Halogen bulbs- I've had a gutful

[mic-d]

We have a mains track light with 6 halogens (well 5 actually, but I'm getting to that) in the kitchen and they keep blowing:(( at the moment there are only 2 left. We might get a couple of months out of a bulb. We tried one of those LED replacements that was supposed to last heaps longer than the regular one and cost $14 for a bulb and it lasted about 3 months:((

We moved over to mains from a 12v system because that one blew 2 transformers, not bulbs, oh no, they were fine.

Apart from going back to fluoro, which might be the best thing, what can we do?:?

Cheers
Michael

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

You got a good ceiling fan or range hood?

When he wired up the ones I installed, our sparkie told us that we must use the range-hood when cooking to make 'em last. It didn't work and we weren't happy, blowing bulbs on a regular basis.

A little bit later, we realised: 'twas the kettle's fault... moving it to where the steam didn't waft up into the lights when we made a cuppa made all the difference. :doh:

[johnc]

We have a mains track light with 6 halogens (well 5 actually, but I'm getting to that) in the kitchen and they keep blowing:(( at the moment there are only 2 left. We might get a couple of months out of a bulb. We tried one of those LED replacements that was supposed to last heaps longer than the regular one and cost $14 for a bulb and it lasted about 3 months:((

We moved over to mains from a 12v system because that one blew 2 transformers, not bulbs, oh no, they were fine.

Apart from going back to fluoro, which might be the best thing, what can we do?:?

Cheers
Michael


We have 12v lighting through the kitchen area and a few other rooms. It seems to be a never ending job to replace transformers and globes, hot days really seem to knock the stuffing out of them too. Interesting to here of any alternatives, I wish we had never replaced the fluoros we had in the first place.

[mic-d]

You got a good ceiling fan or range hood?

When he wired up the ones I installed, our sparkie told us that we must use the range-hood when cooking to make 'em last. It didn't work and we weren't happy, blowing bulbs on a regular basis.

A little bit later, we realised: 'twas the kettle's fault... moving it to where the steam didn't waft up into the lights when we made a cuppa made all the difference. :doh:
We have a good rangehood, but how does that affect the main lights:?:?

Cheers
Michael

[watson]

My 2 cents worth.
We've had 12V/transformer type lights for about 12-14 yrs.
The original globes are still in the fittings, and still light up.
The transformers are not in the ceiling, but "hidden" on the top of cross ties (large like 50 x 400).
The size of the beams is not relevant, but I think the air-flow around the transformer is.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Here down south steam tends to hang around the ceiling for a while, esp. in Winter. Probably not your problem... I should've checked where you are first. :-

I've also been told that leaving fingerprints on the bulbs when changing 'em also shortens their lifespan... apparently it develops hot spots. I dunno 'bout that, but I do know that I agree with John; I wish I'd left the original fluoros in!

[mic-d]

Here down south steam tends to hang around the ceiling for a while, esp. in Winter. Probably not your problem... I should've checked where you are first. :-

I've also been told that leaving fingerprints on the bulbs when changing 'em also shortens their lifespan... apparently it develops hot spots. I dunno 'bout that, but I do know that I agree with John; I wish I'd left the original fluoros in!

ahh it's the steam. We're buggered then, it's always steamy in summer here.
:wink:

Cheers
Michael

[echnidna]

I wonder if your mains voltage is too high

[wheelinround]

mic-d have you got dimmer switches

recently found out these cause heaps of problems

[tea lady]

You got a good ceiling fan or range hood?

When he wired up the ones I installed, our sparkie told us that we must use the range-hood when cooking to make 'em last. It didn't work and we weren't happy, blowing bulbs on a regular basis.

A little bit later, we realised: 'twas the kettle's fault... moving it to where the steam didn't waft up into the lights when we made a cuppa made all the difference. :doh:

Well that a bit b(&%$^ useless in a kitchen then isn't it. We've got this really ugly flouro fitting that I think must have been scrounged from a school. I was thinking of getting something more "designery". So low voltage halogen not the go then?........

[Chipman]

If even your led lights are blowing..... chances are it is:

Overheating casued by no ventilation around them or aggrevated by over voltage


and as said earlier moisture or cooking fumes/residues building up on the halogens but not such a problem for leds.

Cheers,
Chipman

[mic-d]

If even your led lights are blowing..... chances are it is:

Overheating casued by no ventilation around them or aggrevated by over voltage


and as said earlier moisture or cooking fumes/residues building up on the halogens but not such a problem for leds.

Cheers,
Chipman
The bulbs sit on a track with nothing around them, so short of putting a fan on them, they can't get much better ventillation.

I wonder if your mains voltage is too high
How can I test this Bob?

mic-d have you got dimmer switches

recently found out these cause heaps of problems
No dimmers switches wheelin

Thanks for all your replies:)

Cheers
Michael

[Sparhawk]

Are you near a train line at all? They are really good at giving power dips if the network is not setup correctly.

[mic-d]

Are you near a train line at all? They are really good at giving power dips if the network is not setup correctly.

Nope

Cheers
Michael

[Harry72]

Time to bite the bullet and call a sparky I think Mick!
You can get pretty good fluro down/spot lights now days... some actually outperform halogens

[mic-d]

Time to bite the bullet and call a sparky I think Mick!
You can get pretty good fluro down/spot lights now days... some actually outperform halogens


mmm, I think you're right.:rolleyes:

Cheers
Michael

[wheelinround]

Sparky came here still blowing globes