Page 1 of Electrical Advice Please. 12v Halogen Lights??? (Watts and Volts query)

If I use 3 x 20 Watt 12 Volt Halogen lights connected to a 12V 65Watt Transformer, how many Watts will be consumed by the 230 V AC Mains Supply. Will it be less than a 60 Watt 230v AC normal bulb??

you would save 20% energy wise by using 3x20w ac halogen lamps run on a 230volt to 12v ac transformer also the electronic type transformers are more energy saving than the heavier wire wound sort :B

Your 3 halogen lights will take 60 Watts, but the transformer will not be 100% efficient, so you`ll be taking slightly more than 60 Watts from the mains. So I think the answers `No`.

Does it not make a difference that the halogen are 12 volt units?

I assumed that the 3 x 20 W lamps at 12 Volt would be less than 1 x 60 W bulb on 230V
:/

You just need to add up the Watts.

On a brighter note, halogen bulbs are supposed to produce more light per Watt than conventional bulbs, so you`ll get a bit more light from your 3 halogen bulbs than 1 conventional 60W.