University of Minnesota: Designing and Installing Outdoor Lighting, How to Design & Install an Exterior Landscape Lighting System. 120V LED Bulbs; Transformers & Accessories. It’s always advisable to check with the lighting manufacturers territory managers and sales teams prior to purchase, to discuss any other factors and considerations to best determine the proper transformer and wire gauge to use for your specific landscape lighting design system. Check other appliances or systems already in use by a circuit before adding your transformer to a particular outlet. 3) What wire gauge size will I be using, 18/2, 16/2, 14/2, 12/2 or 10/2? Low Voltage LED Lighting Transformer Calculator: Enter units of product and conversion is made to show amount of transformer capacity used. Even many lighting manufactures now say that you can “live” with voltage drop. Power efficiency: LED bulbs use a lot less power, meaning you can run many more lights with your existing transformer or get more light from the current number. If you want to connect ten landscape lights to a magnetic transformer, and the lights use 30 watts each, you would need a 375 watt transformer. Choosing a transformer with slightly more wattage will allow you to add a few more lights in the future. The only transformer it has for this particular model (QuickFit – Better Homes & Garden) is rated 35watts. Best Pro Lighting Low Voltage Transformer 300W – A Perfect Fit For Every Outdoor. Fifteen-amp 120-volt circuits can carry 1440 watts. In the world of low voltage landscape lighting, LED lamps have also become prevalent. I installed low voltage LED landscape lighting from Walmart. For example, if you plan to use 20 12-watt lights, multiply 12 times 20 for the total wattage. Depending on the lamp or luminaire, both a DC voltage (DC) or an AC voltage (AC) may be required. Then, attach the wire to the transformer's terminal screws. Transformer. It features an… How to Install Rope Lighting Under Kitchen Cabinets, How to Build a Receding Light in a Ceiling. (10 lights X 30 watts … The number of lights you can connect to it can be calculated by adding up the total watts of all the lights you want to connect to the transformer which should be less than the total wattage of the transformer. Custom 24 volt low voltage lighting electrical transformers,24 volt low voltage lighting electrical transformers Manufacturers. No more voltage drop.” 2) What is the total Watts and Voltage Amp draw of the landscape lights being installed in an area? For Judy Kilpatrick, gardening is the best mental health therapy of all. Low voltage transformers can't dim LEDs. If using the more powerful magnetic landscape lighting transformers, it’s always best to not go over 80% of its maximum wattage rating. Additionally, when considering what wire gauge to use for your landscape lighting design installation, its best to understand that different gauges have their own pros and cons. In this video, the experts at VOLT® demonstrate how to install a transformer for low voltage landscape lighting. Transformer power spec considerations: Calculating Voltage Amps as opposed to Watts, will show you the true power draw on your line, and this is why it is advisable to use this number to ensure you don’t purchase a landscape lighting transformer that isn’t adequate to power your lighting design installation, since it will only cause issues for you down the road eating into your profit and your customers happiness. In addition to 120V LED lights, there are also various LED spots, spotlights and other light sources, which are operated with low-voltage.Usual operating voltages are 12V and 24V.An LED power supply is required to operate the low-voltage lamps on the 120V mains. Since often, they have handled and managed a very similar installation using the design techniques desired in your area, to ensure your new installation stays working great years later, and worry free. In this example, the total wattage is 240. Low voltage LED lights are mostly operated with a voltage of 12V. Many transformers come with connections for lights of different wattage for versatility. Again, if you want to connect twenty landscape lights to a low volt transformer, and the lights are pulling 4W / 7VA / 35 Watts of halogen power draw on the system, you would need a 300 watt transformer. The LED brightness can't be controlled accurately with low voltage transformers. How Do Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting Systems Work? If you have low voltage halogen light bulbs installed with a transformer, the first thing you need to do before replacing Halogen MR16 light bulbs with LED light bulbs is to find the transformer’s maximum load. You should be able to find this on the body of the transformer itself, in the form of a ‘VA’ number. LED power supply dimensioning. Low voltage lighting systems usually use LED bulbs because they are energy efficient and draw a small amount of current. A low-voltage transformer converts the 120v of power into the low-voltage that is needed by each of the fixtures of the landscape lighting. Our low-voltage landscape lighting calculator will allow you to enter this information to determine the maximum distance from the transformer to the lights. The maximum wire run distance from the transformer to the lights will depend on several factors: wire size, wattage of lights, and length of run. When operating low voltage landscape lights, you need