delayed start up with spotlights
Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

2 posts   •   Page 1 of 1
Duncan
Labourer
Labourer
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:56 pm

delayed start up with spotlights

by Duncan » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:08 pm

Why is there a three second delay when i switch my newly fitted halogen spotlights on?

sparx
Project Manager
Project Manager
Posts: 2166
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:33 pm
Location: The fifth continent.

by sparx » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:03 am

Assuming they are low voltage lamps with a transformer the reason is...
tungsten filament when cold has v. low resistance, so on switch on a v.large current would flow until hot, when current drops to about 1/6th .
the makers of the transformer (which to keep siize/cost down is electronic type) protect it by letting power build up slowly until lamp warmed up,
so in fact the lamps don't just come on after a delay it's just you don't see light until that point.
regards SPARX

2 posts   •   Page 1 of 1
It is currently Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:48 am