GU10 lamps blowing

[captainkev]

Did a job a few weeks ago which was to change low voltage downlighters to mains voltage GU10s. The old ones were about five years old with a five year warranty on the transformer and some lamps were not lasting very long, so naturally thought some transformers were on way out.

Now a few weeks later one of the GU10 lamps has already blown, OK could be one dodgy lamp but starting to think if any other problem (but never caused a problem at CU). Property is a two bed bungalow on one lighting circuit

Thinking there may be insulation problem just on kitchen part of circuit but any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[telectrix]

GU10 halogen lamps are notorious for blowing. changing to LEDs will solve the problem. cost will be reclaimed in a few months. i suggest 300lm to give close to the same output as halogens.

 

[captainkev]

thanks telectrix, did suggest this to customer (as I always do) but as per 90% of customers "go with the cheaper ones for now"

 

[Top Cat]

Could try putting them on a MK dimmer switch so that the lamps gradually get up to max output.

 

[Brightspark2]

And where they cheaps one?, what manufacturer where they?.

Sent from my Xperia S using next doors WIFI

 

[ayjay]

we always use philips lamps,
the cheap ones are no good
led,s are the best, tell the customer they will save money by fitting led,s as they only use abt 3watts

 

[telectrix]

Could try putting them on a MK dimmer switch so that the lamps gradually get up to max output.

then just be the dimmer to replace every 3 months. lol.

 

[Amp David]

Have had GU10s in the bathroom for what must be 3 years now and not one has gone yet, touch wood!!

Must be very lucky

Only thing I can put it down to is they aren't on for long periods everyday and because they are in a lowered ceiling, they have plenty of air circulation keeping them cool.

 

[Rockingit]

I had this very conversation with someone earlier today, only not GU10's it was BC candles in wall lights..... Put one lamp in a pendant and it will blow in x amount of useage. Put 20 lamps in a room and they will blow in x/20.... therefore the 'apparent' is that you are forever changing bulbs, whereas in fact you are still only changing x, just twenty times at random.

That being said, GU10's are rubbish, and especially on ground floor ceilings where they get all the vibration from above. LED's are indeed the way forward.

 

[Rampage]

I've had 4 blow in the last two weeks on a 4 way GU10 light. I think it always happens this time of year!
These are the cheapest ones from Screwfix, before this it had been months without one blowing.
The worst bulbs I've found are the ones from B&Q which are also the most expensive!

 

[Welchyboy]

i have also had repeated complaints from the same customer about gu10 bulbs continuously blowing in his house

now thanks to a 'sparky' mate of his, its in his head that theres a fault in the lighting circuit that i installed

been round there and double checked everything and its all plum

hate them!!! and they allways blow up dimmers and trip out 6a mcbs

refuse to fit them now, unless customer supplies

funny thing is i have about 20 in my house and i cant remember the last time one blew???

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Check that dichroic lamps have not been fitted by mistake in fittings intended for standard lamps, heat is released into the fitting and has nowhere to go, usually overheating the lamp, fitting and wiring, resulting in premature lamp failure, some times much worse burnt cable insulation, terminal blocks and even the fabric of the building.
In BS EN and IEC standard GU10 fittings it should not be possible to fit a dichroic lamp in a standard lamp holder, due to a safety chamfer in the holder only allowing a chamfered GU10 lamp to fit.
Fittings and lamps coming from outside Europe, often do not to have the safety chamfer built into the lamp holder and most GU10 made are chamfered, this creates a universal system which obviously reduces their production costs, but at the expense of safety.

 

[jumpin jax]

If the Zs is low enough you can install a 10a mcb or even a type c, this normally cures tripping on lamp blow, also if the OP building is a bungalow it should not be too hard to split lighting circuit