Low Voltage Lighting System Buying Guide

Benefits of Low Voltage Lighting System

• The low voltage lighting system is safe, easy to install, and allows you to create unique and attractive lighting to pair with your landscape.
• Safety is a major benefit of the lighting system. You needn't worry about exposed bare wire or severing the cable while installing or using. Also, the system is designed for wet weather and operates completely safely when exposed to moisture.
• You won't need to do any deep trenching during installation because the cable is hidden rather than buried. This also allows for ease and safety, as well as added flexibility in terms of design. If you choose to relocate the lights, it is much easier than a system that involves the permanency of trenching. In most cases, the lights can be powered by existing outdoor receptacles, eliminating the need for electrical contractors.
• The low voltage lighting system allows for a great deal of creative control on your part when planning your landscape lighting. The lamps are available in low watt varieties and various lighting effects. This allows for more precise lighting effects and lower energy costs to boot. Also, the light bulbs are small and unobtrusive to the overall design, so they will blend into the landscape where you want them to.

Time to Plan Design

Determine the number and style of fixtures you need by plotting a light plan on your lawn. Walk the perimeter of your home, noting areas you would like to illuminate. Using a flashlight as a model to create different lighting effects can be a great help in planning location of lighting fixtures. Sketch the plan for your landscape lighting on graph paper, noting key features such as trees, shrubbery, paths, decks and patios. Mark the locations where you want to add the lighting.

Lighting Effects

• Path and Area lighting: Path lights are staggered around a walkway to illuminate a safe passageway and to emphasize the dynamic design of the landscape.
• Spotlighting: an effective technique for highlighting any statue, trees, or entranceway.
• Grazing: Light placed to shine across a surface such as brick or stucco walls, or a natural surface like tree bark to bring out all the texture.
• Silhouetting: The silhouette of an object can be created by reflecting light off a vertical surface behind it. The light source should be concealed, usually directly behind and below the object to be silhouetted.
• Uplighting: The light source is mounted or recessed in the ground and angled up to display a tree, artwork or structure.
• Step Lighting: Step lights can be used in masonry and wood construction to safely illuminate stairways and walkways.

Choosing the Elements of Your System

Selecting Fixtures

Fixtures come in many finishes and materials, but remember it's important to purchase fixtures that are appropriate for the application you are intending to use them for. Styles of effect and light can be manipulated with the following fixtures:

• Path and Area Lighting: Path light
• Spotlighting: Accent light
• Grazing: Accent light
• Silhouetting: Accent light
• Uplighting: Accent light
• Step Lighting: Step light

Selecting a Transformer

Transformers reduce 120 volts to a safe 12 volts needed for low voltage lamps. The total lamp wattage of all fixtures connected to a transformer must be less than the capacity of transformer. To determine the size, add up wattage of all lamps and add 10% more for safety factor.

(TRANSFORMER SIZE = TOTAL FIXTURES WATTAGE X 1.1)

Individual transformers offer different features, select a transformer that will accommodate how you intend to use the lighting system.

Multi-Tap is a transformer with 12-, 13-, and 14-volt outputs that provide additional electricity allowing for long runs.
Photocells allow a transformer to automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
Timers allow a transformer to be programmed to turn on and off whenever you set them for.

Selecting the Correct Cable for Your System

Determine the length of cable needed by measuring the distance from the outlet to the farthest fixture location. Include the length of cable that branches off the main line. Adding branches of cable is recommended for lights that are not located in a straight line from the transformer to the farthest fixture. And always allow for a couple of feet of extra cable for each fixture for repositioning.

Cable Length Chart

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Maximum Wattage Chartﾠﾠ

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Example:

Selecting Fixtures: For the project, 8 fixtures were selected

(6) 16 Watt Fixtures and (2) 35 Watt Fixtures

Selecting a Transformer: To select a transformer, the total wattage of the fixtures was calculated

16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 35 + 35 = 166

Transformer size = 166 x 1.1 = 182 Watts

A 200-watt transformer would be a good choice for this project. If additional lights may be added in the future, it would be a good investment to purchase a slightly higher wattage transformer.

Selecting Cable: 160 feet of cable is needed for this project

To determine the proper cable, you need to utilize the following information: Length of Cable: 160 feet and Total Wattage of Fixtures: 166 watts. From the following chart, you can determine that 8-gauge cable would be the correct cable size to use. If we only needed 120 feet or less, we could have used 10-gauge.