With the latest developments in LEDs, people find it hard to look past this lighting option.

LED lighting products such as replacement lamps are constantly reducing in price, but there are still some firm advocates of fluorescent lighting.

M-Elec asked a Sunshine Coast electrician whether he would select fluorescent lighting rather than LED’s, “Fluorescents have been around for many years and have proven to me that they are at reasonable cost and brightness. Plus, that’s all that has been available (apart from halogen).”

When asked what would make him use LED fittings rather than fluorescent, he explained, “If you could prove that using LED products rather than fluorescent will save my clients money and produce enough light, I would definitely change.”

M-Elec explores the pros and cons of fluorescent, LED and halogen lighting below.

Fluorescent

  • Type of install - Cavity Ceiling
  • Type of fitting - Recessed fluorescent downlight
  • Start-up time - 12-30+ seconds
  • Wattage consumed per downlight including drivers - 17W
  • Fit off + test time - 15 minutes
  • Dimable - No
  • Flicker - Yes
  • Lumen output - 900Lm
  • Beam angle - 150 degree
  • Expected lamp life - 5,000 hours
  • Extra accessories required - none
  • Labour time to install - 15 minutes
  • Average usage - 4 hours
LED
  • Type of install - Cavity ceiling
  • Type of fitting - Recessed LED downlight
  • Start-up time - 0.5 seconds
  • Wattage consumed per downlight including drivers - 12W
  • Fit off + test time - 10 minutes
  • Dimable - Yes
  • Flicker - No
  • Lumen output - 960 to 1200Lm
  • Beam angle - 95 degree
  • Expected lamp life - 40,000 hours
  • Extra accessories required - none
  • Labour time to install - 10 minutes
  • Average usage - 4 hours
Halogen
  • Type of install - Cavity ceiling
  • Type of fitting - Recessed halogen downlight
  • Start-up time - 0.1 seconds
  • Wattage consumed per downlight, including drivers - 55 to 60W
  • Fit off + test time - 10 to 15 minutes
  • Dimable - Yes
  • Flicker - No
  • Lumen output - 600 to 700 Lm
  • Beam angle - 60 degree
  • Expected lamp life – 2,000 to 5,000 hours
  • Extra accessories required - heat shroud for protecting combustible materials
  • Labour time to install - 10 to 15 minutes
  • Average usage - 4 hours

More information on the comparison between fluorescent, LED and halogen lighting is available from the M-Elec website.