Hi all,
I moved in to a flat about a year ago. There are 12 halogen spotlights in the ceiling of one room, on 2 seperate circuits.
Initially, both circuits had dimmer switches.
Within a few weeks, the first lamp went out, others soon followed - on both circuits.
The problem was not with the lamps, but the transformers. One of the transformers had actually melted and burnt a little when i removed it!
As this has happened, i replaced the transformers with, i assume better quality ones which seem to last longer and, although all the transformers have said they were dimable, i've changed the dimmer switches for standard on/off switches which also seems to give all the transformers longer life.
All of the old transformers which i have removed and, of course, all of the new transformers i have installed have not been in direct contact with insulation and have had a good pocket of clear space around them.
Nevertheless, the transformers - even two of the new ones - have still cut out and died within 6 months of their installation and now, presumably due to the hotter weather, three of the original ones have died in a week!
Meaning that now, 2 of the original transformers remain. The other 10 originals, and two of their replacements have all burnt out... Surely, something's wrong with that, right?!
The flat is poorly ventilated and does stay warm, even in winter, but i'm sure there must be some kind of transformer i can install that:
a) won't get dangerously hot, and
b) will last longer... I mean, surely, over a year's life span is not an unreasonable expectation?
Can anybody:
1) Recommend a decent transformer? (i don't mind paying a higher price, i just don't want to have to change them all the time. Aside from the hassle, every time i take a light fitting out, it takes chips out of the plasterboard ceiling. =-/)
2) Give me any tips? - Is there something i should have done which i haven't?
3) Comment on 'auto-reset' transformers? - i gather these turn off (rather than burn out) when they get hot, then restart when they cool down, meaning they wouldn't need to be replaced... Are they any good?
Apologies for the long post, and thanks if you've bothered reading this far!
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, people!
I moved in to a flat about a year ago. There are 12 halogen spotlights in the ceiling of one room, on 2 seperate circuits.
Initially, both circuits had dimmer switches.
Within a few weeks, the first lamp went out, others soon followed - on both circuits.
The problem was not with the lamps, but the transformers. One of the transformers had actually melted and burnt a little when i removed it!
As this has happened, i replaced the transformers with, i assume better quality ones which seem to last longer and, although all the transformers have said they were dimable, i've changed the dimmer switches for standard on/off switches which also seems to give all the transformers longer life.
All of the old transformers which i have removed and, of course, all of the new transformers i have installed have not been in direct contact with insulation and have had a good pocket of clear space around them.
Nevertheless, the transformers - even two of the new ones - have still cut out and died within 6 months of their installation and now, presumably due to the hotter weather, three of the original ones have died in a week!
Meaning that now, 2 of the original transformers remain. The other 10 originals, and two of their replacements have all burnt out... Surely, something's wrong with that, right?!
The flat is poorly ventilated and does stay warm, even in winter, but i'm sure there must be some kind of transformer i can install that:
a) won't get dangerously hot, and
b) will last longer... I mean, surely, over a year's life span is not an unreasonable expectation?
Can anybody:
1) Recommend a decent transformer? (i don't mind paying a higher price, i just don't want to have to change them all the time. Aside from the hassle, every time i take a light fitting out, it takes chips out of the plasterboard ceiling. =-/)
2) Give me any tips? - Is there something i should have done which i haven't?
3) Comment on 'auto-reset' transformers? - i gather these turn off (rather than burn out) when they get hot, then restart when they cool down, meaning they wouldn't need to be replaced... Are they any good?
Apologies for the long post, and thanks if you've bothered reading this far!
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, people!