Service For your home Perth metro
Old halogens hit 200°C, blow every 18 months, and chew through power. Modern LEDs run cool, last a decade, and use a quarter of the electricity. We pull the old fittings, install fire-rated LEDs, sort the dimmer if you need one, and clean up after ourselves.
Recent work
The problem
Halogen downlights had a good run. They were bright, cheap, and standard in every Perth home built between 1995 and 2010. They also run scorching hot, burn out constantly, and waste 80% of the energy they pull as heat.
Modern LED downlights solve all of that. They use a quarter of the wattage for the same brightness, last about 25,000 hours (versus 2,000 for halogen), and run cool enough that you can hold one immediately after switching it off.
The catch: most halogen fittings aren't a direct swap. The transformers need to come out. The cable connections need a proper plug. And if your house was built with insulation that touches the fittings, you need fire-rated LEDs, not the cheapest ones on the shelf at Bunnings.
What's involved
Most whole-house LED upgrades are a one-day job for a sparky who knows what they're doing.
We count the fittings, check ceiling cavity access, and ask about dimming. Fixed price covers the lot — no hourly surprises.
Old fittings pulled, transformers removed, holes prepped. We protect the floors and clean up insulation dust as we go.
Fire-rated fittings standard — required wherever insulation touches the unit. Cheaper non-rated fittings only used where it's actually safe.
Warm white (2700K) for living spaces, neutral (3500K) for kitchens, daylight (5000K) for utility rooms. We help you pick. Dimmable LEDs and compatible dimmer if you want it.
Existing switches checked — older switches don't always handle LEDs well. Replaced if needed.
Every fitting tested. Tools packed, dust vacuumed, fittings aligned in straight lines. Like we were never there.
Signs you're due
If you nod at more than three of these, you're due for an LED upgrade.
You change at least one bulb every few months.
The fittings have yellowed or melted-looking edges.
You can feel heat coming off the ceiling under each downlight.
Some lights flicker or buzz when the dimmer's halfway.
Your power bill spikes in winter when the lights are on more.
There are dark patches in the room because half the downlights are dead.
You're planning a kitchen or living-area reno.
You're selling soon — LEDs are a basic expectation for buyers.
Compliance & certification
All downlight work is carried out to AS/NZS 3000 and the relevant lighting standards. Where insulation touches the fitting, fire-rated LEDs are mandatory — we don't cut corners on that, regardless of what the spec sheet says.
Each circuit is tested for insulation resistance and earth continuity. Switches and dimmers are checked for LED compatibility — many older dimmers can't drive LED loads properly and flicker, hum, or shorten the bulb life. We swap them if needed.
Dark Spark Electrical is licensed (EC15006) and carries public liability insurance. All work guaranteed against installation faults.
From quote to certificate
Phone call or quote form — rough room count and what you want. 5 minutes.
We come and count, or you send room photos. Fixed-price quote back within a day.
Old out, new in, dimmers tested. Most whole-house upgrades done in a day.
Floors hoovered, dust wiped, fittings aligned. You barely know we were there.
Downlights & LED upgrades FAQ
Yes if there's insulation in the ceiling cavity touching (or near) the fitting. That's most newer Perth homes. The cost difference is small; the safety difference is large. We default to fire-rated unless we can clearly see it's unnecessary.
Warm white (2700K) is the safe call for living areas — looks like the lighting you grew up with. Neutral (3500K) suits kitchens and bathrooms. Daylight (5000K) is too cold for most homes — fine for laundry, garage, workshop.
Most are, but you need a dimmer that handles LED loads. Old phase-cut dimmers often hum or flicker. We swap the dimmer at the same time if needed.
Usually yes if they're modern. Old toggle switches sometimes need replacing — we check on the site walk.
Rough guide: 200–300 lumens per square metre for general lighting, more for kitchens and work areas. We design the layout so the room actually looks even, not like a runway.
Usually yes — we'll match the trim colour, beam angle, and colour temp to existing fittings.
While we're at it
Free quotes. Usually replied same day, Mon–Fri.