HALOGEN BULBS BURN OUT

[mwindsor]

IN MY KITCHEN CEILING THERE ARE 10 HALOGEN DICHROIC BULBS. IN TWO OF THE PLACES I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BULBS 4 TIMES SINCE MARCH. THE OTHER 8 ARE NOT AFFECTED. I AM USING COMPTON 35W CLOSED FRONT 38 DEGREE GU5.3 12V MEDIUM FLOOD. I BOUGHT THESES FAIRLY RECENTLY SO MAYBE I AM USING THE WRONG BULBS? ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED.

 

[chivers67]

Turn your Caps lock off

What are connectors like that the lamps are slotting into ?

 

[ericmark]

The GU5.3 12v lamp can be powered by either a transformer or an inverter. The latter corrects the voltage to very fine limits the former reflects the mains voltage. Because the voltage is so critical normally the inverter will be very close to the lamp. With 10 lamps this will normally mean more than one inverter.
So it could be the lamps blowing are closer or further away from an inverter or transformer. Too high and too low of a voltage will cause them to blow. The envelope has to be kept hot that's why quartz is used which is kept so hot the tungsten will not be deposited on it. Or it could be the particular inverter/transformer is faulty or with latter wrong voltage.
Bulbs do vary in quality some makes are better than others, also they are batch tested so you may have been unlucky to have got some bulbs at edge of batch pass limit.
There are so many variables and also with inverters only meters able to give a true RMS value can be used because of the switching mode used wrong readings can be measured with cheaper meters.
So first question has to be are they all powered from same transformer or inverter?
If so second question are the lamps with problems close to or furthest away from transformer?

 

[mwindsor]

Hard to say what condition they are in. Just two hick wires with a round white substance like mica, wih two holes to take the prongs on the bulbs. Sometimes the prongs don't seem to fit too well so maybe I should try changing the connectors? Many thanks

 

[mwindsor]

Thanks for these points, I will follow up and get the info you suggest. Really appreciate the advice.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

IN MY KITCHEN CEILING THERE ARE 10 HALOGEN DICHROIC BULBS ... I AM USING COMPTON 35W

350W of lighting for a kitchen?

Where do you live - Hopetoun?

 

[flameport]

wih two holes to take the prongs on the bulbs. Sometimes the prongs don't seem to fit too well so maybe I should try changing the connectors? Many thanks

Change the connectors - http://www.toolstation.com/shop/d220/sd3066/p99286

Don't use dichroic lamps - all of the heat comes out of the back of those, which will cause the exact problem you have got.

 

[mwindsor]

Thanks for the link, I will change the connectors. But what is the alternative to Dichroic, what do I order?

 

[flameport]

The alternative is PAR or aluminium reflector, such as these:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lighting/d220/sd3278/p35403

Unfortunately many retailers and even some manufacturers seem incapable of describing their products correctly. An easy way to identify is to hold one in front of a bright light - the dichroics will let some light through the reflector and have a pinkish look to them.
Aluminium ones don't let any light through.