Low Voltage Halogen Light Transformers [12v AC Adapter]

Hera Lighting discontinued production of all halogen lights and halogen accessories in August, 2015. We had purchased hundreds of their overstocked 12 volt transformers while they had them. Slowly, we kept selling out of each one. In mid 2018, we finally sold the last of the Hera brand transformers. At the same time, we were searching for a comparable transformer. We found a lot of cheap ones, many without an outer casing. And then we found this great Class 2 transformer from Hatch. Hera's transformers were Class 2 and had a lot of built in protections, and that is what we wanted. This Hatch 12 volt, 60 watt transformer is high quality merchandise. We are glad that we found a solution to help our customers keep their halogen lights going.

If you need a halogen puck lighting transformer, thus we have them.

The Hatch PS1260 (12 stands for 12 volts, 60 stands for 60 watts) can be used with any of Hera's 12 volt halogen lights. It can be used with other brands of 12 volt halogen lights too. But for our explanations, we will refer to only Hera Lighting.

The FIVE Hera 12 volt transformers of the past were: the E60T and OMN60LT which are from the 1990's to around 2004. If you have one of these, you have a very old transformer. And tons of them are still in use. We have customers looking for replacements for these two all the time. After 20-something years, many are reaching the end of their lifespan. Around 2004, those two transformers were replaced with updated versions that were only 1/2" tall and easier to hide under cabinets where the lights are commonly mounted. The older tall transformers were flattened down and stretched a little longer. Thus the UE-E60FT and UC-60FT were created. Both of these were 60 watt transformers and performed the exact same way as the previous models. Hera also introduced the UK-120-TW at the same time because they offered a lot of 5-light kits, and the 120 watt transformer was able to handle up to six of the 20 watt halogen lights. The UK-120-TW was technically a dual 60 watt. It had two terminal blocks and a restriction of 60 watts on each side.

For applications with multiple transformers, if two transformers were mounted too closely together, the heat from one could trick another into turning off. We have always advised to have 8 or more inches of space between transformers.

This is what we mean by splicing the old Hera transformer terminal block onto the Hatch transformer. Your Hera terminal block has a twin wire going into it (might look like one, but inside that white wire casing are two wires). You can cut that terminal block off your old transformer, leave as much wire as you can attached to it. Then splice each wire of the pair to the paired wire on your new transformer. Your polarity will not matter, do not be concerned with getting the wires backwards, they will work either way. This is AC. Wire connectors like the 18 gauge red crimps we used in the example above are quick and easy, and not bulky. Available at most hardware and automotive stores. Wire nuts could be used, but connectors are better, and insulated.

We had a customer ask us about hardwiring this transformer. As you can see from our pictures above, the plug is integrated into the casing of the transformer. It is not like the old Hera transformers that had a plug cord leading into the transformer and you could just cut the plug off the end of the cord. So, if you do have a Hera transformer that was hardwired, here is what we suggest: Take the power source wire of the hardwire application and wire it to a new outlet. Then you can just plug this transformer into that outlet. Which would make inspectors happy too. And keep everything safe.

PLEASE do not attempt to open the casing on the Hatch transformer. That will NOT work for you. NOTE: the 10 foot lead wire coming out of the Hatch transformer is the OUTPUT wire. That is the wire that is low voltage and feeds current to the lights. It is NOT 120V power in.

The Hatch 12 volt transformer will work with Hera ER1/ES1, ARF20/ARFS20, KB1220, EH11/AH11, Enterprise, Wave, Arc Light, Arc-Tech, Tri-Tech, E2, E3, E4, EH24, KH12, XR1/XS1, and all other Hera halogen lights of the past.

This is the top side of the transformer. It comes only in black now. The case is sealed, smooth attractive plastic with no writing except the embedded Hatch logo in the center. Very clean. Meant to be plugged in vertically (normal plug on the wall), or floor inserted. This is advised from Hatch. Basically that means, the 3-prong plug seats into the outlet tightly with no way to loosen when vertical or floor mounted. If put in at an angle, or horizontally arranged outlets, or hanging from a ceiling outlet, that is not advised. The transformer is not heavy, just four ounces, but when compared to a normal cord end, it very well is 15 times heavier than a plug. So do seat the transformer into its outlet snugly. Make sure its weight will not pull it loose. And this advisement is also for heat. When vertical or flat, heat will rise off it ... and away from it. Important for longer transformer life.

The twin wire comes separated and bared on the opposite end of the 10' output cord. It is ready to be spliced onto the wires on your lights ... OR spliced to your old Hera transformer terminal block.

Close up view of our crimping job. This is a step you will need to do at your location because you need to use your old transformer terminal block. The blue and brown wires are the Hera wires leading into the terminal block.

Now you don't have to use your old terminal block. You can wire your light(s) in series, or series-parallel, and just attach to the wires of the transformer. But each of your Hera wires probably still has the NVK6 male/female pin connector attached to the wire. If not, then you will just be splicing bare end wires to other bare end wires. Especially if you have another brand of 12 volt lights.

This warranty covers all products with part numbers beginning with the following prefixes: RS, VS, IS, PS, PB, TS, VJ, VE and HA. Any other products sold by Hatch with part numbers not beginning with one of these prefixes are also covered by this warranty if they can be categorically defined as electronic transformers. Hatch Transformers Inc. (HTI) warrants that its Electronic Transformers are free of defects in material and workmanship for a time period of 3 years from the date of invoice, when operated for no more than 4000 hours per annum at an average daily operational load of no more than 12 hours.