tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post8559523182911872054..comments2024-03-21T08:21:38.675+00:00Comments on mending things: Replacing MR16 Halogen bulbs with LED equivalentsMr Iveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-48501453751464256792018-12-21T12:20:07.739+00:002018-12-21T12:20:07.739+00:00LEDs present a different load to the circuit. If y...LEDs present a different load to the circuit. If you are using a dimmer, it's probably not compatible with the inductive load presented by the LED electronics. The LEDs typically have voltage regulators built into the lamp assembly, and this regulator circuitry 'looks' different than a halogen or tungsten filament to the dimmer. Finding a compatible dimmer should solve the problem. I replaced seven MR16 lamps in ceiling downlights with LEDs a couple of years ago, and they do work fine. Make sure the LEDs are labeled as dimmable.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02914719867241714683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-71525319588540597472018-12-21T12:18:39.305+00:002018-12-21T12:18:39.305+00:00Hi , I suspect the transformer has a minimum outpu...Hi , I suspect the transformer has a minimum output rating which is higher or approximately equal to the power rating of the LED's. Id think you either need to replace the transformers with LED capable ones or perhaps try and find LED bulbs above the minimum power rating of the existing transformerMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-29527042442224062332018-12-21T11:43:22.849+00:002018-12-21T11:43:22.849+00:00hi we tried to install 12 V led lights instead of ...hi we tried to install 12 V led lights instead of 12 V halogen lights which are on single 11.5 transformers, but unfortunately we get a slight continious flicker, please can you adviceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755914073033578232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-47771655081964945582018-05-22T19:52:48.730+01:002018-05-22T19:52:48.730+01:00Obviously this is outdated, but I’d say the switch...Obviously this is outdated, but I’d say the switching power supply doesn’t like the reactive load of the LEDs. A single resistive lamp flattens the load out, so the regulator stops cycling in and out of protective shutdown mode. Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02914719867241714683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-35437082889835398802018-05-22T19:37:17.808+01:002018-05-22T19:37:17.808+01:00Hi unknown, nope, they will use the same amount of...Hi unknown, nope, they will use the same amount of power. Maybe you have a transformer hidden away in the roof space, and maybe now all transformers are designed to work with LED's ,. Glad it was so simple for youMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-59738604951963865522018-05-22T19:33:05.732+01:002018-05-22T19:33:05.732+01:00Recently I bought some mr16 led bulbs. It turned o...Recently I bought some mr16 led bulbs. It turned out they did not even need the transformer. Does this mean they will use more power. They run cold and are 8wAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04192090016551741503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-77218578427625436722017-02-21T10:23:56.824+00:002017-02-21T10:23:56.824+00:00Hi Trish, good question. Ideally the transformer i...Hi Trish, good question. Ideally the transformer in the light unit should indicate what the minimum load is, printed or embossed on the case and if its 30 watts or higher then your plan *should* work. Some of the online sellers of LED bulbs offer a 30 day refund, so you should be able to try out this without too much risk of it being a costly failure, should the strobing continue. Keep us posted how it works outMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-6097321459415386222017-02-21T00:59:11.844+00:002017-02-21T00:59:11.844+00:00Hi, I have a (now discontinued) Ikea non-dimmable ...Hi, I have a (now discontinued) Ikea non-dimmable flexible track light with a single transformer with 5 MR16 halogen spots. When I replace the 5 halogens with 3W LEDs I get strobing. If I put one of the 30W halogens back in, the new LEDs work fine. My question is, if I go up to 6 fittings and use 5W LEDs would that take me up to an equivalent of 30W and therefore stop the strobing without the need for including a halogen back in? I don't really want to have to change the transformer as it's circular, fits neatly into the fitting and I think it would be very difficult to find a new transformer that would fit in neatly. Thanks for any advice you can offer!Trishnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-24895552655649011312017-01-27T10:35:11.232+00:002017-01-27T10:35:11.232+00:00Hi Allan , GU10 bulbs are mains voltage and have n...Hi Allan , GU10 bulbs are mains voltage and have no special power supply requirements whereas MR16 need a 12v supply. Do you mean GU10 ? If they remain on that would suggest something odd in the wiring. If they are Lower voltage MR16 it could be the power supply in the extract unit doesn't work with the very low load of the LED bulbs ( circa 4 watts )Mr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-70613853646125639162017-01-26T18:03:49.178+00:002017-01-26T18:03:49.178+00:00Hi, i have replaced my cooker hood extractor fan h...Hi, i have replaced my cooker hood extractor fan halogen GU10 bulbs with the equivalent in LED, they fit properly and when turned on they are great and bright, when i turn them off the look like they are still lit. The source comes from a normal wall switch to the mains.