Downlighters above garage doors

[matts4]

I keep seeing more and more properties with downlighters above their garage doors, which give off a nice appearance at night.

What sort of fittings would people be using?

I quite fancy fitting some myself, but want to know what I need to order.

Thanks
Matt

[redeye]

LED or C F L lamps in down lighters ,lamps cost a bit more than norm but will have a lower running cost

[Zippee]

Any pics to what you mean? Purely from a perspective of being nosey...

[matts4]

Well it's a bit tricky to stop outside peoples houses at night to take photos, but what I have seen is not dissimilar to this, albeit without a balcony above the doors to install the lights in.

http://www.overheadgaragedoors.net/Resi%20aluminum...

I assume most people are installing in the soffit above the door/or on the lintel

The ones i've seen are just there as a feature, so dont seem to be bright, just a glow. (normally 2 lights above each door)

[matts4]

Something like this http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

I think my search is complete

[E36GUY]

matts4 said:

Something like this http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detai...

I think my search is complete

Do you want to keep changin bulbs?

Use LED. If you can send me a pic of the area you are intending to light I might be able to recommend something unusual and perhaps more fun

[mk1fan]

matts4 said:

I assume most people are installing in the soffit above the door/or on the lintel

As a general piece of advice do not cut any holes / chases into any type of lintel.

I too would suggest looking at LED lighting for use as 'accent lighting'.

[matts4]

I would never even contemplate trying to cut into a lintel, but there in lies my problem.

Upon closer inspection last night, I have no soffet above my garage door's, just a lintel, so anything fitted would need to surface mount on the lintel as opposed to "in" it

The LED kitchen work top stuff like this might be an option http://www.lightsmart.co.uk/surface-mounted-4-ligh...

But then they wouldn;t be weatherproof.

I'd appreciate your opinion E36GUY (and anyone elses!), so will take a few pictures in the morning and post up so you can see what my contraints are etc.

[mk1fan]

It might be easier to suggest things if you post a piccie of your garage door showing the wall / roof above.

[E36GUY]

matts4 said:

http://www.lightsmart.co.uk/surface-mounted-4-ligh...

Oh good lord no. These will be dreadful.

[matts4]

mk1fan said:

It might be easier to suggest things if you post a piccie of your garage door showing the wall / roof above.

It's a rough phone camera pic from a few weeks ago, but as you can see, all I have it a lintel and then brickwork, so it looks pretty difficult to get anything to mount to it.

[matts4]

E36GUY said:

matts4 said:

http://www.lightsmart.co.uk/surface-mounted-4-ligh...

Oh good lord no. These will be dreadful.

lol, best I delete those of the possible list!

[anonymous-user]

I have 3 of them, already installed in the soffit when I bought the house. They use halogen bulbs, haven't changed any of them in nearly 5 years, I like them. A few neighbours have changed theirs for coloured LEDs, they look hideous IMO.

[sp2]

yellowbentines said:

I have 3 of them, already installed in the soffit when I bought the house. They use halogen bulbs, haven't changed any of them in nearly 5 years, I like them. A few neighbours have changed theirs for coloured LEDs, they look hideous IMO.

All you have to do is change the hot halogen bulbs to normal warm white LED bulbs (3W or 5W) and they will still look perfectly fine and the same as before,but you will only be using a fraction of the electricity.And no heat from them either.

Simples.

[GKP]

sp2 said:

yellowbentines said:

I have 3 of them, already installed in the soffit when I bought the house. They use halogen bulbs, haven't changed any of them in nearly 5 years, I like them. A few neighbours have changed theirs for coloured LEDs, they look hideous IMO.

All you have to do is change the hot halogen bulbs to normal warm white LED bulbs (3W or 5W) and they will still look perfectly fine and the same as before,but you will only be using a fraction of the electricity.And no heat from them either.

I've got a set similar to the B&Q kit, too. Likewise I've never had to change any of the bulbs in around 6 years of use. As for changing to LEDs, well the lights are on for just a few minutes a day. How many years will it take to even begin to recoup the cost of replacing fully functioning bulbs?

[sp2]

GKP said:

sp2 said:

yellowbentines said:

I have 3 of them, already installed in the soffit when I bought the house. They use halogen bulbs, haven't changed any of them in nearly 5 years, I like them. A few neighbours have changed theirs for coloured LEDs, they look hideous IMO.

All you have to do is change the hot halogen bulbs to normal warm white LED bulbs (3W or 5W) and they will still look perfectly fine and the same as before,but you will only be using a fraction of the electricity.And no heat from them either.

I've got a set similar to the B&Q kit, too. Likewise I've never had to change any of the bulbs in around 6 years of use. As for changing to LEDs, well the lights are on for just a few minutes a day. How many years will it take to even begin to recoup the cost of replacing fully functioning bulbs?

Put your hand to a normal downlight bulb when its on for a few minutes.

Then put your hand to an LED downlight bulb,even after its been on for hours.

Then come back and tell me the difference,thats if your hand hasnt allready melted/fused to the normal bulb.

Its not just about being energy effiecent,its also about heating issues/heat built up and potential fires too.

I converted from normal recessed downlights in my house and outside to LED setup instead for both energy usage and fire hazzard reasons.

Will never ever use a normal halogen downlight bulb again.

Edited by sp2 on Friday 14th January 22:23

Edited by sp2 on Friday 14th January 22:24

[GKP]

I'm not too fussed about excess heat on an outside light and I'm sure any potential fireball problem would have manifested itself by now.

[mk1fan]

Back to the OP.

How about some uplighters in the ground in the openings, rather than downlighters?

[sp2]

mk1fan said:

Back to the OP.

How about some uplighters in the ground in the openings, rather than downlighters?

You will then need to run SWA cable and also need IP 67 outdoor sealed uplighter units too,which can be very expensive depending on what varient you go for.

Any cable that is going to be run underground or run above ground,externally and in contact with the elements,HAS to be SWA.

You would also need to get the correct impact load rating too,incase you would be walking on them or having a car or bike driving over them in and out of the garage itself.


SWA Cable.

Edited by sp2 on Saturday 15th January 20:27

Edited by sp2 on Saturday 15th January 20:29

Edited by sp2 on Saturday 15th January 20:31

Edited by sp2 on Saturday 15th January 21:07

Edited by sp2 on Saturday 15th January 21:17

[matts4]

I would prefer not to go into the groung due to the blcok paving etc (and cost)

This is a clearer picture of one of the doors + the lintel and block work above it.

I'm hoping the gap between the block and lintel will possibly enable me to pass any relevant wiring