Blown Halogen bulb

dodgy_damo

I'm at my wits end. In my living room I have 6 halogen bulbs, 2 rows of 3. Bulb blew the other day and tripped the switch in the consumer box. Switched it back on and low and behold one row of 3 lights is out. Had some spare bulbs lying about and went to swap these over...no joy! Messed around swapping bulbs about to work out which one was blown. Turns out only one bulb went.
Cant understand why this row wont come back on? Thought it'd be a case of one bulb is out swap it.
Spoke to a mate and he asked if I checked the transformer? So up into the loft i went looking for the Holy grail...couldn't see a transformer for either row of bulbs. Did move some lagging off one row (think must 've got thrown back over the lights...fire hazard)
I may have the sort of lights that don't need a transformer (had a rewire done about 1 1/2 years ago) And if memory serves me correctly they are fire rated, are on a dimmer (although I changed the dimmer switch 6 months back...would i have needed a specific one?)

will-he-payitoff

Are they GU10 bulbs i.e. 230v or MR 16- 12v?

dodgy_damo

they're GU10 bulbs, 240v/50w

brownbake

GU 10 - u have to pay out for decent bulbs in 1st place. Cheap bulbs are a complete false economy - as we have found out due to "blown out" bulbs - that are potentially lethal!!

Expect to pay £1.50 + for a decent bulb

missile

In that case you do not have a transformer. If they are wired correctly, only the bulb which has blown should be out.

These bulbs get hot in use and the fitments need to be ventilated. If you cover with insulation they will blow very quickly.

6 X 50 watts = 300 watts and you might want to think about swapping for low energy LEDs

dodgy_damo

Ok so no transformer as they're GU10...is that right?
As far as cheap bulbs, I can't understand why the working bulbs from the other row of three don't work at all?
The bulbs that were in were "powerbeam", not cure if these are el cheapos or not?

matbe

You mentioned that the fittings were fire rated, if so you need aluminium reflector bulbs that dispel the heat to the front of the lamp.

Go to a decent elec shop and get branded ie philips osram etc dont buy the unbranded or never heard of makes they last about 5 mins.

TimBuckTeeth

Powerbeam bulbs sound like cheapos. A few decent brands are : Osram, Philips, Sylvania, GE.
GU10 240V bulbs run straight from the mains, no transformer.
Unless there is another fuse, or a loose wire, in the supply to the fitting that doesn't work then it sounds like the dimmer switch has been destroyed by the surge current (that also tripped the circuit breaker) from the bulb blowing.

dodgy_damo

Ok so will look at branded bulbs, and will definately check the dimmer switch tommorrow (in the light ;-p).
Pretty sure there's no other fuse. If it's not the dimmer I think I'll have a look at the wiring and see if there's a loose connection:T

Fire_Fox

Lower energy alternatives such as Megaman or Sylvania Superia will save money and run cooler so potentially reduce this sort of problem.

27col

brownbake wrote: »

GU 10 - u have to pay out for decent bulbs in 1st place. Cheap bulbs are a complete false economy - as we have found out due to "blown out" bulbs - that are potentially lethal!!

Expect to pay £1.50 + for a decent bulb

I would be interested to know on what basis you say that a cheap bulb is potentially lethal.