Transformers failing

[jimknightjim]

I've just replace some outside lighting with some submersible transformers and after about 12 hours i come back and they're not working.

Could this be due to over heating?

I have http://www.lumascape.com/html/LS363.htm

and have just put these transformers in-

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/item.aspx?&t=212&r=218&i=1764&a=1&tb=1

any help would be appreciated!

 

[dannyboi2003]

Those transformers are not submersible, can you give a bit more detail how you have installed the lights and transformers?

 

[Spark123]

I doubt it will be overheating as water is very good at removing heat, better than in free air. More likely they are not meant to be submerged

 

[bernardgreen]

Those transformers are not submersible

They are IP67 the 7 meaning they are protected against the effects of temporary immersion. Not protected against prolonged immersion.

Often the cable is the weak point, a pin hole in the sheath of the cable allows ingress of moisture into and along the cable into the unit.

 

[jimknightjim]

These actually aren't submersed but are in there because they often let water in , the old transformers tripped the system once the water got in.

These are mealy as a precaution.

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

These actually aren't submersed but are in there because they often let water in , the old transformers tripped the system once the water got in.

But in where?

 

[Lectrician]

In my experience, the transformers heat up and cool, causing pressure differences, effectively "sucking" water in through the glands, however well sealed they are.

I have seen fully submersible transformers fail time and time again. We gave up replacing them under the warranty in the end. They were not even submersed, just regularly splashed by water falls.

 

[jimknightjim]

They're inside the light fittings.

 

[RF Lighting]

Are you just powering one 50W lamp per transformer?

What sort of connectors are you using? Could these get wet?

Have all the new transformers failed at the same time?

Do you own a multimeter?

 

[jimknightjim]

yep each light fitting has a 35w lamp with its own transformer.

all fail at the same time.

Dont own a multi meter.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

A multimeter is an essential tool to have if you want to work on your electrics. It is just as important to have that correct tool as it is to have screwdrivers to use on screws instead of the point of a vegetable knife, wirecutters to use instead of nail scissors, wirestrippers to use instead of teeth, and so on.

This looks ideal for a household starter set - multimeter, voltage indicator and dedicated continuity tester, all in a handy case: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/115/Junior-Set/

PDF brochure: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/downloadfile/115/beschreibung_1/

All in German, unfortunately, as is the blurb on each product:

Multimeter: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproductdata/487/Hexagon_55/

Voltage indicator: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/116/2000_α_(alpha)/

Continuity tester: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/481/TESTFIX/

but it is sold in the UK - the company is now owned by Fluke, and I guess they haven't got all the websites sorted out yet - contact them (http://www.fluke.co.uk) for info on where to buy.

Right now the English specs are still lurking on the Internet Time Machine from when Beha was an independent company:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060920022629/http://www.beha.com/files_uk/multimeter/93549.pdf


Also see another discussion here: //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26282 It's a few years old, so specific model number advice may be obsolete (and prices will be higher), but the generic advice is still sound.

 

[jimknightjim]

I was looking at this one -

http://www.screwfix.com/p/kewtech-kt200-digital-clamp-meter-400a/23318

What do you think?

Ta

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Are you likely to need the clamp feature?

 

[jimknightjim]

Yep i recon!

 

[plugwash]

For troubleshooting mains stuff i'd say a clamp meter is a much better and safer option than a regular multimeter.

Measuring current with a regular multimeter is a pain and accidently leaving a regular multimeter setup for current and then trying to measure voltage is going to at best blow a fuse and could possiblly do some real damage.