Electrician Talk banner
Cancel

12V LED downlights from halogen transformers

2357 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Electric_Light, 
B
Hello all,

Many halogen transformers don't work with LED bulb replacements because there is a minimum power requirement for the switchmode transformer to work properly. Therefore, I would think that if I wired 4 or 5 LED globes in parallel to a 60VA transformer then it should work. Is this correct?

I have looked at LED specific 12V drivers and they work as current drivers and therefore require multiple LEDs to be wired in series. Is this the same for the halogen transformers, or do they work as constant voltage outputs?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Bopper.
Save Share
Reply Quote
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
Dennis Alwon

· Administrator
Retired EC
Joined
·
24,909 Posts
#2 ·
I would not mess with a listed fixture. If the fixture is 12V and not rated for LED I don't know how you could configure it to work as the LED's use a driver to communicate much the way a printer on the pc is used to recognize the printer. Therefore modification of the fixture may be necessary. That being the case you have nullified it's listing and that is a no-no here in the states.

I have read that it is inefficient NOT to wire LED's in series. Here is a resistor calculator needed for LED's

Sorry I can't help any further as I really don't understand the nuances involved with LED. I also don't know why some tranies won't work with a minimum wattage but I have seen it make the lights blink and act weird.
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
Electric_Light

· Light Emitting Decoration
Joined
·
1,323 Posts
#3 ·
LED chips require current regulated power supply, but there are some LED light modules that are designed to be used with constant voltage power source.

Current source LED modules are often used in series-parallel arrangements, for example, 1000mA driver used to drive three strings of four 350mA LEDs in series.

Electronic transformers put out high frequency output at 10s of thousands of Hz.
They're basically electronic ballasts configured to operate as constant voltage rather than constant current.

I would just go with 12v rated ones and replace the transformer with a 12v LED spply.
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Electrician Talk
A forum community dedicated to professional electricians, contractors, and apprentices for residential and commercial work. Come join the discussion about trade knowledge, tools, certifications, wiring, builds, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Electrical Discussion Tools, Equipment and New Products Business, Marketing, and Sales Residential Electrical Forum NEC Code Forum
Top