Low Voltage Halogen Fixtures a Fire Hazard?
I have four ceiling fixtures each containing four MR16 bulbs and fixtures. In the last few months, five of the light bulbs have stopped functioning, and changing out the bulbs has not worked. I figured the sockets burned out. The fixtures are only a couple of years old, and we almost didn’t buy them cuz…
I have four ceiling fixtures each containing four MR16 bulbs and fixtures. In the last few months, five of the light bulbs have stopped functioning, and changing out the bulbs has not worked. I figured the sockets burned out.
The fixtures are only a couple of years old, and we almost didn’t buy them cuz they were the most expensive fixtures we bought during our reno, at $250 each.
So I asked my neighbor, a Local 3 electrician, to have a look and replace all the sockets if need be.
Turns out is wasn’t the sockets, it was that the crimped connections had burned out see circled items in photo). My electrician said they were actually on fire, and he was surprised I hadn’t smelled them.
Here’s the thing, I also had to replace my intercom transformers, and he has stated now a few times, that low voltage fixtures like these are much more dangerous than 110v as they don’t trip the breaker when they fail, he explained why but I didn’t quite grasp it.
But looking at the way these crimp connections got toasted, it makes me wonder if I shouldn’t go back to brass chandeliers.
What do you think?
I agree – wire nuts would help. Maybe a heatsink too.
I take it back–looks like the transformer/low voltage splice–wires got crossed in my head. I’d still be wondering about those four transformers in such a small place. And I would bet this wouldn’t have happened if wire nuts were used instead of those stab connectors.
Looks like the splice between line voltage and the transformer fried. Could be faulty connectors. With four transformers in a smallish enclosure I would also wonder if heat buildup contributed to failure.
Denton, You’d have to have lots of combustible material around for a fire to start. Just because it’s blackened does not mean it can inflame, I don’t believe your electrician. But he’s right about not tripping the breaker, the transformer’s not drawing excessive current (which would trip the breaker) but the connection downstream is.
I suspect your bulb’s wattage is too high for the sockets.
brass chandeliers…..
http://stores.ebay.com:80/J-F-PEGAN-COMPANY__W0QQ_fsubZ0QQ_pgnZ4QQ_sasiZ1QQ_scZ1QQ_sopZ3
benson won’t like them though
Jock, it has a UL sticker, just to the left of the red dot, but who knows what that means coming from China.
Denton, is that a UL listed fixture? My wife fell in love with a modern chandelier that was very expensive with 5 or 6 halogen lights, we were looking around and found this new shop that opened with knockoff fixtures from turns out China. 1/4 the price, but not listed. In the end, I went witht the more expensive one, but both looked alot like the back of your fixture.