Transformers for halogen lamps : types, advantages and applications

transformers for halogen lamps

Electric in our house, and the lighting, including works by electricity 220V.But ordinary light bulb with a tungsten filament - yesterday.Low efficiency, durability is low, and 50Hz frequency creates an additional burden on the eyes.Exit - use transformer for halogen lamps and with the help of high-frequency use halogen lamps, operating from low-voltage electricity.

transformer for halogen lamps reduces the voltage from 220V to 12V.Halogen bulbs shine just on electricity 12V.

Transformers are divided into two types:

• winding (induction);
• electronic.

Winding and electronic transformers

first kind of devices - winding transformer for halogen lamps consists of two copper coils that interact via the electromagnetic field.

Electronic transformer for halogen bulbs convert electricity from the numerous special devices.

Today, electronic transformer for halogen lamps in front of a winding induction has its advantages:

• lightweight and compact with small dimensions;
• well protected: a high degree of protection against short circuits;
• almost silent: has a low noise level;
• in stable no-load operation (idling);
• equipped with overload protection and is protected from overheating;
• allows soft start;

These features provide durability work, extend the life of a transformer and halogen lamps.

Choice transformers

calculation and selection of step-down transformers carried out by two basic criteria:

• output voltage.
• By rated power.

first parameter indicates a voltage halogen lamps can be connected via a transformer.The second gives the total power of the connected lamps connected with it.The value of the basic parameters displayed on the lid of the transformer housing.

If you need to connect a large number of halogen lamps, they should be divided into groups.This can cause such arguments:

• connection without dividing into groups requires a more powerful and, consequently, a larger size of the transformer.Therefore, it may not be enough space at its installation.
• If one fails the transformer will turn off only part of the lighting.
• more powerful transformers are much more expensive.
• Work halogen lamps without loss of power requires the use of cables longer than 3 m.

Dividing the lighting group will provide this condition.

transformers Scheme

This transformer is widely used in household lighting fixtures, such as table lamp with halogen lighting.

widely used transformer (. Figure 2) is composed of a bidirectional Shockley diode "TRIGGER DIODE" and works in the following way: a diode bridge rectifies the AC voltage to a half-sinefrequency doubled.Bidirectional Shockley diode D6 starts the converter transformer and generating a half-bridge that allows electrical current to bring the output frequency to 30-50 kHz.

now apply more advanced transformers chip IR2161.Using the chip, with only 8 pins, significantly increased the reliability of the devices thoroughly transformers, primarily due to the decrease in the number of component parts.He also has high adaptability, namely:

• load protection against short circuit;
• overcurrent protection (both have automatic restart protection);
• intelligent half-bridge driver;
• swing of the operating frequency, which reduces electromagnetic interference;
• powerful starting at 150 mA;
• the ability to use with phase dimmer;
• offset by shifting the output voltage, which prolongs the life of the lamps;
• "soft" running start, which eliminates in current overload lamps.

transformers for halogen lamps and transformers for LEDs: they easily interchangeable?

transformer for halogen lamps is their "relative" - ​​a transformer for LED lighting.But even with the same rated power and voltage at the output of these transformers devices are not interchangeable.

fact that the halogen lamp light source is a filament.In the glow of the LED incorporated a completely different physics.Electric current passes through the P / N junction diode and a portion of the light energy as a photon.This difference is the physical phenomenon of luminescence of a halogen lamp and LED sets different requirements for transformers.Without going into deep analysis of waveforms transformers in this article, make entries:

1. 12V at the output of the electronic transformer - is the average voltage.In reality, there are transients up to 40V.Halogen "swallows" the leap without prejudice, and for the LED, it can be fatal.
2. addition transients electronic transformers for galogennok are unstable output voltage.It may be in the range of 11-16V, depending on the voltage on the input power is connected, the environmental temperature.
3. transformer halogen lamps gives nevypryamlennoe voltage.It contains both positive and negative pulses.For long-term operation of the LED is required rectified voltage whose graph pulse amplitude is close to a straight line.

LED lamps have a capacity 10 timesby lower power halogen lamps.But electronic transformer for halogen lamps can be operated at low loads.When the load is less than 30 watts it can alternately turn on and off, or will not turn on at all.

further use of halogen lamps in public and private life is very promising in the first place due to electrical safety.In addition, the use of this method of illumination can significantly reduce power consumption.