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Overheating transformer.

T

TonyV

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am using a 50W (230V - 12V) transformer to drive a 5W halogen lamp.
It works fine but the transformer gets very hot after about 30 minutes or
so.

Can someone please explain to me why it overheats so quickly?
Should I perhaps use a lower Wattage transformer?

Thanks.
TonyV
South Africa
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
TonyV said:
I am using a 50W (230V - 12V) transformer to drive a 5W halogen lamp.
It works fine but the transformer gets very hot after about 30 minutes or
so.

Can someone please explain to me why it overheats so quickly?
Should I perhaps use a lower Wattage transformer?

Thanks.
TonyV
South Africa

If anything you'd want to use a higher wattage transformer. How hot is very
hot? Many transformers run quite not and it's normal.
 
S

Sofie

Jan 1, 1970
0
TonyV:
A lower wattage transformer is obviously not the answer unless the
transformer you are using is defective and has shorted turns......
For an experiment, disconnect the lamp and run the transformer without a
load and see how hot it runs..... some transformers run warmer than others
but if you can't hold you hand on it for more than a minute or so then it is
running too hot.
 
R

RubbishRat

Jan 1, 1970
0
Are you sure that's a 5W lamp. As I've never heard of a 5W Halogen. I think
its a 50W - 12V
Anyway what you need is a HIGHER wattage transformer. Generally, the bigger
the transformer the more current you can expect from it for a given voltage.
for instance a tiny transformer might have a 12V secondary but rated at
500ma or so, but a physically larger transformer might still have a 12V
secondary but be capable of several amps output. since (Volts X Amps =
Watts) that would be 12volts times two amps equals 24Watts. clearly not
enough, you would need a fairly hefty transformer to provide the 4.2 or so
Amps you need to operate a 12V 50W lamp. (12V X 4.2A = 50.4W)
 
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