What Is Considered Low Voltage Lighting

Low voltage lighting systems can carry a higher amount of current and will need larger diameter wires.

What is considered low voltage lighting.

Safety the voltage that runs from the transformer to the fixtures is significantly less powerful than line voltage. The transformer for low voltage lighting is either built into the fixture or located remotely. As a professional landscape lighting designer looking to install and operate a new low voltage lighting system you need to consider what transformer will be required to convert your standard line voltage outlets using 110 120v into your outdoor low voltage 12v 15v lighting design. Low voltage lighting pros and cons.

In electrical power systems low voltage most commonly refers to the mains voltages as used by domestic and light industrial and commercial consumers. The transformer plugs into a grounded outdoor power receptacle and reduces 110 volt current standard to a safe 12 volts low voltage. In the left diagram below a 20 watt w bulb with a 120v source draws 16 amp. And since it s low voltage lighting it s safe to use and install even for beginners.

Low voltage lighting pros. Low voltage light has reduced brightness regardless if it is powered with solar or direct electricity. For this line voltage fixtures are basically plug and play. What is low voltage lighting.

Low voltage lighting typically uses 12 or 24 volts and requires a transformer to lower the line voltage from 120 volts to avoid immediately burning out the low voltage bulb. Low voltage lighting got its start in american residential settings in the 1950s. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a big impact diy project. Because line voltage lighting is the standard way to get power to lighting fixtures we ll only look at the pros and cons of low voltage lighting in this article.

A low voltage lighting system consists of a plug in transformer low voltage cable and low voltage light fixtures. The proper selection of a lamp type will ultimately depend on the specific requirements of the space to be lighted its function and the economic. In the right diagram below a 20 w bulb with a 12v source draws 1 6 amps 10 times more current than a 120v source. Outdoor lighting can be used to illuminate paths steps and dark zones plus it can add artfully dramatic emphasis to your yard s best features.

The safe 12 v power supply cannot create bright flood lights.