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828910077227459965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-3162021742647706152016-01-08T11:52:32.511+00:002016-01-08T11:52:32.511+00:00Thanks for this. I couldn't understand why my...Thanks for this. I couldn't understand why my new LED bulbs were blinking and then going dim. I put one halogen back in with them and everything works. Looks like I need to swap the transformer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-58632819662791645012016-01-08T11:52:04.879+00:002016-01-08T11:52:04.879+00:00Thanks for this. I couldn't understand why my...Thanks for this. I couldn't understand why my new LED bulbs were blinking and then going dim. I put one halogen back in with them and everything works. Looks like I need to swap the transformer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918751434754945138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-79917966188439023482015-10-09T15:07:21.284+01:002015-10-09T15:07:21.284+01:00Hello thanks for your excellent advice, good job r...Hello thanks for your excellent advice, good job regards RhonaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-8438603446985971602015-09-11T22:50:21.331+01:002015-09-11T22:50:21.331+01:00yes - that looks fine, though are you sure the bul...yes - that looks fine, though are you sure the bulbs are 15watts, i would have expected about that to be the total for the 3Mr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-74254787516280800242015-09-11T19:43:22.457+01:002015-09-11T19:43:22.457+01:00Thanks Mr. Ives. The sockets come with attached w...Thanks Mr. Ives. The sockets come with attached wires these are their ratings:<br /> Rated Voltage: 250 V<br /> Rated Current: 2 A<br /> Maximum Power: 500W<br />I'm planning to use three 15W LED bulbs. Do you think I have the right rating?parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12404444705779981436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-10151084368005014902015-09-11T17:53:14.855+01:002015-09-11T17:53:14.855+01:00Hi Parent, GU10 bulbs run at mains voltages, so yo...Hi Parent, GU10 bulbs run at mains voltages, so you dont need a transformer/driver to run off the main, unlike the MR16 which runs at 12vdc. You may need to have uprated wiring, depening on how the MR16's were installed, but I guess if its in a fixture which had mains running to it, then you just swap for a GU10 fixtureMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-74664561192336028512015-09-11T17:13:45.850+01:002015-09-11T17:13:45.850+01:00I have a fixture that uses 3 MR16 halogens, and I ...I have a fixture that uses 3 MR16 halogens, and I am switching them to GU10 LEDs by changing the sockets and getting dimmable LEDS. I am getting rid of the transformer also. Do I need to connect them to a driver? My mains run 120v.<br />Thanks!parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12404444705779981436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-33733605316748048582015-01-23T18:31:59.572+00:002015-01-23T18:31:59.572+00:00Hi Ed
I replaced 5 MR16 Halogens with 5 LED 4.5W....Hi Ed<br /><br />I replaced 5 MR16 Halogens with 5 LED 4.5W. All 12V. I also replaced the transformer with one designed for LED. <br /><br />All was well for a couple of weeks, then it failed. I found that it was the transformer. I can see no reason, but perhaps it was the wiring. <br /><br />The old Halogen transformer had the one cable going out from light to light, and returning to the same point on the transformer. <br /><br />The new transformer did not have such connections, so I mimiced this by using a junction box so that the wire to the first lamp was connected to the cable coming back from the last light. I believe this is nothing more than an effective parallel circuit.<br /><br />Do you think this could be why it failed?<br /><br />cheers<br /><br />AlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-77133119957707427022014-11-10T18:48:05.825+00:002014-11-10T18:48:05.825+00:00I believe so, each transformer needs to able to ha...I believe so, each transformer needs to able to have a lower load range down to under 3 wattsMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-16913644651988946802014-11-10T14:58:29.457+00:002014-11-10T14:58:29.457+00:00Yes it appears as though that is the case. So i wo...Yes it appears as though that is the case. So i would need to swap these 4 transformers for lower wattage ones correct? The current ones are 20-60w. Thanks<br />MatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04965182607116030258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-3013093467028644502014-11-10T12:51:14.859+00:002014-11-10T12:51:14.859+00:00Thanks for your advice Mr Ives. I'll need to g...Thanks for your advice Mr Ives. I'll need to get in the loft and have look. I shall report back. MatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04965182607116030258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-48590428392257074862014-11-10T07:01:41.018+00:002014-11-10T07:01:41.018+00:00Hi Mat, do you know if all the cicuit of 4 come of...Hi Mat, do you know if all the cicuit of 4 come of one transformer or have one each ? Your experience suggests that each has a transformer and a single LED bulb was lower than the minimium load at which each transformer would work. If all 4 bulbs were driven from a single load you would still have the ballast of the loads of the 3 remaining halogens which would, i would have thought, been greater than the minimum load requirementMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-75959287193210950142014-11-09T11:18:01.050+00:002014-11-09T11:18:01.050+00:00Hi Mr Ives,
So I've fitted a replacement MR16...Hi Mr Ives,<br /><br />So I've fitted a replacement MR16 led into a circuit of 4, the led comes on for a second then goes off. So should I think that there is not enough wattage now for the transformer?<br /><br />Many thanks<br /><br />MatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04965182607116030258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-18699311348926224722014-10-21T07:59:47.939+01:002014-10-21T07:59:47.939+01:00Hi,
No the new driver replaces the old transforme...Hi,<br /><br />No the new driver replaces the old transformer. We refer to them as transformers though in fact they are all switched mode power supplies. Transformers have a large metal laminate cored piece inside and they are rarely used due to expense. The SMPS is ubiquitous now as they are cheaper and smaller.<br /><br />So to answer your question the LED driver replaces the old "transformer" and its function is to convert mains AC to 12v DCMr Iveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965084993191032538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000191682087974772.post-65623423072400494552014-10-20T21:43:25.024+01:002014-10-20T21:43:25.024+01:00Hi Mr. Ives!
great post, I actually get asked this...Hi Mr. Ives!<br />great post, I actually get asked this question a lot so kudos for writing this up and the photos. Question though, did you buy a seperate LED driver and put that between the existing transformer? or did you replace it with the led driver?light bulbshttps://www.ledsplus.com/led-light-bulbs/flood-spot/mr16noreply@blogger.com