Hi all, looking for a little advice please.
Here's the backstory:
I've had an ongoing issue with my kitchen lighting for a couple of months. There are 8 downlighters on a standard (not dimmer) switch, and they are MR16 bulbs. Every so often (a couple of times a week) switching on the lights will trip the downstairs lights MCB. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, or any discernible pattern for when it happens. Most of the time the lights come on as normal, a small percentage it trips the MCB and I have to flick it back on again.
We're having some other work done on the house, and I mentioned this to electrician that's working with us. The first thing he said was if they're MR16's then it's probably a fault with one of the transformers, and he would recommend changing them all over to GU10's anyway, as they can run from the mains without a need for a transformer. That makes sense to me, and he's quoted £200 for it.
However, I pulled out one of the light fittings to have a look, and it seems that the MR16's that are currently in there are running straight from the mains already. Is that possible? I was under the impression that MR16's were 12v, so would always need a transformer.
In fact, there is an old GU10 fitting which has been bypassed, and the fitting is just there to hold the MR16 bulb in place.
I've attached some pictures that hopefully illustrate this.
This is the junction box up in the ceiling:
View media item 102086
The cable running from the junction box, with the MR16 fitting on the end:
View media item 102087
The defunct GU10 fitting:
View media item 102088
My questions is, could the MR16 be running from the mains? If so, could this be the cause of my tripping lights?
Finally, I'm happy to swap out all the fittings and replace with new GU10 ones. This would be as simple as removing the existing MR16 fitting and replacing with a new GU10 one, correct?
Thanks in advance.
Here's the backstory:
I've had an ongoing issue with my kitchen lighting for a couple of months. There are 8 downlighters on a standard (not dimmer) switch, and they are MR16 bulbs. Every so often (a couple of times a week) switching on the lights will trip the downstairs lights MCB. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, or any discernible pattern for when it happens. Most of the time the lights come on as normal, a small percentage it trips the MCB and I have to flick it back on again.
We're having some other work done on the house, and I mentioned this to electrician that's working with us. The first thing he said was if they're MR16's then it's probably a fault with one of the transformers, and he would recommend changing them all over to GU10's anyway, as they can run from the mains without a need for a transformer. That makes sense to me, and he's quoted £200 for it.
However, I pulled out one of the light fittings to have a look, and it seems that the MR16's that are currently in there are running straight from the mains already. Is that possible? I was under the impression that MR16's were 12v, so would always need a transformer.
In fact, there is an old GU10 fitting which has been bypassed, and the fitting is just there to hold the MR16 bulb in place.
I've attached some pictures that hopefully illustrate this.
This is the junction box up in the ceiling:
View media item 102086
The cable running from the junction box, with the MR16 fitting on the end:
View media item 102087
The defunct GU10 fitting:
View media item 102088
My questions is, could the MR16 be running from the mains? If so, could this be the cause of my tripping lights?
Finally, I'm happy to swap out all the fittings and replace with new GU10 ones. This would be as simple as removing the existing MR16 fitting and replacing with a new GU10 one, correct?
Thanks in advance.