Low Voltage Downlights

[wreck-it-steve]

Hi,

I have some low voltage downlights in my bathroom and I want to change the bulbs to LED (already purchased) to lower the running costs.

One thing I dont understand though is that it says on my transformers that they take 0.26A on the pri side (about 50w) so does that mean that regardless of the bulb used they will still draw 50w per fitting or am I getting this wrong?

Thanks

 

[riveralt]

Are they led rated tranformers (drivers) because they may not work or eventually damage the led's if not.

 

[wreck-it-steve]

Are they led rated tranformers (drivers) because they may not work or eventually damage the led's if not.

They are philips LED bulbs and say they work with normal transformers.

 

[phatboy]

If they say they work with normal transformers, they must have resistors or similar in them to increase the load, so won't save any energy......

 

[riveralt]

Are they led rated tranformers (drivers) because they may not work or eventually damage the led's if not.

They are philips LED bulbs and say they work with normal transformers.

Good luck then.
I would suspect that the pri (primary) reference of 0.26A = 60w is the maximum power the transformer can handle.
Since your single lamp, which should have a built in driver, will be drawing in the region of 4w? (I assume its extra low voltage MR16 -
http://www.philips-led-lighting.co.uk/philips_master_led/philips_masterled_mr16_gu5.3_dichroic.html ) you wont exceed that.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

low voltage

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:voltage-bands

 

[Alarm]

If they say they work with normal transformers, they must have resistors or similar in them to increase the load, so won't save any energy......

Ehh, so if they say they draw 8w you say they will draw more?

 

[wreck-it-steve]

low voltage

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:voltage-bands

point taken

 

[phatboy]

If they say they work with normal transformers, they must have resistors or similar in them to increase the load, so won't save any energy......

Ehh, so if they say they draw 8w you say they will draw more?

A normal transformer may not be rated to run at such a low wattage.......