a transformer to transform your standard house line voltage 110V or 120V into low voltage 12V or 24V, the current needed to operate low-voltage landscaping lights. Choose a transformer that supplies no less than the required wattage and no more than 33 percent more. Once that has been considered and calculated with the number of lights on the systems run, you can look for a low voltage transformer that has a higher minimum wattage rating. Transformers for your 12v lighting design typically come in sizes of 300, 600, 1000 and 1200 watts. This is to prevent voltage drop. This is because the cheaper design of many magnetic transformers can cause additional power loss. Other low-voltage transformer features include motion detectors for turning lights on and off, photo cells to turn lights on at specific light levels and programmable timers. Note: smaller wire sizes are often more economical and larger wire sizes are stronger, however the smaller ones will also reduce the distance of power being provided to your lights in the ground, and may require conduit to stay safe from dreaded landscaper cuts to your lighting connections. Our LED Drivers are covered by 2-7 year manufacturer limited warranty. There are many myths, misconceptions and falsities out there in the common understanding of voltage drop. Avoid this “voltage drop” by creating a tee (Fig. Landscape lighting adds safety, security and aesthetic appeal. Lighting Tip: You can run 12-gauge about 100 feet without voltage drop issues as long as the total wattage of the fixtures on the wire is 100 Watts or less. For LEDs, even a slight reduction in the voltage leads to a large reduction in light output. (20 lights X 7 VA = 140 voltage Amps, so it’s best to use a 300 Watt) since 150W transformer will not give you enough buffer of the recommended 20-25% below maximum watts rating, for your new landscape lighting system to stay properly lit for many years ahead. Enclosure. So, if you want to connect ten landscape spotlights to a small transformer, and the lights utilize 2W / 4VA / 20 watts halogen equivalent light output power each, you would want a 100-watt transformer. http://LightingDoctor.ca - Learn how to Choose the right size and type of Transformer for your Low Voltage Landscape Lighting System. How Far Apart Should You Space Pendant Lights? The kit includes the lights, cables, and transformer. Critical considerations before starting out: If you connect low voltage lights directly to line voltage power, the higher 120 voltage will cause them to burn out immediately. This consideration as an outdoor lighting installer allows your landscape lights to function properly for many years ahead and will reduce issues with lights failing or ending up with weak outputs further down the line of wire connections around the property landscapes, keeping your clients happy and referring customers for many years ahead. Turtle Friendly 7" Brass Tiki LED PL006 Path Light, consult your experienced lighting design specialist, IES and Garden Light LED Release New eLearning Course. This transformer steps down the voltage provided to it so that the output is the correct low voltage for the lights. Add up the wattage of each light in your landscape lighting design. For the example, 240 x 1.25 = 300. The further you get from the transformer and its power supply, the more resistance occurs in the circuit which causes the voltage to decrease. Landscape Lighting Manufacturer Selected as Finalist for Small Business of the Year Award, How to Photograph Your Architecture and Lighting Designs at Night, The Importance of Proper Heat Sinks and Quality Components in LED Lighting. Attach the wire to each light fixture; many low voltage light fixtures use quick connectors to make this process simple. Before proceeding, visually inspect the transformer for signs of damage or wear. The cable attaches to the transformer and distributes power to the light fixtures connected along the length of the cable. Low Voltage Transformers; Direct Burial Cable; Wire Connectors & Hubs; Mounting Accessories; Extensions & Risers; Landscape Lighting Tools; Transformer Accessories; Glare Guards; Lenses, Filters & Optics; LED Flat Panel Lights 1) How many lights will I be installing? A) and running two short lines rather than one long one. C: Waterproof LED transformer, DC12V, from 2.5AMP(30watt) to 8.3AMP(100watt) Step 3: Select the right AMP A: if you ordered 1 reel SMD3528 with 300 LEDs (24 watt), and need a waterproof power supply, then check the Waterproof LED transformer, and choose 2.5AMP(30watt) They can also use halogen bulbs, but draw more current than LED bulbs. If you don’t have a GFI outlet available, seek a professional electrician to install one for your new low voltage lighting system prior to installation where the transformer is desired to be placed out of sight. This voltage is usually generated by a transformer from the 120V mains supply. Each LED light post requires 1.5watts, which mean, i should install 23 lights before going over the 35 watts transformer. Wholesale 24 volt low voltage lighting electrical transformers and 24 volt transformer from Smarts-electronics.com. The transformer plugs into a grounded outdoor power receptacle and reduces 110 volt current (standard) to a "safe" 12 volts (low voltage). A low voltage lighting systemconsists of a plug-in transformer, low voltage cable and low voltage light fixtures. Transformers generally range from 150- to 900-watt capacity. House current, 120 volts, is reduced by a transformer to 12 to 20 volts, the current needed to operate low-voltage landscaping lights. Before plugging the transformer in, dig a 3-inch (7.5 cm) deep trench along the wire's length and bury it in the ground. Since there are so many factors to consider to create a professional lighting design project, it’s always best to consult your experienced lighting design specialist, as they can advise you on the best type of wire (ie: standard copper, vs anti-corrosive wire) along with the proper transformer and landscape lighting models / finishes to buy for your specific applications. 