V-TAC VT-61003RD-S Round Recessed LED Panel 3W 3000K 330lm White, Samsung Chip

The VT-61003RD-S is a round recessed LED panel for ceilings, with a white plastic housing and a flat opal diffuser. The Samsung-chip LED module is built in permanently, and the fitting connects straight to the 230 V mains.

Size and ceiling installation

The panel measures 90.5 mm across and 28 mm high, so it fits even a shallow void above a suspended or plasterboard ceiling — compare that height with the free space above your own ceiling. Two spring clips hold it in the cut-out; with the springs open the fitting is 105 mm wide. The manufacturer does not state a cut-out diameter, so it is worth offering the panel up to the hole before drilling.

How much light it gives, and what kind

Drawing 3 W, the panel gives 330 lm, which is enough for spot or supplementary lighting. To light a whole room, several are fitted in a row or a grid. 3000 K is warm white, calmer than neutral light.

The colour rendering index is Ra 80 and the R9 value on the EPREL sheet is only 10, so reds and skin tones look slightly muted under this light. The sheet also gives a colour consistency of 6 SDCM, meaning two panels side by side may differ slightly in their shade of white. The flicker (Pst LM 1.0) and stroboscopic effect (SVM 0.4) figures sit exactly on the limit allowed by EU rules.

Power and running

The light source is integrated into the fitting and cannot be replaced; the manufacturer states 20,000 hours of operation and more than 15,000 switching cycles. The panel is not dimmable, so it goes on an ordinary switch rather than a dimmer. It is energy class E and uses 3 kWh per 1,000 hours of light.

V-TAC intends this panel for offices and meeting rooms, showrooms and kitchens — anywhere several small, flat points of light should sit flush with the ceiling.