Low voltage transformer, can I leave one connected, unused?

[trwb99]

Hi,

I am making some changes to the low voltage lighting in my kitchen ceiling. Replacing 4 high wattage transformers for 14 lights with 14 small ones which fit through the light hole from underneath. I have realised I am about to lay a floor upsatairs and will never be able to gain access to the transformers again if I leave them under the floor.

So, I am simply taking the big transformers out of the circuit, and then adding 14 new ones. But, there is one I can't get to. I can remove the output cables from it, but I can't reach the input side of the transformer. Can I just leave it connected? It will have nothing on the output side??

Thanks in advance.

Tom

 

[ColJack]

best not to..

the output side of a transformer can climb to quite high voltages if not connected to a load..

can you not cut the cables to it and join them in a junction box ( somewhere you can pull it out of the light hole from below..? )

 

[bernardgreen]

Can I just leave it connected? It will have nothing on the output side??
Tom

You would need to check with the manufacturer of the transformer if it is SAFE to be left powered without any load on the output.

But imagine the problems if at some time in the future this transformer develops a fault and trips the power supply off. The floor will have to come up then.

Why not make the effort to relocate the 4 transformers to an accessible location below the ceiling.

 

[ricicle]

You will also be using power (albeit negligible) to magnetise the transformer even though it is not doing any useful work (green is good)