white to bounce the light although it may have the lumen output, they tend not to light the room well.
Since going to LED not had one fail, and all cheap not expensive ones, since rented you have little option, but they are very poor at lighting a room. My son has 4 x 7.5W LED in his kitchen, that's around 2800 lumen and his kitchen is very small, I needed a touch to read pressure gauge on his central heating boiler, my kitchen over twice the size, has one LED replacement for a fluorescent tube, 28W and 2800 lumen and the room is really bright, the little spots are more suited for a planetarium than lighting a room.
So I would not buy all at the same time, try 3W and see what you think, if not bright enough around 7.5W is the maximum for GU10 but in real terms not much extra light as more room given to cooling fins.
