Garden Lights AC v DC

[brucecampbell]

Not specifically C4 - but C4 is running the switching for me... Hoping some of the smart people here can help me with some answers please.

So I have three garden light transformers - the old style outputting 12VAC
I changed from halogen bulbs to LED many years ago and all has seemed fine.

I add some more small step lights to a circuit and suddenly I notice the new LEDs are flickering.
I then realize these are DC LED's running on an AC power source.

Questions:

1. Why are most of my LED bulbs working fine - no noticable flicker - These are your stock standard MR16 bulbs you use to replace the 12V 50W halogen in your home.

2. Am I likely to be damaging my LED bulbs?

3. Am I likely to be damaging my Transformers?

Note: the total Watt is low - only about 35W - 50W on a 150W transformer

[alanchow]

I see no reason why the transformers will be damaged though you will definately damage the bulbs if they are DC only.

Your MR16 bulbs work because of the MR16 LED bulbs contain electronics to convert from AC to DC.

In short. Don't plug DC stuff into AC and vice versa.

Also no dimming of things that are not dimmable.  Another way to break things.

[brucecampbell]

2 hours ago, alanchow said:

Your MR16 bulbs work because of the MR16 LED bulbs contain electronics to convert from AC to DC.

Thanks - for some reason I was assuming the MR16 were DC input - but spot on - they are AC so no issues here - just need to get a converter for my step lights which are DC.

Thanks Alan.