LED downlight upgrade guide: what to actually buy, and what it costs in Brisbane
What I install on every LED downlight upgrade in Brisbane, including the brands worth paying for, the dimmable trick most installers get wrong, and real prices.
Halogen downlights are an unforced error in 2026. They're hot, they're hungry, and they have a documented track record of starting house fires when ceiling insulation eventually drops onto them. If yours are still in, here's the upgrade play.
Why your halogens have to go
A 50W halogen runs at around 250°C and pulls 50W per fitting. Multiply that by 20 fittings in a typical Brisbane home and you're burning 1kW just on lighting, plus you're cooking the ceiling joists for 5+ hours an evening.
The replacement LED equivalent is 7 to 9W per fitting, runs cool to touch, and lasts 10 to 15 years instead of 6 months. The maths is brutal:
- 20× halogens × 5 hours/day × $0.30/kWh = $1.50/day = $547/year
- 20× LEDs × 5 hours/day × $0.30/kWh = $0.27/day = $98/year
- Annual saving: ~$450
Plus you stop replacing globes ($8 each, 6-monthly).
What I actually install
Voltech installs one of three LED downlights on every job:
- Brightgreen DL850. Australian-made, beautiful warm-white, dimmable, IC-rated. Premium but worth it.
- Tridonic Compass, slightly cheaper, very reliable, fixed colour temperature. Great for hallways/back rooms.
- HPM Excel, budget option, 5-year warranty, Australian distribution. We use this for whole-house upgrades on a budget.
We do not install $4 Bunnings imports. They drift in colour, they fail prematurely, they aren't IC-rated for insulation contact, and the dimming compatibility is a nightmare.
The dimming gotcha
This is the single most misunderstood part of an LED upgrade. LEDs need to be matched to the right kind of dimmer:
- Old "leading-edge" (TRIAC) dimmers were designed for halogens. Use them with cheap LEDs and you'll get flickering, audible buzzing, and shortened LED life.
- Modern "trailing-edge" LED dimmers (Clipsal Iconic Wiser, HPM Excel Trailing) work cleanly with quality LEDs.
When I do an LED upgrade I always replace the dimmer at the same time. It's an extra $35 in parts and 5 minutes of labour, and it's the difference between "wow these are great" and "why are they buzzing".
Smart vs dumb LEDs
If you're renovating, this is worth thinking about:
- Dumb LEDs + smart switch (Clipsal Iconic Wiser), cheap, reliable, works with Home Assistant / Apple Home, the LED itself is a $30 part you can replace easily. My recommendation for most homes.
- Smart LEDs (Hue, LIFX). $50/lamp, every lamp talks to its own bridge, replaceable individually but more expensive overall. Worth it for living areas where you want colour scenes.
Real Brisbane pricing
Voltech's standard LED upgrade pricing:
- 10 downlights, supply & install: $880 (about $88/light)
- 20 downlights: $1,520 (about $76/light, bulk discount)
- Add a Wiser dimmer per zone: +$95
- Whole-house LED + dimmer upgrade (typical 4-bed): $1,650-$2,200
Most jobs are done in a single morning. We dispose of the old halogens, vacuum the ceiling cavities, and warranty the LEDs for 5 years on top of the manufacturer's.
To book. LED upgrade quote, or ring 0411 054 811.
, John
I'm John, local Camp Hill sparky, fully licensed, fixed-price quotes, lifetime workmanship warranty. Ring me direct on 0411 054 811 or send a quick message.
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