Low Voltage Cable Lighting

Low voltage cable lighting systems are energy efficient and can be used in just about any situation you can imagine, both indoor and outdoor. They are available in styles designed for use as security lights, landscaping, pathway lights, step highlights, or draw attention to a special feature in the home or garden. There are literally endless applications for low voltage lighting that can enhance the beauty and safety of your home while limiting the energy consumed.

 

Low voltage systems first appeared in the 1950’s for use as landscape lighting. Over the last few years the low voltage concept has expanded offering a greater variety of design features and uses throughout the home and garden. A low voltage lighting system consists of a transformer that plugs into your regular 120 volt home outlet, a cable and the fixtures. You can purchase a kit with everything you need or you can get the parts to design your own system.

 

 

A basic low voltage system consists of the following:

• A power pack (or transformer) supplies the electricity. The power pack plugs into a standard outlet and reduces the regular household current (120 volts) to a safe 12 volts. Power packs have an automatic timer allowing lights to go on and off at preset times.
• A low voltage lamp is the source of light. Lamps are available in a variety of brightness levels ranging from 4 watts up to 50 watts halogen.
• The low voltage cable transmits the electricity. Low voltage cable is a weather-resistant, self-sealing, insulated stranded copper wire that is available in 12-, 14- and 16-gauge sizes. The gauge required for your lighting is determined by the amount of watts required to operate your system:
  • 16-gauge cable can carry 150 watts
  • 14-gauge cable can carry 200 watts
  • 12-gauge cable can carry 300 watts

Use the following chart to determine the correct size cable needed based on the length of your runs.

Total Wattage of Power Pack	150 watts 16-gauge cable	200 watts 14-gauge cable	300 watts 12-gauge cable
88 watts	100 ft.	125 ft.	150 ft.
200 watts	100 ft.	125 ft.	150 ft.
600 watts	100 ft. x 2	150 ft. x 2	200 ft. x 2

The maximum number of garden lights that can be connected is determined by the total wattage of all the fixtures attached to the system. The transformer is 100-watt. Therefore, the total wattage must not exceed 100 watts. For example: 10 garden lights with 10-watt bulbs=100 watt A standard, multifunctional 100-watt transformer has a dusk to dawn manual on/off switch as well as an auto on with a 4, 6 or 8 hour timer.

 

Advantages to a low voltage system: They conserve electricity making them inexpensive to operate and are very easy to install. You do not need to be an electrician. For hassle free use you can install a timer or a photo cell to turn the lights on and off automatically. A photo cell operates on the lunar cycle turning on at dusk and off at dawn.

 

The drawbacks: Each transformer and cable can only handle a limited number of lights. If you want more lights you need to purchase additional transformers and the proper cable for the number of lamps to be used. The biggest disadvantage with the outdoor cable is that the cable needs to be buried. However, using a photo cell, as in solar lights, will eliminate this problem. Rainy or cloudy days are a disadvantage with the photo cell. As long as you have sunny days you can place a solar lamp where ever you need it. Point the photo cell at the sun and enjoy.

 

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Low Voltage Landscape Lighting | Home and Gardening

As low voltage landscape lighting technology has evolved over the years, it has come to enjoy a position of prominence in many aspects of outdoor lighting