Low voltage lighting

[mrloy99]

I was thinking of fitting a transformer near the consumer unit and supplying all the downstairs lighting circuit with 12v and changing all the fittings. Has anyone done this and is there any likely problems.

This guy I used to work with years ago in australia had his house all running off a car battery,and used to bring it into work once a week to charge it up when the boss wasn't looking.

I got to be honest I dont think you can get a 12V transformer with a big enough VA rating to do an entire circuit.

I've never seen one. Do you have one in mind??

I once took a 500va out of a shop that was being refitted,it weighed about 10kg....I ended up useing it in a barn conversion rather unorthodoxly.(but as it was in northern ireland it looked ok) But,on the low voltage side I came out in 16mmsq feeding 2 lenghts of BARBED WIRE.low voltage lampholder cables connected onto the barb with standard 15amp connector blocks.I had fourteen 35watt 12volt lamps running off this.This was 10years ago and as far as I know its still going.

 

[andyb]

When you talk about a circuit my lighting downstairs consists of 1 light living room, landing light and 6 spotlights in kitchen. they all low energy and i would prefer better light without using more power as they are used the most and sometimes can be on all day

As has been pointed out by others the vd & csa of the cable would make this unworkable, also you should not switch the secondary side of the transformer.

Take your 6 spotlights in the kitchen, if these are 50w then they will be taking 25 amps (6 x 50 = 300va. 300/12v = 25 amps)

I think your 1.5 t&e will get slightly warm and your 10amp domestic switch will produce a few sparks.

 

[dannybruff]

Sounds good in theory, I would be concerened about the volt drop tho. Maybe i'm not visualizing this properly, but say if you wanted to go back to 240v system, would that mean you replacing the transformer with a junction box right by the DB? perfectly safe but....... you know.