Halogen lights?

[Chas]

OK. Here is a DIY question for anyone with knowledge of electrical matters.

I bought a couple of those little halogen lights and since I know enough about simple electrical work to install regular lights and switches, I figured it would be easy. This was my first dealing with halogen bulbs.

As I do with any new sort of wiring, I plugged my first wiring up effort into a power strip with a fuse. .figuring if I have got it wrong, I will just blow out the power strip fuse and not the house fuse. Anyway, it immediately blew out the halogen bulb. Power strip survived.

My question is, how DO you wire in a halogen light? I am thinking that there must be a transformer involved. .something more than connecting to the power source those the two little wires coming out of the "button" that goes on top of the little bulb. . . but I would appreciate any real info on this.
Thanks

[Jockey]

http://www.smarthome.com/4600lf.html

[Sabai Jai]

I'm pretty sure you will need a transformer.

Check the voltage, they are usually 'low voltage' should be marked on it somewhere.

Rgds SJ

[Chas]

Thanks for the quick reply Jockey. The website you linked to shows a very different sort of fixture and one that would have worked because it seems to connect directly to the power source.. which is just what I did with mine.
Maybe I just have the wrong bulb?

The fixture came with the little button thing and two thin protruding wires and it fits the two prongs on the top of the bulb perfectly.

The package the bulb came in is marked "standard 50w 12v" and there is a Thai label pasted over any info that might have helped me. SJ, nothing on the label says low voltage

[icebear]

installed the halogen lights (low voltage) in two houses with transformers hidden above the gypsum ceiling. Payed more than the normal lighting fixtures, but over time will recoup. How you're wiring it I cannot assist, as I am no electrician.

[Nereus]

The package the bulb came in is marked "standard 50w 12v" and there is a Thai label pasted over any info that might have helped me. SJ, nothing on the label says low voltage

50watt 12 Volts, you need a transformer and check that both your life insurance, and house cover is up to date.

[Chas]

OK Nereus. This certainly doesnt seem to be the best choice of a bulb from what you say. Having already installed the fixture, I wonder if I can just buy another kind of halogen bulb that would be safer, more efficient and not need a transformer at all. Any suggestions?

[Francois]

The package the bulb came in is marked "standard 50w 12v" and there is a Thai label pasted over any info that might have helped me. SJ, nothing on the label says low voltage

50watt 12 Volts, you need a transformer and check that both your life insurance, and house cover is up to date.

In fact both types exist.

Here is a picture of what I have. In such a case, you don't need a transformer.

If you cannot find this type of bulb, you definitely need a transformer

Hope this will help.

[Chas]

Even a picture! Thanks SO much Francois.

I did see this type of bulb when I was in Home pro, though I did not see the "socket" that would fit it.

Let me look up a few words in Thai, go back to the Home pro sales guy and see what I can do. I will let you know how successful I m with this. I am super careful by the way with any kind of wiring, having been used to doing stuff "to code" back in the US.

What gets me here is the different kinds of supplies in use and the less strict "code". (There is not one plastic twist on cap or even one junction box in the original house wiring for example.)

[Chas]

Thanks to the quick responses and the Picture posted by Francois, I was able to go to Homepro, buy the correct bulbs, get the salesgirl to provide the "sockets", come home and wire in the two halogen lights and separate switches.

They work like a dream.

Whatever would I do without HHAD!

Now, they seem to be hot little suckers. I have them in metal mountings of course, but these are attached to wood. The whole assembly is open to the air, but I notice that the nearby wood gets kinda hot . I put in a metal shield next to the nearest wood but I still worry. It seems like a typical heat reaction that you might get in one of these wooden Thai style lanterns though.

Anyway, I had them on for three hours this afternoon while I worked nearby and nothing burst into flames.

Thanks again everyone who responded.