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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Sydney, NSW
    Posts
    98

    Default Down lights DC or AC

    Down Lights

    There seems to be a move away from dc to ac.

    I only need a few what sort for a bathroom?

    I know the typical halogens are not energy efficient.

    The LED are just extremely expensive.

    Thanks

    Pulpo

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    44

    Default

    Pulpo,
    The original halogens were always AC. They transformed from 240v AC to 12v AC. 240v halogens in my mind are better as it eliminates the tranformer which tend to fail from time to time.
    Cheers
    Steve

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Yanderra nsw
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Down lights are definatly AC can't say as i have ever used a DC one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Alexandra Vic
    Age
    69
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Actually, the light doen't care whether its fed AC or DC, provided that the voltage is correct. But it can be damn inconvienient transfering DC from the power station to the light, so they are mostly run on AC. However for a solar storage situation, there is no practical reason why 12VDC from a battery bank won't operate the bulb properly if fed to it in isolation (i.e no step down transformer connected). After all most car headlights are 12VDC halogen.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Thailand
    Age
    63
    Posts
    90

    Default

    The low voltage halogen lamps are more efficient than the higher voltage ones. There is a debate over the use of DC with the non-automotive halogen lamps - it is argued that DC will cause "polarisation" on the filament, which reduces the lamps life.

    The automotive halogen globes are a different lamp in design ie that is, they are designed to be used with a DC supply.
    “I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything.” - Nikola Tesla.

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