Downlighter problem

[Sanke]

Hi all
had a call last night from a potential customer He has 6 downlights in his bathroom & 3 have stopped working From his description of the two boxes on the loft I assume they are wired 3 lights to one transformer and one transformer has packed up As a rule what would you recommend 1) replace the existing transformer or 2) rewire so that each light has its own transformer ??

 

[malcolmsanford]

First question really as he now as 3 lights out because they seem to be on a single transformer he as called you in as it's an inconvinience. So how much of an inconvinience is it to him?

So really a better design for him would be to have each light with it's own transformer, but then you got to weigh up the costs of that. Give him the option, a like for like repacement for the tranny that controls the 3 lights, and then a cost for individual.

 

[telectrix]

for £4 per tranny i would fit one for one every time.

 

[Amp David]

Same here too. ALways done it that way

 

[BlueToBits]

Did all 3 stop working at the same time?

 

[DurhamSparky]

for the sake of a few quid bang mains voltage lights in!!

 

[Amp David]

Then becuase the customer will only buy cheapo lamps, they be moaning that the breaker trips every time a lamp pops.

Can't win sometimes

 

[telectrix]

I always put GU10s on a rotary dimmer wehere I can so they come on low and last forever.

 

[Amp David]

Well thats the best way. Saying that though, got some here at home and touch wood, not had one go in well over a year now.

 

[telectrix]

done 6 in my kitchen 18 months, not one popped yet and they get a lot of hammer. turned on/off at least 20 times a day

 

[Sanke]

Thanks guys Makes more sense to me to have them all on single trannys But will offer him the option

 

[eskimo39]

I always put GU10s on a rotary dimmer wehere I can so they come on low and last forever.

I have never heard of this. Does a 'Straight to full brightness' startup cause GU10's problems?

 

[eskimo39]

Sorry forgot to add, why not replace all of them for 6 IP rated mains voltage lights. My local CEF sell them for around £10 each and you then eliminate the transformer issue.

 

[telectrix]

seems to me, starting up on full with GU10s is similar to tungsten. if it catches the peak of the supply sine wave, that's when they pop.

 

[davelerave]

seems to me, starting up on full with GU10s is similar to tungsten. if it catches the peak of the supply sine wave, that's when they pop.

you mean soft-start dimmer


ahhh -those 3 20watts to 1 60va trafo shouldn't be allowed

they always get changed after to 50watt bulbs anyway