Why do all my bathroom bulbs keep blowing?

singlehouseholder

Hello, needing some electrical advice,again, and know there are some leccy whizzkids on here, who've helped me before, thanks.
My new problem is this, my bulbs went out in my bathroom, the previous owner had removed the single pendant fitting and fitted 6 down lighters , three on either side of bathroom. Two bulbs went, at the same time, so we replaced them, then the lot went. So we replaced the lot. Now they've all bloody blown again and repalcement bulbs dont work!! I've resorted to having to use an extension and floor lamp in there 'cos its too dicky dark to do anything else?!!

What can be causing this? My house is old and I've been told before tht the electrics are a mess-by an electrician of course... There's only one fuse in the fusebox for the upstairs lighting and thats not tripped, any advice please.
Much obliged y'all.

mikey-mike_2

some downlighters are low voltage (12 or 24V) & fed from a transformer which often have an internal fuse or thermal cutout

Mandles

Is damp getting in them? ..i know nothing about electrics but my OH is a qualified electrician but hes just gone out. If you dont get any help pm me and ill ask him tomorrow.

Lady_K

Mine kept doing that and I put it down to the steam from the power shower. I was reluctant to swap ordinary bulbs for energy saving in the bathroom in case it blew just the same as they are more money but I did I put a 100 wt equivalent energy saving one in and it hasnt blown in over 2 years. Don't know if thats just coincidence or what but its ok now anyway

mepone9

sounds like a loose cable probably the neutral (black or blue core), take the down lighters down and check the connections at transformer (if low voltage) or at jb and make sure they are tight

Volcano

If the person that fitted them put then loft insulation back over the downlighters (instead of using the flowerpot trick mentioned on this board) then it is likely they are overheating and so burning out quiker. A quick check in the loft (and clearing the insulation from around the downlighters if needed) will rule that out.

k3v1n123

Hi,

Your transformer has blown without a doubt replace will cost about £10.00 from a local diy store not like B&Q coz it will cost you 3 times as much.

Ive had this problem rather than keep changing the transformer what i did was put each down light on its own transformer and you get a lot more life out of them . they will cost you about £7.50 ea from any good electrical shop.

pingua

should you have downlights in a bathroom????
Where do you buy your bulbs from? If they are cheap ones perhaps this could be a reason?? Try going to an electrical wholesalers - better quality and price. They will also be able to advise you.

baldelectrician

chances are the downlighters are cheap and nasty q&b ones; there my be a transformer for all the lights (say one 60 w/va tranny per 3 spots)
Possibility:
you had 3 x 20 w lamps and one 60 v/a tranny and you changed 2 lamps for 50w thus giving you
2x20w + 1x50w = 90w (an overloaded tranny)

Check the old lamps, and get some the same rating.

Hope this isn't as clear as mud:D

Mandles

k3v1n123 wrote:

Hi,

Your transformer has blown without a doubt replace will cost about £10.00 from a local diy store not like B&Q coz it will cost you 3 times as much.

Ive had this problem rather than keep changing the transformer what i did was put each down light on its own transformer and you get a lot more life out of them . they will cost you about £7.50 ea from any good electrical shop.

Asked my electrician husband and he said the same. You need a new transformer (he said if it was the damp like i said you would have heard a bang ). So transformer is the answer!

singlehouseholder

thanks all, don't know what a transformer is!! Well I do, but I doubt its a robot in disguise.Also think the loft insulation will be over the lights too so will sort that. Will do the google thing. Thankyou all for pointing me in the right direction, much appreciated as always!!!