What am I doing wrong?

royc75 · 6 Dec 2016

Hello

I am constantly finding myself having to replace this white wire in my ceiling lamps. I replace it, it works for few weeks then stops. When examining the wire it seems burnt down from the heat, I replace it and again it repeats itself.

Any idea what am I doing wrong? Perhaps I need to buy better quality ones? Any suggestions?

DaveHerns · 6 Dec 2016

Are you using the right bulbs?

royc75 · 6 Dec 2016

ericmark · 6 Dec 2016

For the MR16 range of lamps there are many versions, some need cooling air at back of lamp, and the lamps again you have dichroic which is a special reflective surface designed to let heat pass and only reflect light, with the GU10/GZ10 base the dichroic can only be fitted in the GZ10 so no mistake can be made, but with the G5.3 base both lamps fit into the same base, the latter is often 12 volt.

So could be wrong type of lamp holder, wrong type of lamp, or simply a lamp which is too big.

ericmark · 6 Dec 2016

If it uses either direct connection to mains, or the transformer is wire wound not electronic type then likely moving to LED is easy way to cure.

securespark · 6 Dec 2016

DH may well be right. If it is a fire-rated type fitting, it could be that you are supposed to use aluminium-backed lamps, not dichroics.

There should be a label on the inside where the lamp sits to state this if it is the case.

What does that red label say?

royc75 · 6 Dec 2016

I'll check later today. Gosh so much complexity in one wire

pjcomp · 6 Dec 2016

This burnout is common with the 12V MR16s, but it usually takes a few years to occur, not repeat within a few weeks (in my experience). Just to clarify, is it burning out at the lamp end or at the terminal end? If the lamp end that's normal, though, as I say, not that often. Check you're not using 50W lamps with fittings intended for max 35W (though there shouldn't be significant heat difference) and there's no obstruction over the top of the fiting to stop the heat dissipation. If the burning is at the terminal end, that suggests the terminal screws aren't being tightened enough. Best bet for a long-term solution is stop trying to fix this problem and replace with LED lamps or fittings.

royc75 · 6 Dec 2016

Thanks for all the valuable advises.

Here's what the sticker says, so perhaps I should be using specific wire or lamp?

EFLImpudence · 6 Dec 2016

That's not relevant.
If the room above is also your property, fire rated fittings may not even be necessary nor required.

It's odd that you didn't post a picture of the burnt part.

Presumably you must be replacing the lamp holder as well?

royc75 · 6 Dec 2016

Thanks.

The floor above also belongs to me yes.

When I say 'burnt' I mean this white wire connected to the lamp holder exposed and looks like the plastic cover of its wire turned black which to me indicates high heat and burning.

I don't replace the lamp holder when it happens only the wire however given that it sporadically happens with different lamps something tells me I'm either using the wrong wires or the wrong lamp...?

sparkwright · 6 Dec 2016

As Securespark has indicated, those fire-rated fittings probably require 'heat forward' lamps, which would explain the lampholders burning out so quick.

Don't hear about fire-rated spots these last few years, since the advent of LED spots...

EFLImpudence · 6 Dec 2016

royc75 said:
The floor above also belongs to me yes.

Fire rated not required, then.

When I say 'burnt' I mean this white wire connected to the lamp holder exposed and looks like the plastic cover of its wire turned black which to me indicates high heat and burning.

Yes. No doubt.

I don't replace the lamp holder when it happens only the wire however given that it sporadically happens with different lamps something tells me I'm either using the wrong wires or the wrong lamp...?

I was assuming (and I think others too) that they were GU fittings (or similar) which only come with wires fitted.

Are they R80s (or similar) with an SES lamp holder?

stillp · 6 Dec 2016

Is the lamp holder making a poor contact with the wires or the lamp, thus creating excess heat?

Iggifer · 6 Dec 2016

I too had assumed they were GU lamp holders, doesn't look big enough to be an R80.

I'm curious, if they are GU, how the OP is replacing the cable but not the lamp holder. This fact, or the lamp holder may be the issue.

Also, the top of that can looks mint, no signs of overheating or even age discolouration, so I'm going for a high resistance joint somewhere causing the heat over the wrong lamps.

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What am I doing wrong?

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