Just installed about 28 recessed lights (Elco Non-IC remodling type)using 50W halogen blulbs about 3 weeks ago, and three of the lights would kick itself off and back on. I started getting worried. I called the lighting store that installed the lights and they told me that either the transformer was defective or the insulation was too close??
I have the blow in "pink itchy" type of insulation in the attic.
I heard from this electric supply store in Calif that they are experiencing a lot of transformer probem with Elco. They are gradually switching to the "Elite" brand.
I went up to the attic myself last night to take a look. Boy, those lights are HOT !!!!, If I had all it turned on, it would light up my attics !!! I made sure all the insulation are pushed away from the Can. The electrician did relatively OK job. Some of the lights are in such a location (by the roofline) that I have yet to reach to check.
I love the ambiance of the lights so much that I am schedueled to install 40 more. Am I the biggest fool, or what??
I am so worried now about the fire hazard. I know it has safety feature to kick itself off when it gets too hot. But, it only take one to fail to start the fire?
Do you use AC?
A lot of the energy from halogens goes directly into heat
I had (2) 20w halogens over the stove & repleced them with (3) LED
Halogens - 40w, 3 LED's = 4w
What type of bulbs are installed....MR16?
They do make MR16 LEDs, many different wattages & styles
I'll be using a 150w halogen torchiere lamp in colder weather when I'm working on electric & insdulation in the new addition - just to add some heat
68 *50w = 3400 watts
68 * 1w LED = 68 watts total
Cost of electric is not going down in most areas of the country
The thermal overloads are [probably correctly] sensing temperatures that are too high and shutting down the lamps.
You could possibly dim them, or use lower wattage bulbs, or increase air circulation.
How much on-time/off-time are you getting with the ones that cycle? If the off-time is a small percentage of the total cycle time you are close to getting away with this much heat. A small change might get you into the safe zone.
Skin burns in 30 sec at 54C(129°F)
5 sec at 60C(140°F)
1 sec at 71C(160°F)
I live in Houston. Yes, we have air conditioning running 24/7.
I know nothing about electricity. Sorry about my ignorance.
I have dimmer switches on most of the recessed lights. Yes, the halogen I am using is MR16EXN 12V50W. How hot can a 50W can get?
What's LED? a "cooler" alternative? can I use the LED in these low wattage cans?
There are 4 lights above my kitchen counter. First, only one was kicking off after a while., 3 others are OK, then, another one is starting kicking off. That is the reason, I was up in the attic to see what was going on?
I am having 40 more this type of lights installed tomorrow. The lighting store assure me the safety, but I want an unbias opinion.
Reports indicate ~90% of power used by incandescent/halogen light is generated as heat
So each 50w bulb is generating 45w of heat
68 * 45 = a 3,060 watt heater running while all of these lights are on
Usually you need around 10w per sq ft to heat a room
So you have enough to heat a 300 sq ft room
The LED's produce very little heat & use very little electric
They are made to replace the halogen lamps, as are the CFL MR16's
Different lamps are setup differently
So you would need to buy a 12v version instead of a 120v version
--since the MR16's you are using are 12v
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