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Low Voltage Lighting 10 Things You Need to Know

Before we decide on the ten things we need to know about low voltage lighting, let us first understand what is low voltage lighting? A low voltage lighting system usually consists of three components - a plug-in transformer, low voltage cable and low voltage light fixtures. The transformer plugs into a grounded outdoor power receptacle and reduces the standard 110 volt current to a safer low voltage of 12 volts. The low voltage cable attaches to the transformer and distributes power to the low voltage light fixtures connected along the length of the cable.

Low Voltage Board Installing a low voltage lighting system is safe and easy and does not call for any technical expertise or special skills. Low voltage lights have twin benefits as that are both energy efficient and economical to operate. The brightness level of the lighting is determined by the bulb wattage that is selected. Available bulb wattages range right from 4 watts up to 50 watts (halogen).

The low voltage lighting system has multiple applications. They are used to illuminate walkway entrances, driveways and staircases, accentuate landscapes, highlight architectural features, and decorate patios, decks and flowerbeds. The use of low voltage lighting systems has become increasingly popular and low voltage xenon lighting systems can also be ubiquitously found in many public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, retail stores, museums, art galleries, offices, and the home.

The basic ten things you need to know about low voltage lighting systems are as follows. You must understand that the list only highlights the major points and there may still be other things you should learn about low voltage lighting system.

A low voltage lighting system usually operates on 12 or 24 volts.

An electronic or magnetic transformer is generally used with low voltage lighting systems to transform the standard voltage to either 12 volts or 24 volts.

The voltage rating for the transformer is it electronic or magnetic should always be equal to or greater than the total voltage of the lighting system.

Transformers usually have a minimum voltage that they must power before they work. A 60-watt electronic transformer is expected to require minimum 10 watts of lighting load and if there is only 5 watts load connected to this 60W electronic transformer, the lighting system will not work.

Electronic transformers cannot provide more than 300 watts of power whereas some magnetic transformers can provide as much as 1200 watts of power.

Because an electronic transformer provides its power at very high frequencies (usually greater than 20,000 Hertz) a RMS voltmeter must be used to measure the secondary voltage of an electronic transformer.

An alternating current (AC) electronic transformer should not be placed beyond 10 feet from the lighting system. Please note that the greater the distance from the AC electronic transformer and the lighting system, the greater the chance that it might create radio frequency interference with other electronic components in the area. However, a direct current (DC) electronic transformer may be placed as far as 50 feet from the lighting system. The DC output significantly reduces radio frequency interference and also eliminates the possibility of any voltage drop.

If you prefer a magnetic transformer, then a toroidal magnetic transformer should be considered. This type of magnetic transformer is more efficient, lighter in weight, smaller in size, and noiseless compared with EI magnetic transformer.

A low voltage lighting system can be dimmed. The dimmer should always be installed so that it is controlling the line voltage side of the transformer, the side connected to 120 volts or 277 volts. The dimmer should be specifically designed.

All the electrical connections for a low voltage lighting system must be very tight and secure. If an electrical splice is not very tight and secure, the wires may arc, cause a great deal of heat and cause the entire lighting system to fail.