In this part of this post, I will skirt around the specifics and just go through the salient points of a typical electronic transformer. The load requirements are usually printed on the electronic transformer's case, showing both the upper and lower limits such as:Įlectronic transformer 10-60 watt load requirement
It is not so good if you're trying to retrofit LED lights though, especially if they do not reach the minimum load requirement of the electronic transformer. In this scenario, the output of the electronic transformer naturally switches off, as the load is effectively removed by the bulb being broken. This can be an advantage if the load is a standard low voltage 12v halogen that you fitted and the bulb breaks. Consequently, it will not oscillate and subsequently it cannot transform the volts. If there is no load on the electronic transformer's output, there will be insufficient energy to drive the oscillator feedback toroid. This energy goes through a tiny feedback toroid transformer and is cleverly used to drive the base terminal of the power transistors, directly driving the oscillation. Why do electronic transformers sometimes have a minimum load?Īs described next (and more in-depth in my previous article) the self oscillating part of the circuit is driven by the surge of energy caused by the load it's supplying.
#Magnetic low voltage dimmer for led lights full
The separate rectifying diodes enable the LED to use the energy of the alternating current over the full cycle, as opposed to only half of it, reducing the possibility of any disturbing flicker. Note that an LED is actually a diode in its own right, as it's name suggests, and so would naturally half wave rectify in its own right anyway.I can only assume I've either missed something or the resellers are trying to cover their backs. Certainly the 12V supplies do not have polarisation marking or keyed connectors that I've seen. Normally GU5.3 bulbs have no polarisation markings, indicating that the rectifying diodes must be incorporated within the LED bulb package casing. I have known resellers to state that some LEDs are 12V DC but I have yet to see a 12V DC LED in the GU5.3 format.