12v or mains voltage

[maddog]

Can someone please explain to me the advantages and disadvanteges of both 12v and mains voltage downlights. Have done 2330 L2 but didn't really talk much about it.
thanks for any help you guys can give.

 

[Darkwood]

Are you asking fot the pro's and cons of these lamps against each other or in comparison to other lighting schemes.

 

[maddog]

Well I understand that the mains voltage is easier to install because there's not a transformer to work with but the downside of the 230v is the lamps wont last as long. Is that it? Must be more to it.

 

[Darkwood]

Well I understand that the mains voltage is easier to install because there's not a transformer to work with but the downside of the 230v is the lamps wont last as long. Is that it? Must be more to it.

The transformers ramp the voltage up and down when you switch the lamps on and off with 12v, this reduces damaging effects on the tungsten wire like thermal and magnetic shock as they are brought to voltage slowly in comparison with 240v hence increased lamp life, the down side is extra equipment to achieve this means their is more things which could go faulty and ive changed alot of electronic transformers in my time so it comes down to personel choice if you want maintenance free fit 240v and let the customer change his own lamps but this comes with the problem of them complaining the lamps dont last 2 mins, or go for a 12v and keep a happier customer with the risk you have to go back to replace the transformer.
My best recommendation is local jobs 12v and remote jobs 240v to limit long trips to replace faulty parts. As far as im aware no other advantages or disadvantages exist when comparing the two, hope this helps.

 

[maddog]

Thats the sort of answer I was looking for, thanks darkwood. It was also what I was thinking (after a bit of research) but needed confirmation.
So why do some guys recomend using a single transformer while others use one per lamp. Surely the more transformers installed the more chance of one going faulty. OK, with multiple transformers, if one goes you only lose that lamp, but with multiple transformers you will be back to change them a lot more. Is this again a matter of preference and situation dependant.

 

[empress]

Thats the sort of answer I was looking for, thanks darkwood. It was also what I was thinking (after a bit of research) but needed confirmation.
So why do some guys recomend using a single transformer while others use one per lamp. Surely the more transformers installed the more chance of one going faulty. OK, with multiple transformers, if one goes you only lose that lamp, but with multiple transformers you will be back to change them a lot more. Is this again a matter of preference and situation dependant.

in my experience after you install 12v downlighters its usually the push on pin cap lamp connectors that can give the most trouble .
some real cheap and nasty one out there which have weak spring connection making pins on the lamp go black and so they switch off.
can be costly if the jobs some distance away.
GU10 type cheaper to buy but would dread the bill arriving if i had a house full of em.
one transformer per lamp unless you have somewhere with access to stick a large tranny.
take it equal length on each lamp run with large single transformer is still the norm , not fitted one in ages.
elfyn

 

[Christech]

Sorry to mix this up a bit ,but why 12v against 230v ? European directive came in in September to oust all Tungsten Filament type lamps.GU10 style lamps are now available in Compact Florescent and LED format with very long life expectancy ,no transformers ,dimmerable and less installation costs.Basically in the long run i would opt for 230v.

"I am as always waiting to be shot down"

 

[AA410]

There is a company called wise controls i came acress at the elex show they produce the wise box for garden lighting the l e d lighting systeams they produce look very good with couler ghanging lights worth a look