Louvre lights

Louvre lights owe their name to the louvre in which the lighting is embedded. The so-called recessed louvre lights are known for their unobtrusive, simple design, as they can be ideally integrated into any system ceiling. In this blog article, we show you where louvre lights can be used particularly well, how to install the products and what the differences are between a louvre light and an LED panel. Also our lighting experts will give product recommendations.

Louvre lights are lighting solutions that are specially designed for use in suspended ceilings with louvre panels (system ceilings). A louvre panel is a type of ceiling cladding made of various materials (plaster and plastic) or light metals (aluminium) and arranged in a grid. Louvre lights are designed to fit seamlessly into a louvre panel. Either fluorescent tubes or LED tubes are used in Louvre lights. The louvre in the form of a diffuser or reflector not only serves as a fixture, but also bundles the light so that it is directed downwards. It also helps to distribute the light evenly in the room and minimise glare. Depending on whether you opt for glossy or frosted louvre lights, more or less light is reflected and emitted. This means you can save energy costs with a high-gloss louvre, as fewer fixtures or a lower number of lumens are required. If your premises have low ceilings, we recommend louvre lights with a frosted louvre. This prevents unwanted light reflections on desks and screens.

Many louvre lights can be installed in just a few steps: Before starting the installation, you should switch off the power and remove the fuse if necessary. It also makes sense to first determine the exact position where the louvre lights are to be installed. If the louvre lights are to be installed in a system ceiling, you must ensure that the ceiling cut-out is the right size. Simply remove the ceiling tile or the old fixture, then insert the new louvre lights. Alternatively, if you do not have a system ceiling, attach the mounting bracket of the louvre lights to the ceiling. This can be done using screws and plugs or other fasteners provided by the manufacturer. Attach the Louvre lights to the mounting bracket (by threading the fixture into the bracket or by attaching screws, depending on the light model). Finally, in both cases, you only need to connect the supply cable and, if your louvre lights have a diffuser or cover, attach it. Once you have installed the louvre lights, switch the power back on and check that the fixture is working properly.

Note: Our instructions are always provided without guarantee. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions and consult a professional electrician if necessary.

Can I use LED tubes in old louvre lights?

In many cases, it is possible to replace conventional fluorescent tubes with energy-efficient LED tubes in old louvre lights. This process is called retrofitting and offers several advantages, such as energy savings, a longer service life and improved light quality.

Please note that older fluorescent tubes may be fitted with conventional ballasts. Some LED tubes are specially designed for operation with conventional ballasts, while others require an electronic ballast. There are also universal LED tubes that are compatible with both types. Make sure that the new LED tubes are compatible with the existing ballast. Alternatively, you can replace the ballast with an LED-compatible model. If your LED tubes are not compatible with an electronic ballast, for example, you can remove the electronic ballast and connect the LED tubes directly to the mains voltage if the tube is labelled AC or UN. 

Important: Not all louvre lights and LED tubes are compatible with each other. You should therefore ensure that the selected LED tubes are suitable for your louvre lights before purchasing. If you are unsure, we recommend that you contact a professional electrician.

LED louvre lights offer a number of attractive advantages: 

High efficiency: LED louvre lights do not emit any heat. They also have very good energy efficiency due to their long service life and rapid amortisation. This means you save on electricity costs with an LED model compared to conventional louvre lights. 

Long service life: Louvre lights with LEDs have a much longer service life of up to 70,000 hours compared to conventional versions.

Interference factors: LED louvre lights are flicker-, flicker- and hum-free from the beginning to the end of their service life.

Low replacement and maintenance costs: Thanks to their long service life and robust nature, LED louvre lights require less maintenance. 

Immediate brightness: Louvre lights with integrated LEDs reach their maximum brightness immediately after you switch them on.

Dimming function: Some LED louvre lights have a practical dimming function. This allows you to adjust the brightness as required.

Environmentally friendly: Louvre lights with LED technology are free from toxic substances such as mercury. They can also be recycled.

Flexibility: LED louvre lights are available in various sizes, the most popular size being 60x60 cm. You also have a large selection of different colour temperatures: from extra warm white to daylight white.

Note: you will not find classic surface-mounted louvre lights in which fluorescent or LED tubes are used in our online shop.

The terms "louvre lights" and "LED panels" are often used interchangeably, as LED technology has now become the standard light source for louvre lights. If you compare the two products, you will quickly notice some similarities but also some differences. We have summarised these for you below:

Technology: traditional louvre lights can use different types of bulbs, both fluorescent and LED. LED panels, on the other hand, only use LED technology, as the name suggests. 

Energy efficiency: Louvre lights can have different levels of energy efficiency depending on the bulbs used. This depends on whether a conventional or LED bulb is installed. LED technology is known for its high energy efficiency. LED panels therefore consume less energy compared to conventional bulbs.

Design and construction: LED panels are flatter and thinner than louvre lights. They are designed to blend into system ceilings as unobtrusively as possible.

Sarah  - last updated December 2023