These numbers tell you the maximum wattage that the transformer can carry. For example, a 40VA transformer can handle up to a 40-watt halogen light bulb, while a 10-60VA one can carry between 10 and 60 watts worth of bulbs. Some transformers might just carry one individual light bulb, while others might be able to carry several lower wattage light bulbs in a series. Bulbs that operate on a lower voltage than 230-240V must be used with a compatible transformer when installing on UK mains circuits. The transformer converts mains voltage to a lower voltage suitable for the bulbs, ensuring they function as designed and preventing damage to the bulbs and/or light fittings.

Most people will be able to recover the cost of a new light bulb within three months. Less trips to the store and up the ladder can be saved with the use of LEDs. It takes about 25,000 hours for them to finish. By comparison, compact fluorescents can last up to 8,000 hours. Can you switch from halogen to LED headlights? This involves additional costs, more time and more messing about - which nobody wants. Another consideration is that if you do plan to dim them, you're going to need to ensure that the LED, the transformer and the dimmer switch are all compatible with each other. The Varilight YT transformers combined with the Varilight V-Pro dimmer switches are compatible, as are the Philips MR16 LEDs. A winning combination! But you've now spent more on these items than you would with options 2 and 3. Option 2 - Convert to GU10 LED These LED G4 light bulbs / lamps are ideal for use in a caravan, motor home, car, boat, home or business. If you have low voltage halogen light bulbs installed with a transformer, the first thing you need to do before replacing Halogen MR16 light bulbs with MR16 LED bulbs is to find the transformer’s maximum load. You should be able to find this on the body of the transformer itself, in the form of a ‘VA’ number. This VA number will either be fixed, or it will be a range (e.g. 10-60VA).FAQ about 12V transformer and light emitting device compatibility. The cost of efficiency and extra power consumption are explored in the FAQ article. The ‘LED drivers’ are designed for DC light. What is the difference between halogen and LED? Most light bulbs operate off mains voltage ( see below), but some light fittings are designed to be lower voltage. These are most commonly used in integrated kitchen fittings, where space is at a premium and smaller bulbs are a necessity. Low voltage light fittings often need a compatible transformer ( see below) to convert mains voltage to the correct, lower voltage. Most low voltage spotlights will be between 12-24 volts. Spotlights are ‘directional’ bulbs that emit light in a focused beam. Halogen spotlights are a form of incandescent light bulb that use a tungsten filament and a mix of inert and halogen gases to produce light. The European Commission directive in September 2016 banned the manufacture of this type of power-hungry spotlights. The sale of higher energy bulbs was phased out in the UK in the last year. The sale of high energy fluorescent lightbulbs will be phased out by the government by September 23, 2023. LED (light-emitting diode) light bulbs are the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient bulbs available. They last many times longer than halogen light bulbs, produce the same amount of light, but use only a fraction of the energy. Most LED light bulbs can be used with existing light fittings (this is called retrofitting).

This is easy and now straightforward to do because LED GU10 lamps can be swapped straight over without any wiring or transformers to consider. Here are some options for you to consider if you're replacing your 50W halogen GU10s: Saving money and the environment are the benefits of replacing halogen with a light emitting device. Is it worth replacing bulbs with LED? If you’re replacing low voltage MR16 50W halogens that have low voltage 12V transformer, the first and obvious option is to replace it with something like an MR16LED. The retrofit lamps should work from your transformer. This can cause you to have to replace your transformer. Can I use 12V transformer for LED?These G4 LED light bulbs last up to 20 times longer than a standard halogen capsule light bulb making changing them frequently a thing of the past.