Jump to content

Ellecticians...


Clapham Saint
 Share

Recommended Posts

I bit of a hot in the dark but does anybody on here an electrician/have experience with lighting?

 

We moved into our house just under 18 months ago and have had no end of problems with the spotlights, although those in the kitchen are by far the worst.

 

Initially we had "normal" (I think Halogen) spotlights but after they blew at a rate of about 1.5 a month we had an electrician (who was helping on something elsewhere in the house) take a look. He couldn't see a problem but suggested that we buy some special led lights which are guaranteed for 10 years instead. They're a LOT more expensive but apparently should last.

 

6 months down the line and 3 of these lights have now also blown and this is now getting silly.

 

Does anybody have any idea what might be causing this?

 

I suspect I'll probably need to get another electrician out but given that the last guy couldn;t find a problem and I'm calling somebody out to find an unknown problem I'm wary of somebody taking me for the mug that I am and charging me a fortune for coming out and "fixing" an invested issue only for me to be no better off (or am I too much of a sceptic?).

 

These are the new bulbs. Supposedly guaranteed for 40,000 hours. http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSecure-White-Bright-Light-Energy/dp/B0044CSIOK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317716285&sr=8-1

 

Thanks in advance guys,

 

CS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have the same problem. Our house is Victorian and still has some very old wiring in places so we've put is down to that. Very annoying all th esame. Think this should be in the Lounge though. Not very Saints related!

 

You need to replace that old wiring but I'm not sure that it would contribute to LED and Halogen bulbs blowing long before their time.I rewired our old farmhouse completely apart from the outside barn but the LED bulbs don't blow even out there where it's sometimes very hot and sometimes very cold.They're on about 6/7 hours a day as I use it as a Gym/Workshop and the wife runs a few botany experiments in there as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need to replace that old wiring but I'm not sure that it would contribute to LED and Halogen bulbs blowing long before their time.I rewired our old farmhouse completely apart from the outside barn but the LED bulbs don't blow even out there where it's sometimes very hot and sometimes very cold.They're on about 6/7 hours a day as I use it as a Gym/Workshop and the wife runs a few botany experiments in there as well.

 

I've been told that growing weed takes up quite a lot of electricity...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm...

 

Out house was fully refurbed by the previous owners so I don't think (or at lease hope!) it is the wiring.

 

Actually, why does old wiring cause bulbs to blow. Does it allow a greater load?

 

It doesn't, he's full of ****.

 

Maybe you could fit a RCBO into your fuseboard, that will solve nonsence tripping and make your lamps last longer. The lamps you have are fitted with a circuit board which will blow when power surges occur or when you turn on the lights.

 

What make is your fuseboard, and what type of MCB's are fitted in it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It doesn't, he's full of ****.

 

Maybe you could fit a RCBO into your fuseboard, that will solve nonsence tripping and make your lamps last longer. The lamps you have are fitted with a circuit board which will blow when power surges occur or when you turn on the lights.

 

What make is your fuseboard, and what type of MCB's are fitted in it?

 

Thanks Dog.

 

Happy to answer but...

 

RCBO?

MCB?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dog's right. The crap on ebay should be outlawed. The reason they are prematurely failing is the heat build up from LEDs. These things are assembled in some Chinese sweat shop from cheap inefficient LEDs to pack as many into the lamp shape as possible, without any thought for thermal management.

 

Don't believe the BS about them being cool and energy efficient either. ALL LED lamps need efficient heat sinks on the back to dissipate the heat and 5mm LED arrays like these are not particularly efficient or colour stable.

 

The ones that Dog has linked are better, look like they have heat sinks. However, don't be fooled into thinking they'll be as bright as the halogen lamps you're replacing. They'll be about two-thirds as bright as 20W halogens.

 

The best LED applications can be very efficient, but pricewise are probably beyond the average domestic user.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would be interested to know Dogs theory on why swapping an mcb for an rcbo will stop nuisance tripping? I doubt this is anything to do with your problem in fact rcbos are far more sensitive than mcbs and so would be more likely to operate under fault conditions. Although he may well be right on the crap lamps theory.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dog's right. The crap on ebay should be outlawed. The reason they are prematurely failing is the heat build up from LEDs. These things are assembled in some Chinese sweat shop from cheap inefficient LEDs to pack as many into the lamp shape as possible, without any thought for thermal management.

 

Don't believe the BS about them being cool and energy efficient either. ALL LED lamps need efficient heat sinks on the back to dissipate the heat and 5mm LED arrays like these are not particularly efficient or colour stable.

