Upgrading Old Halogen Downlights to LED: What It Involves
3 min read · Electrical · Published 2026-03-24
Halogen downlights run hot, chew power and are a known fire risk in insulated ceilings. Swapping to LED pays for itself and makes the ceiling safer.
A typical halogen downlight draws 50 watts and runs hot enough to scorch timber. The LED that replaces it draws around a tenth of that and runs cool. Multiply by the twenty or thirty downlights in an average home and the case makes itself.
FitElec supplies and installs LED downlight upgrades across the Gold Coast, including apartments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
The fire risk nobody mentions
Halogens get hot enough to ignite ceiling insulation pushed too close, and older transformers add their own heat. LED replacements remove most of that heat source, and modern fittings are rated for insulation contact (IC-rated), so insulation can safely cover them.
Replace the globe or the fitting
Retrofit LED globes in old halogen fittings work but keep the old transformer as a failure point. Replacing the complete fitting with a sealed IC-rated LED unit is tidier, safer and usually not much dearer once an electrician is on site anyway.
Pick the right colour temperature
Warm white (2700-3000K) suits living areas and bedrooms. Cool white (4000K) suits kitchens, laundries and garages. Mixing them room by room is normal; mixing them within one room looks odd.
Key takeaways
- LEDs cut downlight running costs by roughly ninety per cent.
- IC-rated LED fittings remove the halogen fire risk in insulated ceilings.
- Replace complete fittings rather than just globes where possible.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I swap halogen downlights myself?
- You can change a plug-in globe. Replacing fittings or anything hardwired is licensed electrical work in Queensland and illegal to DIY.
- How quickly can FitElec attend?
- We are open 24 hours for urgent electrical work and book standard jobs within days. Call Jayson on 0425 663 172 for a current schedule.
- Where does FitElec work?
- FitElec is based at Palm Beach and services the whole Gold Coast, from Coolangatta to Coomera and everywhere in between.
Related services
Questions? Call FitElec on 0425 663 172 — Gold Coast's licensed electricians.