Using MR-16 type LED bulbs with Low-Voltage transformer fitted housings

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BMacky

Senior Member
Location
Foster City, CA
Hi,

I have been working with an LED lighting "laboratory" of sorts and receiving samples of various products to try out in residential lighting scenarios.

One of the issues I have been pondering is regarding multiple recessed light fixtures. The LED MR-16 bulbs are 6W and to drive them requires a 12vac source, like on a recessed housing for a typical MR-16 halogen. However, I would suspect that the integral transformers on these products have a low-end threshold for the load to get the transformer to drive the bulb(s). I've found this issue to be true when doing niche lighting where you may only have 1 puck light at 20W on a 75W low-voltage electronic transformer. The dimmer had a lot to do with what worked best in that situation. The mfr indicated a magnetic dimmer would work but with the low (20W) load I had to go with an electronic LV dimmer for the single fixture. Anyhow...

I was wondering if anyone out there has experimented with ganging several LED bulbs like the type I mentioned together, and powering these through one fixed transformer on one recessed LV can, where the remaining fixtures are simply piggy-backed to the "mother" can's power, so to speak. I am also wondering if any code infractions come to mind in doing so. I guess there may be a listing violation on a can if I were to swap the incandescent socket with an MR-16 pigtail, but we are talking low-voltage and a 6W load at each can.

Simply put, I am looking for LED lighting solutions that aren't (as far as I know) commercially available, yet. If anyone knows of a product that is designed to drive an LED bulb mounted in a standard 3" can, I'd appreciate hearing about it or any other suitable and relevant comments you may have regarding my post.

I am trying to come up with a system where I can have a central transformer for one lighting circuit that drives multiple cans, to avoid the expense of all the LV cans and issues as stated above with the 6W load.

Please understand I have not experimented with this as of yet, but want to hear from anyone that may have had similar ideas or has tried this and had good results. Thanks!
 
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