 

The ones that Dog has linked are better, look like they have heat sinks. However, don't be fooled into thinking they'll be as bright as the halogen lamps you're replacing. They'll be about two-thirds as bright as 20W halogens.

 

The best LED applications can be very efficient, but pricewise are probably beyond the average domestic user.

Don't the savings in energy cost balance the initial lay out?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It doesn't, he's full of ****.Maybe you could fit a RCBO into your fuseboard, that will solve nonsence tripping and make your lamps last longer. The lamps you have are fitted with a circuit board which will blow when power surges occur or when you turn on the lights.What make is your fuseboard, and what type of MCB's are fitted in it?
What on earth are you on about? MCB's making lamps last longer?I would seriously suggest ignoring this advice.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't the savings in energy cost balance the initial lay out?
Can be true. What I like about them is how they don't get red hot. So many times I have looked at faulty halogen lights to find that the cable has melted to the lamp. LED's get warm and that it.As for the OP's problem, could be any number of things and would require a bit of investigation to try and source a problem and could still come back with nothing. Don't take advice from anyone and act on it without them having a look first, as you'll almost certainly still have a problem in a month or so's time. Edited by saintscottofthenortham
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never been a fan of downlights because they get so hot, even fire rated fittings have to lose heat somewhere. Also I'm not convinced the lamps blow anymore than any other fitting, for me its just the fact we were used to having one central fitting in a room with one lamp and now have sometimes up to 10 fittings in the same room with 10 lamps, what ever you do you'll have to change more lamps more often with downlights.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't the savings in energy cost balance the initial lay out?

 

Only if they last as long as they claim. Those ones on ebay will probably only last 3000-4000 hours, they're so badly made. In that time, they'll save perhaps £2 in energy, if their specs are to be believed - but they're probably inflated. The problem is there's no real standards, so manufacturers can make extravagant and sometimes downright false claims about output and energy use.

 

If you want realistic specs and highly efficient lamps, try these from Philips:

http://www.philips.co.uk/c/-/econic-3-w-35-w-gu10-white-g08727900844924/prd/

 

£25 each, 15000 hours and they WILL save you money/energy.

Edited by Pugwash
Link added
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My advise would, if you don't go for low energy lamps, would be to install 35W lamps. 50W lamps 12V get very hot and if you stamp on the floor above them then they tend to blow. I would always advise someone to install 'branded' lamps and transformer as cheap wholesaler lamps and transformers last no time at all

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What on earth are you on about? MCB's making lamps last longer?I would seriously suggest ignoring this advice.

 

Totally agree, don't know why I put that :) but i did suggest RCBO's to stop the main RCD tripping when the lamps blow.

 

Best advice is to get decent 5w LED lamps 240v so don't need transformers http://www.electricity-monitor.com/kosnic-led-gu10-spotlight-warm-white-p-194.html

 

Throw the other multi LED lamps away as they are cack.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My advise would, if you don't go for low energy lamps, would be to install 35W lamps. 50W lamps 12V get very hot and if you stamp on the floor above them then they tend to blow. I would always advise someone to install 'branded' lamps and transformer as cheap wholesaler lamps and transformers last no time at all

 

Do you stamp around alot when you don't get your branded lamps?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Question to OP,

 

What is the ceiling void like where the spots are installed? Is all insulation removed? The most common cause for lamps failing is overheating. Low Voltage (12v) lamps get really hot (as do 240v lamps, though not AS hot) and if there is insufficient space in the void for the heat to dissipate then the lamp will burn out extremely quickly. LV's have a lifespan of around 10,000 hours I believe (compared to 2,000 for 240v lamp). You want to make sure that there is no insulation cover g the fitting in the void as this can have rather serious consequences.

 

Another thought, What's above the room where your having the problem? Something as silly as a kid jumping out of bed can cause enough vibration in the ceiling to blow a cheap lamp. There's 2 stabs in the dark, get back to me if you can rule both these out and I'll try and give you some more options to think about.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, firstly the lamps that you have bought do not need transformers as they are 240v. Secondly the lamp that you have a crap.

 

Try these: http://www.ukelectricalsupplies.com/Kosnic-Warm-White-PowerSpot-5-Watt-GU10-LED.htm

 

I sell 1000's of them, and if you like to buy them off me, I'll do them for £10.00 each + vat

 

PM me

 

Got these through my whole flat. The last time I spend £550 on light bulbs!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...