Why don't the lights work when I they blow and I replace the with new bulbs?

onomatopoeia99

Risteard wrote: »

Mains voltage (which is low voltage) is actually 230V.

Nominally 230V. It's usually 240V or slightly higher when measured though.

Risteard

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Nominally 230V. It's usually 240V or slightly higher when measured though.

Not necessarily. It's usually very close to 230V here.

The nominal voltage is 230V +10% / -6%.

But it is not correct to say that it is 240V - it isn't. 240V +/- 6% hasn't existed in over 20 years.

Here it was always 230V unlike the traditional 240V in Britain and unlike the traditional 220V in the south of the country.

All CENELEC countries are harmonised at 230V.

Risteard

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

the 430 volts you'll get in a 3-phase setup

A nominal 400V between phases actually.

keith969

ohreally wrote: »

Mains is low voltage.

It can still kill you though.

Ebe_Scrooge

keith969 wrote: »

It can still kill you though.

My point exactly, thank you :-) As I said ( to all the other hair-splitters ), "low voltage" is relative, and has no real absolute meaning. But in common "domestic" parlance, it's taken to mean a voltage which will not hurt you, e.g. 12v kitchen lighting.

keith969

Indeed low voltage is relative

Back to the original question, I had the same problem, spotlights in the kitchen and bathroom would stop working and changing the bulb had no effect, checking with a multimeter showed no 12V to the bulbs. Pulled the transformer out and sure enough the terminal block on one transformer on the 12V side was blackened and had obviously overheated. Another had the block on the bulb fitting melted etc.

What was amazing was that the wiring from the transformer to the bulb - which was part of the bulb fitment - was in no way suitable for carrying the high current (> 4 amps) for the bulb. So if you have 12V spots, replace them with 240V LED spots. Safer and energy saving...

Risteard

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

"low voltage" is relative, and has no real absolute meaning.

That simply isn't true. There are internationally recognised definitions for Low Voltage; High Voltage; Extra-Low Voltage and even Medium Voltage (although this term isn't always used).

cashmonger

Lol just seen all these replies to see they are quibbling over what constitutes low voltage.

Yes the bulbs are 230 v.

I have contacted the landlord though no response as yet.

I wouldnt be surprised if it was damaged wiring since Ive found they have cut corners in other areas such as having telephone sockets in every room yet they didn't bother to actually connect them up. Wasnt an issue for me since I don't use a landline phone except for internet and the master socket is best for that anyhow.

southcoastrgi

12/24v is low voltage
230/240v is normal house voltage
415v is high voltage

That's how everyone understands it so why get into a how far up the wall can I *iss competition

Grenage

For what it's worth, I'm with Risteard. Whether or not people are aware of voltage band names is besides the point, ignorance is no excuse.