Which is more efficient 12 volt halogen or 240 volt halogens?

Downlights, Halogen August 27th, 2007

One Response to “Which is more efficient 12 volt halogen or 240 volt halogens?”

1. Daniel Says:
   August 27th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

   Dear Michael

   Many thanks for your very interesting question.

   A 50 watt 240 Volt halogen GU10 would use less power than a 12 Volt.

   The reason for this is that obviously you need to get the voltage down from 240V to 12V you need to use a low voltage transformer. When you transform (change) the power you get what is called a loss which can vary depending whether you are utilising a wire wound magnetic style transformer or an electronic transformer.

   The modern electronic transformers run a lot more efficiently than the older style wire wound transformers but some people say that the old style are more reliable as there is less to go wrong and that they handle power surges better than the new style.

   There are however other advantages with the new style including voltage protection and heat protection cutoffs. This can also be quite annoying in warmer climates as you end up with a “disco” effect with lamps switching on and off as the transformer heats and cools.

   You then to need to look at the lamps themselves. The 12 volt halogen lamps are a lot more efficient the GU10 main voltage lamps. For example a 12 volt 50 watt 36 degree lamp produces approximately 2200 candelas of light. The 240 volt 50 watt GU10 only produces approximately 800 candelas. So you will get a lot more light from the low voltage halogen setups. The other thing to consider is that you end up with a lot more options in technology, wattage and beam angles in low voltage which are not available in 240V GU10 halogen lamps. The other thing is that mains voltage GU10 halogens have a relative short operating life. This is because it is running off main voltage and does not have the “buffer” of a transformer and when voltage surges occur on the power network the lamp ends up taking the entire electrical surge.

   The other thing which everyone is talking about is energy efficiency. 240V halogens do not have a energy efficient alternative to produce the same amount of lights that you are replacing. People will try and tell you that compact fluorescent 11 watt alternatives (http://lightingpro.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=354) will produce the same amount of light - they don’t. Where as there is a terrific energy saving alternative for the 12 volt halogens (http://lightingpro.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=150). These produce the same or more light and offer you a genuine energy saving.

   I hope this answers your question!

   Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

   Kind regards,
   Daniel

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