Downlighter repairs...obligations?

[067256]

Called to a house today. 15 MR16 downlighters. 8 not working.
Would like to think its lamps or transformers. The downlighters are not fire rated type. I am just repairing so should i be changing to fire rated or not?

 

[PC Electrics]

Not in a single house (dwelling), no. But you should check to see they are suitably installed and not covered by anything (esp insulation).

 

[telectrix]

with mr16's check the lamp connectors as well. they are notorious for failure. i would take at least a dozen replacements with me. also, look out for melted choc blocks.

 

[067256]

PC Electrics. Single dwelling. It's a typical house. Spotlights in kitchen with a bedroom above.
Is this now a fire rated issue? I am going to change the choc blocks for some 16a blue clik connectors that i normally install. Would installing lamps with aluminium reflector help the cause?

 

[Octopus]

Based on my experience you'll find that 6 will need new connector cables!

 

[Dave 85]

Agree with the others, I would guess about 80%+ failures are lampholders

 

[D80]

If its a lot in 1 area then it could be 1 transformer that's gone, taking them all down.

I'd suggest to change them to GU10's and LED lamps, unless they need to be 12v.:winkiss:

 

[Brightspark2]

As said lamp holders are the common problem...


Are they installed in a false cieling?...

 

[J&M Electrical]

the last time i went to a fault with some 12v spots each spot had its own trasformer and 2 of the transformers were touching the lamp and had melted onto the lamp. I ended up changing all 4 to GU10 lampholders and GU10 Lamps. The price of all that worked out just less than 9 quid...which is probably less than 2 transformers and 2 MR16 Lamps. Also by doing this there is a much smaller chance of any future problems with the lights.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

I got four working in a customers house last week by tapping them. She couldn't believe it, saying, all this time I've been paying for new lamps!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

the last time i went to a fault with some 12v spots each spot had its own trasformer and 2 of the transformers were touching the lamp and had melted onto the lamp. I ended up changing all 4 to GU10 lampholders and GU10 Lamps. The price of all that worked out just less than 9 quid...which is probably less than 2 transformers and 2 MR16 Lamps. Also by doing this there is a much smaller chance of any future problems with the lights.

I would never change MR16 for GU10. They're pants at best. If customers have problems with a set of MR16, the best solution is (once ll connections have been checked) a soft start dimmer. they'll never replace a lamp again.

 

[wellshocked]

I got four working in a customers house last week by tapping them. She couldn't believe it, saying, all this time I've been paying for new lamps!

Must of been the hand of god!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

just bad connections! I got one in my bathroom too. The little pins just give up after a bit or something. Never had a problem with transformers. Or fittings. Don't try to find problems where they're not. Try replacing the lamps, but try the lamps in another fitting to check if it's really the lamp.

I stand by my advice about soft start dimmer switches. They're not expensive and extend lamp life by loads, as well as giving the availability of the lovely yellow light you get from gU10 lamps.

 

[mogga]

HALERS EVOLVLED sorted

 

[Piratepete]

I would never change MR16 for GU10. They're pants at best. If customers have problems with a set of MR16, the best solution is (once ll connections have been checked) a soft start dimmer. they'll never replace a lamp again.

I would never install MR16s in the first place. They're a recipe for continuous maintenance which most customers can't undertake. If it's not transformers, it's the choc connectors or the lamp sockets or lamps with poor quality coating on the pins. It seems ironic that the low current GU10 lamps have superior connectors to the high current MR16 lamps. I have replaced dozens of MR16 connectors but never a GU10. A lot of the damage is done by overheating because alu reflector bulbs are not being purchased. Try explaining that to a customer and then try to find a local supplier! Then on top of that is the damage to the ceiling caused by repeated removal of the fittings to repair them. The other complaint is about the life of these halogens - I'm forever telling customers not to use supermarket brand lamps.
I have just agreed with the owner of a 5 year old student accomodation block to replace 12 MR16s in the kitchen/dining area with 2 old fashioned fluorescent battens and the rest by GU10s with the option of changing the halogens to LEDs when they get cheaper, she's so frustrated with their reliability!
If I've got to fit downlighters - give me GU10s anytime.:hurray:
Pete