12V lighting transformer with no load

Talk Electrician Forum

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Larches

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
44
Reaction score
1
I have three 12V halogen downlights on the landing which share the same transformer if I remember correctly. The switch for those also controls a separate light fitting on the stairs, which I've just 'upgraded' with 3 x 5W LED lamps. Given that the halogens are expensive to run (plus safety considerations as they're covered by loft insulation), I thought I may as well disconnect them and just use the stairs light, which is plenty bright enough. This is where my rookie questions come in... can anyone please advise:

  1. Is it safe to disconnect each of the MR16s and just tuck the connector of the way (keeping the lamp in situ for cosmetic reasons), without disconnecting the transformer?
  2. Is this likely to result in any (significant) energy wastage?


I may get the transformer taken out and the fittings swapped for GU10 at some point so I can put LEDs in, but I'm thinking the above would be a useful stopgap in the meantime.

Thanks...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
if you don't disconnect the transformer it will waste some electric. I would convert to GU10s with LED lamps, and be done with it. There's no harm in leaving existing lamps in place.

 
if you don't disconnect the transformer it will waste some electric. I would convert to GU10s with LED lamps, and be done with it. There's no harm in leaving existing lamps in place.


OK thanks, so I'll probably just disconnect the lamps for now (still worth saving 3 x 40W or whatever they are, even if the transformer continues to waste a bit) but then I'll look to get the transformer taken out sooner rather than later.

 
Top