I recently bought a couple of "warm white" LED bulbs to fit the light/fan fittings in our en-suite and bathroom. They cost about £4 each - brand = "GWS", on ebay. They are the MR16 12V type. They "flicker".... Is this a common problem with this type of bulb? Would a more expensive (Philips?) 12V MR16 bulb resolve the flickering problem? Or am I better sticking to standard halogen MR16s? I also want to replace the GU10 240V bulbs in the bathroom with similar LED bulbs. Can anyone recommend the "best" solution, best bulbs to buy? Many thanks, Ian
The electricians here might help, but I always thought that 'new-fangled' transformers made all lamps flicker, whereas the old toroidal wire-wound ones don't. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
Thanks for the prompt feedback. The standard halogen 12V MR16 bulbs I have don't seem to have a flicker problem.
I believe you may need to change the original 12volt "Transformer" , to a 12volt LED "Driver". Snezza.
I dunno , but running an led lamp from a 12v ac transformer always seemed a convoluted route. Best to dispense with the transformers and change lampholders to GU10 type The led lamps don't flicker in those, well they might do when switched off ,but that's another matter.
Thanks. The bulbs are fitted to a combined light/fan unit. Will I be able to replace the "transformer" with a "Driver" in this case? My current throughts are to stick with standard halogen in the fan/light fitting and just replace my 240V GU10 halogen bulbs in the bathroom with LED ones.....
If the combined fan/light is anything like the one's i've fitted in the past, the lamp is supplied via the 12volt transformer and the fan is supplied directly with 240volts.
Thanks. Yes - the fan is 240V, the light is 12V. Easiest solution, for non-flicker, looks like it's to stick with a halogen bulb for the fan/light. I will just replace the 240V hologens in the bathroom with LEDs. I am assuming there will be no "flicker" issues with 240V GU10 LED bulbs (because no transformer involved)?
I bought 3 Livarno 1.2 watt LED 12 volt MR16 bulbs in Lidl, to replace the 3 halogen ones in my bedroom light fitting. Only one of them flickers but the light output is so feeble I would get more light from a single candle!
I believe your problem is caused by your using transformers which are 240/12v AC . You need to replace with drivers with a DC output. I have found that some cheap transformers have worked okay when replacing halogen mf16 with LED lamps but not with the more expensive
No its not. This has been explained recently in several magazine articles. It only affects LEDs installed on two-way lighting circuits. Something to do with induced current from the strappers. Normally dissipated through halogens but not through LEDs.
Hi, check you CPC on the circuit with the LEDs on you will find that you eithe have no or poor earth, fix it and all things stop flickering, enjoy
Can I jump on the bandwagon here, I put mr11 lights in bathroom over 20 yrs ago so we've just upgraded bathroom total refurb bought new mr16 light fittings so I could use old transformer and fitted led 5w bulbs and got some flickering do I need a new transformer ?