Kitchen downlights don't switch on but bulbs are ok?

Hogman.
There is definately a tranny then. It just occured to me that you may not realise thet the whole fitting is on a sort of spring tensioner that clips it into the ceiling that has to be pulled down to allow the cables that draw the tranny to be pulled through. try this - one of those cases when I do it without thinking and forgot to tell you

Kenny F
December 2008

Thanks for the advice Kenny F.

They are 12v downlights which have been in place since I have moved into the house about 20 months ago and I haven't changed them. I have tried locating the tranny but can't locate them and I don't want to pull too hard on the cables as they might come loose in the ceiling. Whats the best way of locating the tranny?

Thanks

Hogman
December 2008

Hogman
I'd hate to see you need a qualified spark for this one without knowing whether there's a tranny for these lights.
Look on the bulbs and see if they are 12volt or 240 volt: 240 = no tranny 12v definately a tranny.did you replace them recently? did you replace them with the correct voltage its easy to miss on the packaging you tend to pick up the one that looks like yours and say "thats it" although they shouldn't fit. did they all stop working at the same time?
did you replace 35watt with 50 watt bulbs this may have popped the tranny if they are 12volt. is there a dimmer on the circuit? have you got a test meter that you can check them on to see if you've got a circuit through the lamp? a reading on the ohm scale means good and an OL or Mohm reading on the ohm circuit means no good and keep your fingers off the tip of the leads or it'll read through you as well and confuse someone who is not used to reading the things. any tripped fuses on the board? have you tried a new lamp?
Have you got a voltage to the fitting?
these are all checks a qualified sparky will make. I reckon there's a tranny there somewhere thats blown, if the system is a slightly older one it may be a 4 way unit as opposed to a single tranny for each lamp and it may have its own fuses. if you find the tranny make very very sure that you are not about to touch a live 240 volt wire that really hurts! it could kill you. before you check it out its best to turn off at the fuseboard, test the circuit with a meter to check its dead before you go at it then make sure you are happy which end is which before you continue sorry to baby talk you but better not to assume eh? hope this helps p.s if you are thinking of doing any diy in electrics its essential to buy yourself a meter even a cheapo analog one.

Kenny F
December 2008