Low Voltage Lighting

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Low Voltage Lighting

• Exterior low voltage light fixtures come in a
  wide range of designs to suit different areas and
  create different lighting effects. Most fixture
  types are available in either 12-volt or 120-volt
  versions. For the homeowner, 12-volt, or
  low-voltage landscape lighting systems have
  several advantages.

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• Most important, low-voltage landscape lighting
  equipment is easier to install. Except for the
  transformer that's connected to a 120-volt
  circuit, the entire system runs on harmless
  12-volt current. Low-voltage wiring is
  lightweight and can be laid on the ground or
  buried just below the surface. We even have
  outdoor rock lights that look like boulders in
  your garden.

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• In contrast, a 120-volt system runs on the same
  power that supplies your home and requires the
  same precautions and expertise that normal house
  wiring does. Outdoor 120-volt lighting will need
  to be installed according to code and may require
  buried conduit. Once installed, 120-volt systems
  are relatively permanent, while outdoor landscape
  low-voltage lighting fixtures can easily be
  relocated if you wish to change your lighting
  scheme. One disadvantage with low voltage wiring
  is that that the wires are not buried deeply and
  are more prone to being damaged.

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• Another advantage of low-voltage lighting
  equipment is that it can be relatively
  inexpensive. And, when you do the job yourself,
  the bottom line for outdoor low-voltage lighting
  looks even better. Not only can the capital
  outlay for a standard high-voltage system be
  greater, but you may need to hire a professional
  for part or all of the installation.

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• One shortcoming of low-voltage lighting generally
  means less lighting power. For example, if you
  want a brightly lit parking lot area for security
  purposes, you may require the muscle of 120
  volts. Most grounds and garden situations,
  however, don't need this much light and can
  actually look better with tastefully placed
  low-powered lamps. For extra beef, bright 12-volt
  halogen lamps can be very effective when used to
  flood an area with light.

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• The low-voltage lighting transformer that powers
  your system must be sized to match the combined
  wattage of your lamps. If you buy a system that
  comes with six fixtures, for example, adding new
  lamps may mean upgrading the low-voltage lighting
  transformer or adding a second one. And, because
  voltage drop over long distances is more
  pronounced in a low-voltage lighting system,
  using wire that's too light can affect the output
  at the lamps.

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• In addition to 12 volt and 120 volt systems, some
  light fixtures use the energy in sunlight to
  provide electric light in the evening. These
  solar lamps have a photoelectric panel that
  charges a battery while the sun shines. When the
  sun goes down, a light sensor or
  photocell activates the lamp.

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• Low Voltage Equipment Types
• Outdoor low-voltage lighting fixture designs vary
  to suit a range of lighting situations. For
  example, path lighting usually sheds light on the
  ground or shrubs while in-ground fixtures throw
  light up and out to highlight a garden structure
  or wall. Other examples include mercury vapor
  moonlighting tree-hung fixtures, spotlights, and
  deck lighting that's built into posts or steps to
  create a visual effect and add an extra measure
  of safety.

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• For automatic control, some low-voltage lighting
  transformers have a light-sensor or motion sensor
  mechanisms that turns the lights on at dusk and
  off at dawn, while others have a timer that
  controls on and off cycles. You can also buy a
  motion sensor to switch on the lights when a
  moving heat source is detected.
• Low-voltage lighting is available in kits or as
  individual fixtures. The advantage of a kit is
  that you get the proper transformer, wire and one
  or two fixture styles all in one box. Individual
  components, on the other hand, let you customize
  your lighting system, although you'll have to
  determine wire gauge size and transformer
  capacity to match your plan.