Hickey Freeman Field Problem

We were able to determine the root cause of the lamp and transformer failures, we saved the luminaire manufacturer the cost of having to replace the entire installation

The store owner reported issues with premature lamp and transformer failures of approximately 50 multi head MR-16 low voltage halogen luminaires. Each luminaire had 8-17 lamp heads and the installation was approximately two years old. The luminaire manufacturer in good faith paid to replace all of the lamps and transformers. Six weeks later the customer was complaining that the lamps and transformers were failing again. Wilger was contracted by the luminaire manufacturer to investigae. The fixtures in question were installed at the Hickey Freeman Store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, NY. We met with the store manager, the lighting designer responsible for the installation and the sales representative for the luminaire manufacturer at the job site.

We examined all of the luminaires and the installation. Based on our findings, it is apparent that there were three issues that need to be addressed. All three issues were due to improper maintenance of the luminaires. The issues were as follows:

  1. All four of the non operational transformers were from the original installation.  The transformers were missed by the electrical contractor when the luminaires were retrofitted with new transformers.
  2. Twenty five of the 50W IR MR-16 type lamps were from the original installation that were either near end of life or have already burned out.  We knew that the lamps were not replaced when the luminaires were retrofitted because a different manufacturers lamp was used. 
  3. One of the new transformers was installed incorrectly.  The luminaires insulation detector was removed from its intended location in the luminaire housing and installed in the knockout of the transformer. Type Non IC insulation detectors are of the self heating type and operate at temperatures in excess of 100°C. The heat being generated by the insulation detector was causing the transformer to cycle off on thermal overload. Once the insulation detector was installed as intended, the transformer operated properly.

Because we were able to determine the root cause of the lamp and transformer failures, we saved the luminaire manufacturer the cost of having to replace the entire installation as well as made the store owner and lighting designer happy. 

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