DIY Advice - Bathroom lights

[crawford26]

I have 3 LED lights in my bathroom ceiling, and when the cord is pulled these flicker and stay off, or occasionally turn on normally (10% of the time).

Having spoken to an electrician I know, I replaced the lamps, however this hasn't helped.

Each lamp is attached to it's own transformer - see photos - possibly these are the issue. They seem to be Knightsbridge 12V 20-60W.

Is the problem likely to be one or all of the transformers?
Any ideas how to open/disconnect? It's not like the transformer on the DIY videos I've seen on Youtube!

Many thanks in advance- any advice much appreciated.

 

[Andy78]

The transformers state suitable for halogen lamps. You need a led driver for led lamps. You'd be better off changing for a suitable 230V led solution as long as 30mA RCD protection is on the circuit.

 

[westward10]

Sounds more like a lose connection if they are all affected. Could be at the pull switch, prior to the first light or somewhere else not associated with the bathroom. Those connections are not suitably encnclosed and pose a possible fire risk. Have you always had leds in them as those are not led drivers.

 

[crawford26]

Thanks Andy - I did notice that, however I have read online such as Amazon selling these transformers that they are compatible with LEDs. Also the lamps did work previously (a month or so a go), and I'm fairly sure these were LED too, and worked for 18 months I have owned the house.

 

[westward10]

I would personally consider getting someone in to connect those lights in a compliant manner in fact they may well be causing the issue.
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Make sure it is dead but can you pull any others down along with the wiring in the cavity.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

Thanks Andy - I did notice that, however I have read online such as Amazon selling these transformers that they are compatible with LEDs. Also the lamps did work previously (a month or so a go), and I'm fairly sure these were LED too, and worked for 18 months I have owned the house.

They are NOT transformers, they are switch mode supplies.
They are NOT compatible with LEDs, they are for halogen lights.
They have a minimum load of 20W, a single LED is less than this.
They are NOT necessary, just replace your lamps and holders with 240v LED types and get rid of the switch mode supplies.

 

[crawford26]

They are NOT transformers, they are switch mode supplies.
They are NOT compatible with LEDs, they are for halogen lights.
They have a minimum load of 20W, a single LED is less than this.
They are NOT necessary, just replace your lamps and holders with 240v LED types and get rid of the switch mode supplies.

The text on the pictures says itself that it is a transformer? Do you know why they might have been installed originally?

 

[westward10]

They are NOT transformers, they are switch mode supplies.
They are NOT compatible with LEDs, they are for halogen lights.
They have a minimum load of 20W, a single LED is less than this.
They are NOT necessary, just replace your lamps and holders with 240v LED types and get rid of the switch mode supplies.

It has already been stated these are not led drivers. Arguing whether they are transformers is pointless because they are electronic transformers, they are transforming one voltage to another. We can see they are stated for tungsten lamp use, again this has also been mentioned. There is actually no reason in many cases for an led lamp not to function with the existing power supplies.

 

[telectrix]

as an experiment, last week, i connected a 12V LED MR16 ( ac/dc) to one of these. it pulsated continuously.

 

[westward10]

as an experiment, last week, i connected a 12V LED MR16 ( ac/dc) to one of these. it pulsated continuously.

This is true it doesn't always work but they can do and in the OPs case they have been for some time.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

The text on the pictures says itself that it is a transformer? Do you know why they might have been installed originally?

The pictures are wrong, the manufacturer does not know what he is selling.

They were almost originally installed for halogen lights.

 

[westward10]

The pictures are wrong, the manufacturer does not know what he is selling.

They were almost originally installed for halogen lights.

You are side tracking this thread. They are clearly marked as electronic transformers and how they transform is neither here nor there. Yes we know they are intended for halogen lights WE KNOW THIS. They almost certainly had halogen in originally and unless I am misreading this they have functioned with led lamps.

 

[Highresdis]

Sounds like it might be the pull switch. Using those transformers with the LEDs will probably shorten the lifespan of the LEDs.