On Sun, 30 May 2010 15:27:12 -0400, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 30 May 2010 13:59:01 -0400, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

wrote in message
...
About 6 years ago, we had our kitchen remodelled. We wanted some
undercounter lights included. The contractor proposed a low voltage
set of lights. I said that I preferred 120 v since I hate humming
transformers. He said OK and proceeded to do the job.

Fast forward to last summer. We had a nearby lightning strike that
took out a lot of stuff - DVRs, various plug-in power supplies, a
Davis weather station, a garage door opener, etc. All of that was
repaired but a few months later, I noticed the seldomly used
undercounter lights didn't work. I started looking for the cause and
realized they were low voltage halogens rather than 120v. So
basically, there is a transformer somewhere in the kitchen with a
blown fuse or winding. I have resigned myself to having to remove
some drywall or tile to repair the problem, but I really don't want to
use the trial and error method to find the transformer. The lights
are near a number of 120 v circuits, but instead of tapping into those
circuits, they tied into the circuit for the island. The island has a
cooktop and some outlets for portable appliances. All that stuff
works. I suppose it is even possible that the transformer is in the
island and they ran 12 volt wire under the floor and up the wall to
get to the undercounter lights. That wouldn't be how I would do it,
but who knows. Between having hardwood floor, a tile backsplash, and
granite countertops, the repair won't be easy, but step one is finding
the transformer. Any ideas how to find it without tearing apart half
the kitchen?

Well, by code, things like this can't be in a place without access. If
behind drywall, there should be an access panel, the operative word being
"should".
I agree.

"Wands" are pretty available/cheap now, where you connect a signal to the
end halogen, and follow it through a headset of sorts, listening for the
strength of an audible signal. Really a handy thing to have for
sleuthing,
altho I forgot the generic term for this particular strategy.
Phone guys used to use this all the time, to find the right wire in wired
bundles..
Good idea. I will look into that. Maybe I can rent one.

I think they're cheap to buy, HF might even have them -- they have $10
clamp-on ammeters.
Radio Shack, HD have them, I think. $30??

I just don't know offhand what they're called -- signal tracers, wire
tracers, mebbe.

OK. I'll look for one at HD or Lowe's.

To the other replies: Yes I have a multi-meter - 0 volts coming from
the transformer. The bulbs are in parallel. The switch is good.
Regarding the possibility of it being a switching power supply, I
hadn't thought of that. It could be. If it is, the output filter cap
must be shorted since it reads a few tenths of an ohm looking back
into the wires from the switch.

wrote:
On Sun, 30 May 2010 15:27:12 -0400, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

snip

I just don't know offhand what they're called -- signal tracers, wire
tracers, mebbe.

OK. I'll look for one at HD or Lowe's.

snip

Sometimes they're called "fox and hounds" -- you hook up the fox and
then use the hound to follow the wires; I think they're about 40 bucks
at Lowe's.

On Sun, 30 May 2010 22:20:59 -0600, cjt
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 30 May 2010 15:27:12 -0400, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

snip

I just don't know offhand what they're called -- signal tracers, wire
tracers, mebbe.

OK. I'll look for one at HD or Lowe's.

snip

Sometimes they're called "fox and hounds" -- you hook up the fox and
then use the hound to follow the wires; I think they're about 40 bucks
at Lowe's.
I purchased one at Lowe's for $40. Sperry brand - ET4220L "LAN
tracker". It is a strange combination of really well thought out and
poorly implemented. The supplied batteries were leaking in the
package and the plastic parts don't fit well, but it works. You
attach clip leads (or an RJ 11 or RJ 45 or coax connector) to the
known end of the wire and then use the separate receiver to find the
warbling signal. While I haven't found the transformer yet, I have a
strong clue. As suggested by someone else, it may be in the space
just above the cabinets. In this case, that places it in the attic
above the kitchen. I definitely hear the signal up high on the wall.
I can't bring myself to climb up there today since it is hot and
dirty, but the next time I get the urge, I will see what I can find.

To those who suggested replacing the lights with florescents, it would
be just as difficult to install a new circuit as it is to find and
repair this one. I am normally a person who uses energy saving ideas,
but in this case, the fixtures have been used for no more than one
hour total in the past six years since they were installed. It took
us months to notice they didn't work. So, there is no energy savings
to be had. I just hate to have them installed but non-operational.



Pat