I have a few 12V AC garden lights, wired in parallel to a 240V transformer which is plugged into a wireless-operated switch which is plugged into a standard plug socket in rhe garden shed. The shed is properly wired to the house (shielded cable, fitted by electrician etc) and a wireless switch by the back door of the house turns them on or off. The kit is all that standard black modular low voltage garden stuff, with waterproof two pin connectors and the transformer is IP rated for tolerating damp outdoor sheds. Power rating 30W, and running 4x4W LED bulbs.
So far so good. Except the transformers last a few months (and a few hours of lighting on, all said) before they conk out. Sometimes taking the RCD with them. Tonight it tripped the fuse, and when I tried it again it offered a few minutes of occasional feint flashing garden lights before giving up the ghost.
Nothing else electric in the shed is causing me any issues.
But it's a pain to now on probably my fourth dead garden light transformer in a couple of years. And they are £30+ each so starting to mount up. Different brand and supplier each time, always well above power margin. Are low voltage AC garden lights just best avoided, is it reasonable for transformers to blow this often and have to replaced? If not, what is the solution?
So far so good. Except the transformers last a few months (and a few hours of lighting on, all said) before they conk out. Sometimes taking the RCD with them. Tonight it tripped the fuse, and when I tried it again it offered a few minutes of occasional feint flashing garden lights before giving up the ghost.
Nothing else electric in the shed is causing me any issues.
But it's a pain to now on probably my fourth dead garden light transformer in a couple of years. And they are £30+ each so starting to mount up. Different brand and supplier each time, always well above power margin. Are low voltage AC garden lights just best avoided, is it reasonable for transformers to blow this often and have to replaced? If not, what is the solution?