Bathroom Spot Keeps Burning Out?

[ipri]

Hi,

   our bathroom and toilet have 4 spots between them. When changing blown bulb ( 50W / 12V ...MR16 ) I noticed the wire was charred and the plastic terminal block also. I was sold a new transformer ( 35-105VA ).....the others are all 50-65VA. This wire and block has also charred. The bulb continues to work ok. On inspection in the loft...all the other spots have their own trans. 50-65VA...and...owns mains supply....the spot in question has mains supply from J. box...this is "Split" at the plastic terminal block to feed 2 spots...one works fine...the other is the problem. Any glaring faults here?  thanks.

 

[ProDave]

Loft insulation covering just that one that keeps giving problems?

 

[ipri]

Well...the insulation seems to cover all of them as far as I can see. I could try to free the area around that one if you think it's a problem?

 

[ProDave]

You should clear the insulation from around ALL of them, transformers and all.

The silly little 2 pin lamp holders used on the 12V lights are generally rubbish. You can by replacements for the lamp holders. One of the reasons I hate 12V downlights even more than I hate 240V ones as they are engineered so badly.  Give me a GU10 with it's lower current consumption and much more substantial lamp holders any day.

 

[Lurch]

Any glaring faults here?

All of the charred bits, the transformers, the 12V lampholders, the MR16 lamps, and the insulation over the lamps and transformers.

I wouldn't bother wasting any money on new transformers, cut your losses and bin the lot. Install some decent LED GU10 fittings.

 

[ipri]

Thanks...can I buy a complete set with any necessary transformers and holders?

 

[Lurch]

GU10 are 230V so no transformers needed.

 

[ipri]

Ooh...thanks...I think I'll go for that!

 

[roys]

As above GU10 all the way, bin all the MR16 stuff, also when you get the GU10 fittings get some decent LED GU10 lamps for them, they only use about 4Watts each and are bright, I prefer White for bathrooms and kitches as opposed to Warm White.

 

[kerching]

I am exactly the opposite...I prefer warm white in kitchens and bathrooms. That is what my wife tells me that I prefer so it must be right

Just illuminating

 

[Evans Electric]

Just to recap for Ipri then .......  as the guys said  :-

Bin all the low volt stuff. 

Fit something like  JCC 94213 in Chrome   ( nice & simple)

Discard the GU10 X 50watt lamps supplied .

Fit some LED  GU10  4.5 watt   or 5 watt  make sure lumens are over ,say, 280

Remove lagging from around fittings .

LED lamps are still a bit expensive but will last much longer  & consume very little power . 

 

[ipri]

Thanks to all for good advice!   Ian

 

[ipri]

Just been looking at LED stuff....the ones I looked at seem to have a transformer with them so a bit confused!

 

[roys]

Go to the home page of this forum.

Click on "Lightrabbit" on the forum sponsor side bar.

In their website think it is their 1st tab: GU10 LED 

Then if you look at the options there, something like the "60 SMD Glass Covered - 4.5 Watt GU10 LED"

Any probs just get back to us.

 

[Lurch]

Just been looking at LED stuff....the ones I looked at seem to have a transformer with them so a bit confused!

You can get mains or low voltage LED stuff. Obviously the ones with the transformers are low voltage, not mains voltage! You need to look for the GU10 LED kit, key thing there being GU10 = no transformer, LED or halogen.

 

[NozSpark]

I think that as you are changing the fitting that you should really be looking at getting something like the Click Inceptor Max,,, comes with a 10 year manufacturers warranty

 

[ipri]

Hi.....I'm sorting this out.....Another Q.    We had an extension last year...we wanted a Dimmer in the kitchen . We have 8 halogen GU10s spots . We were told this would probably not work with LEDs...I have tried an LED in place of a halogen....and it works! .. even with the dimmer. Although at low levels the LED goes out. If I eventually replace with LEDs throughout, will they come to any harm with this dimmer? Can I replace the dimmer .. or can I remove it?  thanks again.

 

[roys]

Some LED's are dimmable some are not, also for the dimmers there is specific ones for LED's which are slightly different.  You may or may not run into problems once you have changed all of them to LED regarding dimming with the current dimmer.

Worse that can happen is you have to change the dimmer to a normal switch or you have to change that dimmer to another type of dimmer switch providing your LED's are the dimmable type.

 

[binky]

once you change all to LED it is unlikely the dimmer will work due to insufficient load. dimming led is never very successful, they go so far then go out, but about 20% can be achieved with the right dimmer and dimmable LED lamps

 

[ipri]

So, presumably removing my dimmer is a simple job?