Clueless & need advice re bathroom downlights & tran

[Joll]

Hello!

I'm new here & need some advice. I'm having the bathroom refitted next week and need to buy my lights. I've found some IP44 Fixed Cast Downlights that I want but the bathroom fitter said I would need transformers as well? My question is, do I need one per light and how do I know which to buy?

Would be really grateful for any help/advice. As you have probably guessed, I don't have a clue about electics at all!

 

[Spark123]

What voltage lamps do the downlighters take? Are you replacing an existing fitting or adding more fittings? Is the bathroom fitter a member of a competent person scheme such as NAPIT, NICEIC, ELECSA, BSI or ECA?

 

[Joll]

Hi Spark123

Thanks for your reply. They take up to 50W lamps. We've currently got one central ceiling light and are replacing it with 4 downlights. The bathroom fitter is a member of lots of schemes/guilds but he is bringing in a colleague who he regulalry works with who is an electrician and has all the necessary qulaifications & affiliations etc

I just need to have everything here for monday when they start work and I didint think that buying bathroom lights would be difficult! Just want to make sure I get the right things for when they start.

 

[Spark123]

What voltage lamps do they take? Do they take 230v lamps or 12v lamps? If they are 12v my personal opinion is it is better to use individual transformers.

 

[Joll]

They are 12v lamps. Someone at screwfix has told me that for one lamp I would need one LV Transformer 20-60VA 240V. Or for 4 lamps one 100 to 210VA (W) transformer. So you think I'm better going with 4 of the 20-60VA transformers? Could you tell me why you recommend using individual transformers as opposed to one for all lamps?

Thanks for your help, much appreciated!

 

[Steve]

Because if one transformer fails it wont take out all 4 lights. You'll still have 3 working lights.