Any electricians here? :) I need some help please!

[born2drv]

i got this 12V magnetic transformer that has 8 wires, i guess you can configure it a dozen ways or so. I just want to run 1 x 12V low voltage light source to this thing LOL and I'm very confused.

There are 8 wires coming out of this transformer.... H1, H2, H3, H4... and X1, X2, X3, X4. The top of the transformer says to run it in 120V / 12V mode I need to connect H1-H3, H2-H4 ... and X1-X3, X2-X4.

Here's all the ways you can hook it up:

Bigger picture:
http://www.born2drv.com/albums/misc/transformer.jpg

I'm thinking I have to use Figure A and connect it like this:

a(light1)+A(120V1)+H2+H4
b(light2)+H1+H3+X1+X4
B(120V2)+X1+X3

Is that right?

 

[supra87t/t4]

You want to convert what to what? Houshold votage (120) to 12V AC? If so then I think you are correct.

 

[born2drv]

You want to convert what to what? Houshold votage (120) to 12V AC?

Yes, I sell jewelry online so anyways I'm building myself a photobooth so I can take better pictures, my old one that I made with flourescent fixtures doesn't work as well.

Anyhow I have these MR16 halogen fixtures that have MR16 halogen converted LED bulbs, these ones:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=220036938200&rd=1&rd=1

They are 12V low voltage bulbs that are AC/DC (that means it can run either AC or DC right?)

So I just want to run them in AC mode I guess. The transformer is designed to step it down from 120VAC to 12VAC.

 

[born2drv]

Cool thanks man I hope it works

 

[HIDPLANET]

Why go thru that when you can get a portable studio/softbox to take nice pix of items inside?

Example of the one I have:

 

[supra87t/t4]

I would wire up the transformer by itself, without the lights or 120v hooked up then use a multimeter to make sure you have some resistance between the two places you plan to hook up the 120V, then hook up the 120V and use the meter to check that you have 12V where you plan to hook up the lights.

 

[born2drv]

I would wire up the transformer by itself, without the lights or 120v hooked up then use a multimeter to make sure you have some resistance between the two places you plan to hook up the 120V, then hook up the 120V and use the meter to check that you have 12V where you plan to hook up the lights.

That would have been the smart way to do it, if I had a multimeter I Just plugged it in and fried two $25 bulbs, DOH! Oh well now I'll get a multimeter and try that If all else fails I'll call an electrician.

HID - Regarding those ebay things, they're worthless. The one I built 5 yrs ago is much better. I've tried like 4-5 different softbox setups. They're good for taking pics of things like teddy bears or sunglasses or whatever.... but for stuff like jewelry which is so reflective and so white (silver) with the white background it makes it very challenging to take good pics. You need something that has diffuse lighting from the bottom, back, sides and you need hard lighting from the top and front and you need to have everything dimmable. They make a good jewelry box:
http://www.mkdigitaldirect.com/lighting-systems/MK-Jewelry_Photography_lighting-systems.htm
"The Box II" But it's $3300 and you still can't dim it. So far I've spent like $600 building mine and it will be much better if I can just get these damn things to work