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Things to be familiar with low voltage lighting systems

1) Low Voltage: Low Voltage lighting system often uses 12 or 24 volts lamps.

2) Transformer: Low voltage lighting system use transformer to transform the standard voltage120 or 277 volts to either 12 or 24 volts

3) Type of Transformer: It use Electronic or magnetic type of transformers.

4) Maximum Transformer Wattage: The wattage rating of the transformer must be equal to or greater than the total wattage of the Low Voltage lighting system. When an electronic transformer is utilized, the maximum wattage of the Low Voltage lighting system can be equal to the wattage rating of the electronic transformer but should not be greater than it. In case of magnetic transformer, the maximum wattage of the Low Voltage lighting system can be equal to the wattage rating of the toroidal magnetic transformer but not greater than it. When a conventional EI magnetic transformer is utilized, the maximum wattage of the Low Voltage lighting system can be equal to the wattage rating of the conventional EI magnetic transformer but not greater than 80% of it.

5) Minimum Transformer Wattage: Transformers generally contains a minimum wattage of power that they need before they work. For instance, 60-watt electronic transformer require 10 watts of lighting load and the lighting system will not work if there is only 5 watts of lighting load allied to this 60W electronic transformer.

6) Electronic Transformers: They are quieter than magnetic transformer and are lighter in weight. The size of Electronic Transformers is smaller and is cooler to operate. Power provided by electronic transformers can’t be more than 300 watts whereas power of some magnetic transformers can be as much as 1200 watts.

7) Voltmeter Readings: To gauge the output voltage of an electronic transformer, we cannot use a standard voltmeter as electronic transformer gives power at very high frequencies which is actually greater than 20,000 Hertz’s. To measure the secondary voltage of it, a true RMS voltmeter has to be used.

8) Alternating Current (AC) Electronic Transformer: It must not be placed beyond 10 feet from the Low voltage lighting system. If AC Electronic Transformer is placed beyond10 feet from the lighting system then part or all of the lighting system will experience a lower voltage (known as voltage drop) and have dimmer lamps. Moreover, the distance between AC electronic transformer and the lighting system is longer, there is a chance that it might create radio frequency interference (RFI) with other electronic components in the area.

9) Direct Current (DC) Electronic Transformer: It can be placed in so far as 50 feet from the Low voltage lighting system. The DC output helps in reducing radio frequency interference (RFI) and removes the possibility of any voltage drop (the drop in voltage over a long circuit).

10) Toroidal Magnetic Transformer: This transformer must be considered if a magnetic transformer is utilized to power a lighting system. It is efficient and compare to conventional EI magnetic transformer it is much quieter. The weight of this transformer is very light. Its size is smaller and is cooler to operate.

11) Wiring a Dimmer: If lighting system is powered by a magnetic transformer or an electronic transformer it is capable of being dimmed. The dimmer must be installed when it is used with lighting system as it controls the line voltage side of the magnetic or electronic transformer which is know as the primary side or the side connected to 120 volts or 277 volts.

12) Type of Dimmer: If a dimmer is selected to control an electronic transformer, then dimmer should be designed in such a way that it manages that type of transformer and if a dimmer is selected to control magnetic transformer it should be designed to manage that type of transformer.

13) Electrical Connections: They should be extremely tight and secure for lighting system. If the connections are not tight and secure, the wires might arc and this may cause fire hazard.

14) 24-Volt Lamps: 24 volts lamps must use a 24-volt transformer and ensure it before using. In case you don’t ensure and use 12-volt lamps with a 24-volt transformer, then this might turn into a fire hazard.

15) Thicker Wires: Thicker wires conduct more electricity so they are needed by Low voltage lighting systems. For instance, transformer may be powered by 120 volts and 2.5 amps of electricity on the line voltage side of the transformer instead of 300-watt lighting system operating at 12 volts uses 25 amps of electricity on the low-voltage side of the transformer.