B&Q's Garden Lighting - not interchangeable?

[daneaston]

B&Q have two low voltage lighting systems - one LED and one halogen. They say they're not interchangeable, but could anyone in the know please suggest why one couldn't mix and match? Thanks

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/outdo...ems/-specificproducttype-linking_led_lighting

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/outdo...g_systems/-specificproducttype-select_a_light

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Hard to say for sure, given that the B&Q website is the to-be-expected wreckage, put together by the same sort of knuckle-draggers that work in the stores, but my guess is that the ELV halogen lighting (not low voltage: http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:voltage-bands) uses power supplies which are not the same as those used by the LED lights.

You can install both types, but they can't share power supplies and cables/

 

[daneaston]

They're both 12v. I really don't see why I can't use both halogen and LED on the same transformer!

 

[EFLImpudence]

So is your car.

 

[daneaston]

I think you've got a little confused - these lights are to be used in the garden, not in my car. And they come with a mains transformer, so there's no need to use a car battery to power them if that's what you're suggesting.

 

[EFLImpudence]

What I meant was:

Do you think your car would work if you connected it to the transformer?

 

[daneaston]

I would need an incredibly long extension lead.

 

[EFLImpudence]

B&Q sell them too.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

the B&Q website is the to-be-expected wreckage

 

[ban-all-sheds]

They're both 12v. I really don't see why I can't use both halogen and LED on the same transformer!

Halogen supplies are constant voltage and the lights are connected in parallel.

LED drivers are often constant current with the lights connected in series.

But feel free to ignore the people selling them and connect them how you like.

 

[dannyboi2003]

The transformer for the LED lights probably has DC output and a very low maximum demand and the one for the Halogen lights is probably AC with a higher maximum output. Just run two cables one for the LED and one for the Halogen lights, will be much easier. Low voltage garden lighting is cack anyway, the further away from tghe transformer you go the dimmer the lights get (not so much for LED), your far better off using mains voltage fittings, they'll last longer too!

 

[daneaston]

The transformer for the LED lights probably has DC output and a very low maximum demand and the one for the Halogen lights is probably AC with a higher maximum output. Just run two cables one for the LED and one for the Halogen lights, will be much easier. Low voltage garden lighting is cack anyway, the further away from tghe transformer you go the dimmer the lights get (not so much for LED), your far better off using mains voltage fittings, they'll last longer too!

Thanks for your help - makes sense now. (unlike "ban all sheds" flippant and petulant replies)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I assume you can put forward a reasoned, mature, and logical argument showing in what way my replies were flippant and petulant?

 

[SimonH2]

Main issue is that the two systems are from different manufacturers (I think). They may or may not be compatible, but B&Q wouldn't know that if you wrote it down for them and made them copy it out 1000 times. I once enquired about a particular tile a friend had bought from them, I would have got a more intelligent answer from a rock.

Even if both manufacturers used the same connectors, and they both used DC, and they both used the same voltage - each component will only have been tested & approved to work within the manufacturer's own range.
If all those conditions were true, you could mix and match and it would work, but the assembly would no longer qualify as "an extra-low voltage lighting system which is a pre-assembled lighting set bearing the CE marking ..." and so it's installation would no longer be exempt from notification to building control.

 

[ericmark]

(1) 12 volt can be exactly 12 volt or it cam be a nominal voltage your car is anywhere between 11.5 and 14.5 volt.
(2) Although transformers give to to a maximum amps inverters which look like transformers also have a minimum.
(3) Clearly with one rated 150W and other rated 50W you can't supply the 150W lamps from a 50W unit.
(4) We have DC and AC.
(5) With AC we also have varying frequency output. Inverters could be in gigahertz range.

2 and 3 are most likely with the LED lamps being under min output for Halogen inverter and the LED transformer likely to small for Halogen bulbs.

With LED likely the voltage is not too important but with halogen either too high or too low will reduce life.