Halogen bulbs- I've had a gutful

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14th January 2009, 08:11 PM
mic-d

Halogen bulbs- I've had a gutful

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
14th January 2009, 08:41 PM
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:
14th January 2009, 08:42 PM
johnc

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.
14th January 2009, 08:47 PM
mic-d

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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:

We have a good rangehood, but how does that affect the main lights:?:?

Cheers
Michael
14th January 2009, 08:49 PM
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.
14th January 2009, 08:52 PM
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!
14th January 2009, 09:04 PM
mic-d

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

Cheers
Michael
14th January 2009, 10:47 PM
echnidna

I wonder if your mains voltage is too high
14th January 2009, 11:20 PM
wheelinround

mic-d have you got dimmer switches

recently found out these cause heaps of problems
14th January 2009, 11:20 PM
tea lady

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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:

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?........
14th January 2009, 11:24 PM
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
15th January 2009, 07:42 AM
mic-d

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by echnidna

I wonder if your mains voltage is too high

How can I test this Bob?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelinround

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
15th January 2009, 08:10 AM
Sparhawk

Are you near a train line at all? They are really good at giving power dips if the network is not setup correctly.
15th January 2009, 08:41 AM
mic-d

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparhawk

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
15th January 2009, 09:01 AM
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
15th January 2009, 09:06 AM
mic-d

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

Cheers
Michael
15th January 2009, 09:36 AM
wheelinround

Sparky came here still blowing globes