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. Once your landscape lighting design is complete, you can figure out what size of low-voltage transformer you need. Transformers can burn out, and this will often show as burn marks or deformation on the transformer. The farther a light is from the transformer (and the more lights installed between it and the transformer), the less light it will put out. A graduate of East Carolina University, Kilpatrick writes for national and regional publications. The final number determines how large a transformer you need for your system. Another great option if you’re looking for a low-voltage transformer is this one from LightingWill. Most outdoor lighting systems run off of a low voltage AC transformer, usually 12VAC. In addition, LED lamps will turn on at both higher and lower voltages without having their brightness affected like old school halogen lamps would. (Example of calculations: 10 lights X 4 VA = 40 voltage amps). Hampton Bay Low-Voltage 120-Watt Landscape Transformer This landscape transformer is designed for 12 and 15 voltage led lights. This line voltage transformer is the average voltage of 120V or 220 volts, but the low transformer is that transformer that operates below the line voltage. So, to answer the question about How Many Landscape Lights Can I Connect to which Transformer Wattage, we must first look at some of the basic lighting design specs and considerations. Now, to figure out how many 12V lights you can power outside with a single low voltage transformer, look to the wattage and VA ratings for the fixtures being installed. Low-voltage transformers are mounted outside and plugged into your household current through an outside electrical outlet. In fact, they have allowed us to create larger lighting systems, often, without the need for larger transformers. For normal lights, a transformer can supply a reduced voltage through a variable resistance, delivering less power to a light. The low-voltage may be as low as 12v and it … Replacing Halogen MR16 light bulbs with LED light bulbs. Matching the size of the transformer to the lighting design is important for efficient operation and function of the system. www.smarts-electronics.com When installing LED or any low voltage lighting fixtures a transformer is used to reduce the voltage from 120 volts to 12 volts. Energy efficiency. (20 lights X 7 VA = 140 voltage Amps, so it’s best to use a 300 Watt) since 150W transformer will not give you enough buffer of the recommended 20-25% below maximum watts rating, for your new landscape … LED Driver 300 Watts (100W X3) 25A Waterproof IP67 Power Transformer Adapter 90-265V AC to 12V DC Low Voltage Output, With 3-pin plug 3.3 ft LED Cable for LED Lighting Outdoor Light and Any 12V DC LED Again, if you want to connect twenty landscape lights to a low volt transformer, and the lights are pulling 4W / 7VA / 35 Watts of halogen power draw on the system, you would need a 300 watt transformer. The best way to purchase multiple low voltage lights is by buying a kit. What Size Landscape Lighting Transformer to Use to Power Your Design? If you see the word "enclosed" in any of the product descriptions, this simply means the … Plug the transformer in. These 12VAC transformers are already in place in the majority of houses and businesses as incandescent bulbs could take AC power and it had advantages over … So, if you want to connect eight landscape lights to an electronic transformer, and the lights use 20 watts each, you would need a 160 watt transformer. All low voltage lights usually are highly energy efficient, particularly if they are … House current, 120 volts, is reduced by a transformer to 12 to 20 volts, the current needed to operate low-voltage landscaping lights. In this example of installing your landscape lights with specific wire gauges as another consideration for which transformer wattage to buy, we can benchmark some calculations knowing that typically, a 300-watt transformer can power 100 feet run using 16 gauge, or 150 feet using 14 gauge, or 200 feet when using the most popular 12 gauge cables. Transformers or power-packs are designed to plug into any 120vac house circuit and reduces the output voltage to 12vac which creates a low-voltage system. With the advent of LED lamps with a range of 10 to 15 or 18 and even up to 30 volts, you would think “Oh boy, isn’t this great? Highlighted … Therefore, a low voltage transformer power source must be used, which can then plug into your main power source to properly run your landscape lights each night. This is the reason, specific ring lights and can lights usually require low voltage transformer typically of 12 V. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. 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