Skinflint Seeks Free Advice on burnt-out LED Transformer

[EdTheNed]

Morning.

The LED light above my bath doesn't work. I yanked all the stuff out the ceiling and found this.



So far, so good. But hark!



I have come to the conclusion that something is wrong with the transformer. Worst case: it may never transform again.

If I just buy another one with the same spec, is it going to do the same thing again? I don't really want to burn my house down, but also don't really want to pay* for professional advice.

Just for further context, here's some stuff that was written on the transformer (a bit curly from the heat, right enough):




Plan is to buy one of these, but why did the old one burn out? Is it standard for LED transformers to melt silently in the ceiling? Is there anything wrong with the setup shown?

Cheers to anyone spending the time to answer my stupid questions instead of having someone pay you to do it.

* Maybe my karma is running out, always asking questions and never giving anything back. Maybe somebody will one day deliberately cause me to electrocute myself through purposely erroneous advice. Until then, thanks everyone! My heroes.

 

[SparkyChick]

Personally, I'd buy one of these:-

Premium Electronic Lighting Transformer 0w - 50w - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LTYT50.html

And replace the halogen lamp with an LED equivalent. Will save you electricity so you can pay a spark and won't generate as much heat thus reducing the chance of burning your house down.

It looks to me like that transformer was a little too close to the lamp.

 

[telectrix]

replace with:

 

[telectrix]

i've got a bagfull of them transformers, all ripped out when converting to 240V GU10LEDs. as sparkychick says. go LED. it's 2018, not 1918.

 

[MDJ]

. it's 2018, not 1918.

How old were you in 1918 Tel? chuckle

 

[telectrix]

hahaha.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

You do realise the OP thinks his light is LED?

 

[MJPD29]

Suitably rated gu10 would be the way to go. It will never transform again is a good line it gave me a laugh I might use it in the future lol

 

[Electrical2Go]

If you go LED you'll generally need a driver not a transformer so be careful what you buy.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

It was never a transformer in the first place. It was a halogen light switch mode power supply.

 

[telectrix]

It was never a transformer in the first place. It was a halogen light switch mode power supply.

was??? it still is.!. it is not dead, just resting, pining for the norwegian fjords.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You do realise the OP thinks his light is LED?

Exactly. and the burning is because the "transformer" was sitting on top of the lamp.

It was never a transformer in the first place. It was a halogen light switch mode power supply.

Do you some sort of degree in pedantry?
The device connected says what it is

it is an Electronic Transformer.
It transforms (ie it changes) the voltage on the primary, to the different voltage on the secondary.

 

[telectrix]

It was never a transformer in the first place. It was a halogen light switch mode power supply.

where is it stated that it's for halogen lights. it could be for a train set. CHOO-CHOO.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

Exactly. and the burning is because the "transformer" was sitting on top of the lamp.


Do you some sort of degree in pedantry?
The device connected says what it is
View attachment 44188
it is an Electronic Transformer.
It transforms (ie it changes) the voltage on the primary, to the different voltage on the secondary.

The label is a lie. There is no such thing as an electronic transformer. A transformer is a device that changes voltage or current by electromagnetic induction. It doesn't change the frequency either like those switch mode supplies.

 

[Taylortwocities]

The Collins dictionary definition of a transformer is

A transformer is a piece of electrical equipment which changes a voltage to a higher or lower voltage.

Which is what the box in the picture does.
Don’t try and say it has to be two windings and an iron core.

If you don’t agree you need complain to the manufacturers of these things. Most of them call them Electronic Transformers.
Or maybe you are such a Luddite that you haven’t caught up with what things are called these days.

PS There’s another idiot that constantly spouts the same drivel about this on another forum. Are you by any chance Winston1 in disguise?

 

[solarsavings]

Winston1 ?

 

[Taylortwocities]

You should get out more

 

[solarsavings]

I know

 

[GeorgeCooke]

And this is what Wikipedia says:

Transformer - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer

Perhaps they know more than Collins or the manufacturers.

PS. Interesting that someone else knows this as well. What forum or are you not allowed to say?

 

[Taylortwocities]

You are stuck with the traditional meaning of the word transformer.
These days there are many different types, and the variants are determined by the word in front of the transformer word. Hence the description above “Electronic Transformer” tells us that the change ( in the OP’s case) from 230volts to 12volts is done by electronics rather than by electromagnetic means.

For instance, a piezoelectric transformer is a type of AC voltage multiplier. Unlike a conventional transformer, which uses magnetic coupling between input and output, the piezoelectric transformer uses acoustic coupling.
* by the way, the above definition comes not from the Collins Dictionary but your Wikipedia.

Don’t complain to me, if you disagree take your beef to the makers of millions of boxes that are labelled “Electronic Transformers”. That’s what they are, that’s what they do.

Have a nice day.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

I checked both Collins and Oxford dictionaries and yes they both use this one line description. Probably a hang over from the past. But by their description a dropper resistor or capacitor would be called a transformer!

Using the term 'electronic transformer' though wrong (the frequency and waveform are seriously changed) is a get out but the OP did not use this term.

My nice day is starting now, thanks.

 

[EdTheNed]

Personally, I'd buy one of these:-

Premium Electronic Lighting Transformer 0w - 50w - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LTYT50.html

And replace the halogen lamp with an LED equivalent. Will save you electricity so you can pay a spark and won't generate as much heat thus reducing the chance of burning your house down.

It looks to me like that transformer was a little too close to the lamp.

Amazing, thanks SparkyChick! I'll do exactly that, you're a star.

 

[EdTheNed]

i've got a bagfull of them transformers, all ripped out when converting to 240V GU10LEDs. as sparkychick says. go LED. it's 2018, not 1918.

Cheers! Will be taking that advice - off to B&Q now...

 

[telectrix]

Cheers! Will be taking that advice - off to B&Q now...

bad idea. if changing to 240V GU10s, you need the transformers removing and the 240V cables connecting directly into a GU10 holder. if using 12V LEDs, then the transformers need replacing with LED drivers. it's not so simple. GU10s would be my preferred option, but i advise getting a local electrician to do this. 1. he/she will advise on the best lamps for your needs.2. DIY and get it wrong, you could be in an ambulance or a coffin, not to mention a burnt down house.

hence the term DIY... Destroy It Yourself.

 

[dksanders]

I refuse to fit 12V fittings because of the number of times I've pulled a melted, burnt transformer out of the ceiling void, and they haven't got that way by being sat on the lamp. In my opinion it's asking for trouble having something that gets incredibly hot, runs 4-5A through very small, often poorly terminated wires, then hidden out of sight where no-one sees it melting.

Fit 230V LED fire rated fittings from a reputable manufacturer. My worry with the OP is he wants to go ahead without knowing what he's doing, is not reasonable enough to be prepared to pay for advice, and is going to get his new (crap) lights from B&Q