Depends on how you want to control them. If all you are doing is turn them on and off, it shouldn't be much of a problem. If you want to dim them, that's where issues start to crop up.

Not to be too reductionist or too simplistic here, but most LEDs are solid state electronics, not really technically electrical, and require low voltage DC power, so not only is there a transformer (whether you see it or not), but usually some sort of AC/DC rectifier. Not all electronics behave well to being dimmed with typical rheostat wall switch dimmers. That's also why some LED lights have a slight delay turning on, the electronics. Even if they say they handle 120v and can be dimmed, it doesn't always work as advertised.

Depending on why people on these forums recommend the Inspire LEDs (I'm not familiar with them) I would still stick with something either I know or people I respect know. If I want to dim LEDs today, I would buy a whole system that includes the lighting controller—like a Philips HUE system for traditional style light bulbs. LEDs have not been perfected to the point that anything you buy will behave properly.

But if none of that matters, just get whatever you want that behaves like you want it (if you don't want the delay in turing on, for instance)

Joe

Thanks for the insight Joe! So it sounds like based on what you've said, plus what I've found looking for these, most LED UCLs are low voltage (and therefore have a transformer). I guess I was confused as to WHY they are mostly low voltage. Is that how they can be so slim? I noticed the line voltage options are twice as thick and not as concealable. As for the dimming, Inspired LED actually sells kits that include the dimmer. Maybe I will look into that.

LED stands for "light emitting diode". Most light emitting diodes are used in low voltage electronics, like stereos, radios, and such. As such most are low voltage, DC, and capable of being small. They aren't a resistive light source, like the filament in a regular light bulb. That's part of what makes them more efficient and run so much cooler. The heat that is created is due to the transformer, not the LED itself.

If you do buy LEDs with separate transformers, make sure you have a way to access the transformer (and don't install it without room around it to let the heat dissipate) because transformers fail even though the LED itself lasts so long.

Joe