www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hello,

Just joined the site as I'm after some advise regarding a problem with the lighting in my Kitchen, which was installed a couple of years ago.

The kitchen has been completely re-wired, the new units which were put in have lights under the cabinet, the problem I have is that 4 of these lights have gone off but the others are still working as normal.

I'm no electrician, I would appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction as to the problem and how I can sort it.

If I can provide any further information then please let know,

Thanks for any help!

Hi Portugal,

You could do with a non contact voltage tester-

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK6090.html

You can then check to see if the lights are getting voltage to them, if they are then perhaps the lamps have blown.

You can always swap a lamp that you know is working with one of the ones that is not and see if that works.

What type of lights are they?

Are they halogen, low voltage, or flourescent etc. ?

if they are interlinked strip lights they often have a small rocker switch on them which could have been knocked to the off position

are the connectors still all in place

are the bulbs ok have you tried the bulb from the working light in any that dont work

Thanks for the reply,

The lights are Halogen Capsule 20W 12V bulbs, one of the 4 bulbs was replaced recently, all 4 were working fine until they started flickering a couple of days ago then went off completely.

I've tried new bulbs and swapped others that worked but no joy!

flickering is a loose connection somewhere if one works then it must be between the one that works and the next one that doesnt

how are they wired do they have push in type plugs or are the hardwired into the back

Did the spark fit them, if so why not get them back to fix it?

sounds to me like the transformer is fritzed, a voltage tester will be of no help to you as it will not work on electronic transformers, try looking on top of the cupboards and see if you can see where the lights plug into, there is usually a sort of mini extension lead thing that the 12V lamps plug into which is connected to the output side of your transformer. Is it possible to post a picture of it then we can advise you better .

Nick

Attached should hopefully be a couple of photo, the 5 lights which have failed are connected via a Thebo Transformer, if the transformer has failed is this a common problem as the kitchen's only been in for a couple of years, if it needs replacing any idea how these things cost?

That transformer in the picture is not big enough to power more than 4 lamps as it is only rated at 80w maximum. Your lamps are 20w each and so it looks like it could of been overloaded.

They are not expensive, but you should get one that can comfortably come with the amount of lamps on the circuit.

This one is 150w, this would be ok for up to 7 of your lamps and costs just £10.99+ Vat-

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LTYT150.html

As handyman says, the transformer is overloaded, you did not by any chance change some 10W lamps for 20W lamps thus causing an overload on the transformer??? THe transformer UHM has recommended is fine for your needs, but you will have to cutr the little plugs off the lights to connect them all in and this might be a bit awkward. TRy looking in B+Q for them, they do one with small sockets on the end which looks like yours, but you would have to check the plug and socket arrangement is not different. Your need is for a transformer of 100W as you just add the total load up for the lamps and convert that into VA, 100w of lights =100VA in transformer.

Any more probs give me a shout

Nick