Which LED Driver do I need ... Thank you

[Ray1000]

When we got the house ten years ago the shower room had 4 x 50w MR16 bulbs with GU5.3 connectors and presumably an unseen transformer in the loft.

At some point I changed the bulbs to 5 watt LED but found they would only work if one Halogen was left in.

I assumed the transformer needed a certain amount of load to work properly.

Yesterday the lights went out.

After a while they would all light momentarily then go out.

I tried every permutation of Halogen and LED and still can't get it to stop on.

Seemingly the longer its left off the longer it stays on as though there is a cooling down element to it.

My Question is ... what do I need to replace the transformer with in order to us 4, 5W 12V LED MR16 GU5.3 Bulbs ?

Thank you for your help

Ray

 

[Taylortwocities]

A 12v Constant Voltage LED driver of 20wats or more.

 

[Ray1000]

Thank you I’ll have a look at SFix

 

[SUNRAY]

Many of the older constant voltage units had a minimum power requirement, for example I had some rated 70 to 210W and trying to use one for a single light (very likely 20W) it would start and work for around 5 seconds then fade out over about 30 seconds.

 

[ericmark]

New electronic transformers are rated zero to maximum, old often 20 - 105 VA (VA is basic same as watts) so change the electronic transformer to one zero to max is all that is required, a driver tends to be DC and an electronic transformer kHz AC, I have seen LED bulbs marked 50 Hz which is AC but to buy a toroidal transformer which is 50 Hz AC is the correct option, but unlikely it is required, either of the switch mode power supplies be it kHz or DC will do if they start at zero.

 

[Ray1000]

Thank you Eric,
Could you point me to a link for the correct transformer for 4 x 5w LED’s and also to the alternative LED driver, which sounds the least expensive option?

 

[flameport]

, which sounds the least expensive option?

Buy 4x new GU10 downlights. No transformers required.

The concept of having separate 12V drivers and 12V lamps is left over from the era of halogen.
Entirely pointless where LEDs are concerned, as it just adds complexity and cost, plus limits the selection of lamps available as there are far more GU10 options than there are GU5.3

 

[Ray1000]

I understand, but I’m trying to make it as simple as possible it’s not part of a make over, it only started as “a bulb needed changing”

 

[SUNRAY]

Thank you Eric,
Could you point me to a link for the correct transformer for 4 x 5w LED’s and also to the alternative LED driver, which sounds the least expensive option?

Do you have a preferred vendor, such as B&Q, Screwfix etc?

 

[FrodoOne]

I understand, but I’m trying to make it as simple as possible it’s not part of a make over, it only started as “a bulb needed changing”

However, you are going to need to replace the driver/transformer/power supply, if you keep using 12 V lamps.

Replacing four 12 V MR16 "fittings" with four 230 V GU10 "fittings" - of the same size (plus rewiring) -
(instead of replacing the 12 V "power supply") -
may not be much more of a "job".

 

[Taylortwocities]

I understand, but I’m trying to make it as simple as possible it’s not part of a make over, it only started as “a bulb needed changing”

is there a dimmer or a standard switch? Another complication is that some led drivers are not dimmerable.
But really, the easiest route is this:

Buy 4x new GU10 downlights. No transformers required.

The concept of having separate 12V drivers and 12V lamps is left over from the era of halogen.
Entirely pointless where LEDs are concerned, as it just adds complexity and cost, plus limits the selection of lamps available as there are far more GU10 options than there are GU5.3

 

[Ray1000]

Do you have a preferred vendor, such as B&Q, Screwfix etc?

Either of the two, thanks

 

[Ray1000]

Replacing four 12 V MR16 "fittings" with four 230 V GU10 "fittings" - of the same size (plus rewiring) -
(instead of replacing the 12 V "power supply") -
may not be much more of a "job".

I can see the benefit of changing to GU10 but the one over the shower includes the extractor fan and the 12v bulb.

 

[Ray1000]

Q1. Will the extractor fan be 12v and running off the transformer I’m imagining changing for a “LED Driver” … I wonder?

Q2. Does a single 20w “LED Driver” run 4 x 5w bulbs as opposed to having a driver for each bulb?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Q1. Will the extractor fan be 12v and running off the transformer I’m imagining changing for a “LED Driver” … I wonder?

Most of those combo fan lights are 230volt for the fan and the 12volts (halogen) lamp runs off a separate transformer. You'll need to look and see whats up there.
If the combo fan has a separate tranny for the lamp you coule re-wire so that all four lights run from the same LED DRIVER

Q2. Does a single 20w “LED Driver” run 4 x 5w bulbs as opposed to having a driver for each bulb?

Yes it can. Expensive to have one tranny per lamp!

Please answer this then can advise better:

is there a dimmer or a standard switch?