Kitchen spotlights not working

TheCyclingProgrammer

Our front kitchen spotlights stopped working yesterday.

My first instinct was to check the switch - its a LightwaveRF switch so has more potential to be faulty than a normal switch. Its a 2 gang switch so I simply swapped the switched lives over to rule out a faulty switch module. The problem just moved to the other switch so I think that rules out the switch and means there's a problem with the lights themselves.

When I press the on button on the switch, it just turns off immediately and you can hear a faint ping sound coming from the kitchen.

They are low voltage MR16 bulbs and all but one of them was working the day before so would I be right in assuming that the problem probably lies with the transformer?

I don't mind tackling small electric jobs but to be honest I'm inclined just to get an electrician out to sort this out - I couldn't even figure out how to get the light fittings out. I think they are on some kind of spring toggle but I don't want to damage them. If its the transformer then is it just a case of finding it (there's only 6 fittings) and replacing it?

Any idea what could have caused it to stop working after all this time? I've wondered if its because its been wired up to my LightwaveRF switch, which is a dimmer, although its been working fine (and dimming fine) for nearly 2 years now.

societys_child

Can't help with the electrical problem but removing is normally easy.

I couldn't even figure out how to get the light fittings out. I think they are on some kind of spring toggle but I don't want to damage them

They vary slightly, basically 2 spring arms, simply pull the unit out. When you can see the springs, hold them so not to damage the edges of the hole . . . and to stop them acting like mouse trap on your fingers depends on the type.

Edit: I remember, from years ago, something about not running the transformer with a bulb blown, it can damage it. Maybe that's the problem?

Various images

TheCyclingProgrammer

Edit: I remember, from years ago, something about not running the transformer with a bulb blown, it can damage it. Maybe that's the problem?

You might be right there, but it turns out there was multiple issues (the electrician has just left).

Firstly I should have tested the switch better. Instead of connecting the switch live of the not working lights to the known working dimmer module, I should have connected the switch live of the known working light (the rear kitchen fitting) to the suspect module. If I'd done this I would have realised that the dimmer module itself was damaged.

The electrician bypassed the switch and discovered half the lights to still be working. Of the ones that were not, one (the one with the dead bulb) had a damaged lamp holder and another's transformer was dead. We suspect the death of the transformer also damaged the LightwaveRF dimmer module.

Transformer and lamp holders replaced, dead bulb replaced and currently got a normal 2 gang switch wired up until I can replace the LightwaveRF dimmer switch.

He also noted that with the 5 working bulbs at 50w each we would have been right on the 250w limit of the dimmer switch and if we'd been running all 6 we'd have exceeded it. This might have been another potential cause of the switch dying though IMO its more likely related to the transformer blowing.

I've wanted to replace the lights with LEDs for a while anyway (which will solve the problem of exceeding the switch power limit) however he advised not to bother with MR16 LEDs and I was also told the same thing by the guys at https://well-lit.co.uk (where I usually buy my bulbs from) so I'm going to replace them with GU10 LED fittings instead.

societys_child

I was going to suggest a change to GU10s and LEDs if the transformer was damaged but kept the post short.

Hope you get it all sorted.

TheCyclingProgrammer

societys_child wrote: »

I was going to suggest a change to GU10s and LEDs if the transformer was damaged but kept the post short.

Hope you get it all sorted.

Well we have a replacement transformer now, slightly annoying if I'm going to replace them all anyway but we needed working lights. I don't think they are that expensive.

Just trying to look into replacement fittings, was thinking about these:
https://www.downlights.co.uk/aurora-enlite-fire-rated-downlights.html

Then trying to choose between Megaman bulbs or these, which are double the price but are dim to warm and have a higher CRI:

https://well-lit.co.uk/product/7w-dimmable-led-spot/

societys_child

No good asking me about quality stuff like that, I'm currently testing the 3w and 5w GU10 Pound Shop offerings . . .

(Non-dimmable of course)

phil24_7

From what I have read on here I would recommend staying away from Megaman lights!