DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Have 5 Halogen ceiling lights with MR16 bulbs with transformers on each light.
Want to swap over for MR16 LED BULBS. 6W. Will I need to swap over to an LED driver or can I go straight to the mains.

MR16 lamps are 12v, so you would need to buy LED drivers.
Why not change the whole light fitting to ones that can accommodate GU10 lamps, as GU10 lamps run directly from the mains.

There are two types of transformer toroidal and electronic. With toroidal it is a simply swap from quartz to LED, with electronic it depends on minimum output. Some do start a zero, but most have a range like 20 - 60 VA and VA is nearly the same as watts, so there is not enough load for them to work.

There is a secondary problem in that electronic often are in kHz range and may become a transmitter when used with a LED lamp.

The label MR16 covers both 12 volt and 230 volt, technically the LED versions of the lamps are not MR16 as they don't have a multi-faceted reflector.

The problem with 230 volt (called low voltage) unlike 12 volt (extra low voltage) is British regulations require that an earth wire is present even if the lamp is class II, and many 12 volt system did not have earth wires, so swapping to 230 volt means a re-wire.

The regulations are not law, but most domestic electricians need to be scheme members and they have to as a result follow regulations.

Some 12 volt LED lamps will work on DC, and in the main the DC power supplies will work with the low power LED lamps, there are two types constant current called drivers these will not do want you want and also a constant voltage type, should not technically be called a driver but often are and these in the main will work with 12 volt LED lamps.

It depends how wired which is best method, I have used toroidal transformers but lights can't be dimmed using these.