Question for an electrician

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:30 am

wa2crk wrote:OK here's where I get myself in trouble. The Kircher website is a bit confusing.
In one section it states that the fixture voltage is 12.5 V. It also states in one section that the fixture is 18.5 watts and in another it states that the fixture uses three xenon bulbs with with a dissipation of 18.5 watts each and this would put the fixture at 56 watts each. I am assuming that the fixture consumes 18.5 watts total which I would consider to be reasonable. Where is the voltage dropping circuit located, in the fixture or in the line cord?
I will also make the assumption from the website that the voltage dropping device is delivering low voltage AC to the fixture because of the hi/low setting on the switch. Most of these type of devices insert a diode in the voltage path to achieve the "low" setting by clipping one half of the AC waveform.
Bill

Ditto!

I see no mention of transformers.

They list bx connectors which AIUI are 115v wiring clamps.

So the questions are:
Where are any transformers(in the fixture?)?
What is the wiring that you are asking about?
What defines these as 'low voltage'?

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:13 am

JPG
I believe that the manufacturer refers to these devices as low voltage. I believe that they state that it is 12 volts. They don't specify AC or DC but the fact that the internal switch has a hi and low setting leads me to think that they are 12 VAC.
Bill V

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:47 am

wa2crk wrote:JPG
I believe that the manufacturer refers to these devices as low voltage. I believe that they state that it is 12 volts. They don't specify AC or DC but the fact that the internal switch has a hi and low setting leads me to think that they are 12 VAC.
Bill V

How so? Diodes work at 115v also!

db5 · Post by **db5** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:13 am

Originally Posted by wa2crk
JPG
I believe that the manufacturer refers to these devices as low voltage. I believe that they state that it is 12 volts. They don't specify AC or DC but the fact that the internal switch has a hi and low setting leads me to think that they are 12 VAC.
Bill V

JPG40504 wrote:How so? Diodes work at 115v also!

Well, perhaps I need to take one of these apart and look. (They are 12VAC.) The service rep at Kichler told me the transformers were bad and that they don't sell the parts to replace them due to liability issues but they would sell new ones. I called back and talked with a different person who confirmed that they had transformers and that they often get calls on these that are a few years old. No replacement is available.

Would it help if I took one of these down, took the back off to expose the parts and photographed it?

db5 · Post by **db5** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:09 am

This is a photo. Transformer is sealed.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:01 pm

JPG
Diodes do work at 120 VAC but the website stated 12 v so I assume 12 VAC
Bill

db5 · Post by **db5** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:24 pm

I've decided to replace these with fluorescent lights. Talked with the owner of a lighting company who is also an electrical contractor; he said these expensive lights go south after about 5-10 years and he no longer sells them nor will include them in a bid. He did give me a replacement part number that sometimes works (costs $13 plush shipping) but said it was a crap shoot as to whether it would last fore more than a couple of years.

Thank you all for your help. Now all I need to do is make sure I get the fluorescent lights installed correctly.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:58 am

wa2crk wrote:JPG
Diodes do work at 120 VAC but the website stated 12 v so I assume 12 VAC
Bill

Bet the switch and diode are on the 115v side of the 'transformer'.

Methinks all the 'existing' external wiring is 115v.

I agree start over with more reasonably priced fixtures.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:06 am

JPG40504 wrote:Bet the switch and diode are on the 115v side of the 'transformer'.

Methinks all the 'existing' external wiring is 115v.

I agree start over with more reasonably priced fixtures.

If I was a betting man, I'd say the switch is on the 115 vac side of the transformer and the diode(s) is on the load side (dc side) of the transformer. The diodes are there to change the ac to dc.

Besides, transformers don't work real well with dc applied to the primary do they.

db5 · Post by **db5** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:05 am

JPG40504 wrote:Bet the switch and diode are on the 115v side of the 'transformer'.

Methinks all the 'existing' external wiring is 115v.

You are correct on both "methinks".