question MR11 to MR16

Joined
23 May 2015
Messages
51
Reaction score
3
Location
West Midlands
Country
United Kingdom
Hi,

For the most of you this may sound silly, but I m really scratching my head about this:

I have 10 MR11 (halogen 20w each) but ordered -online- by mistake MR16 LEDs (4.5w each)
another problem is that I can't reach the transformer - so no idea what is the wattage of it,
but I assume its minimum 200w as all of the halogens are 20W and I am using them for years...(installed by
some previous owner of the house).

What a friend told me and I later read it on the net is I "can't" use those 4.5w as in fact they consume more
power ..? Its something I can't understand.. isn't 10x4.5 = 45watt the whole? Can someone pls help me there?

thanks in advance.
 
Sponsored Links
You are correct, 45 watt total so if the power supply can give that low of an output then should be no problem. Depends how old, if a real transformer no problem if it's an electronic transformer may be it will not work with such a low output.
 
aha that's it then, nothing like they are consume in fact "more" power..
thank you very much for that, now I got it.

I think I can solve the low power requirements if I leave 1 or 2 of the old halogens, even say I will replace 8 of them I will have 20+20+(8x4.5)=76w way less than the 200w that is now and in the future I will try to
find and replace the transformer
 
If it is one 200w electronic unit, then its likely to have a minimum load of 40w maybe 60w.
If there cabinet lights its possibly 2 or more units maybe 105watt maximum units.
the smaller units tend to have a 20 watt minimum.

Many dont tend to use one big 200w unit as the lampholder wires are generally thin and in the event of a short circuit, the cable insulation can sometimes melt before the units internal short circuit protection operates.
 
Last edited:
Sponsored Links
Thanks mate for this info, downlights in kitchen.

Once, while tying to change one of them I accidentally disconnected a cable and the rest of the 5 lights stopped
working, so I assume all of them are chain-connected to one transformer -or maybe I am wrong and is just 4 of them on one TX and the rest 6 on the other... . but anyway I will install today the LEDs - bases fit , its the universal MR11/MR16 type, just a testing before I will go to buy the bigger brackets.
 
please let us know how you get on, Leds and transformer compatibility can be a pain unfortunately
 
all of the LEDs are working fine! it seems the 45w are inside the minimum requirements of the transformer(s)
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Back
Top