This FAQ and Answers guide will help you learn about low voltage, 120V LED outdoor lighting. The installation of residential landscape lighting is often done by licensed professionals. Below are some questions:
To answer any questions you might have about lighting, please read our most frequently asked questions before you call a professional. We are happy to help you choose the right light fixtures for your project.
The lighting system you choose will affect your energy consumption. You will see a small increase in your electricity bill if you only have a few low-voltage fixtures that use LED lamps and a low-wattage transformer.
You can reduce electricity consumption by using LED lamps for outdoor lighting. Although the initial cost of LED lamps may seem higher than cheaper lighting, they will last for years and be affordable.
The lighting system layout is a key factor in light position changes. Position changes depend on how the lighting system is installed. It should not be difficult to make changes to your lighting system if it was correctly installed.
In many ways, the hub wiring system can be of great assistance. You can overcome common problems associated with large lighting systems by connecting your fixtures to a hub, then to the transformer. (5) fixtures can be wired to a hub. This will reduce the number of connections and ultimately save labor time. The hub will provide equal power to all fixtures, reducing voltage drop. Equal power means that each fixture will be illuminated at the same level without any interference from the transformer. You can also add or move fixtures to the hub as your landscape changes. The hub also protects your connections against the elements, minimizing wicking or corrosion.
Maintenance is necessary for any garden structure. Common maintenance tasks include clearing out yard debris, replacing bulbs when necessary, fixing or replacing wires if they are damaged, and/or adding fixtures (which may require the assistance of a landscape contractor).
Low voltage lighting systems use a transformer to “transform” the higher voltage line voltage to 12 V. The light bulbs would explode if they were not protected from excessive voltage. We do not recommend that the transformer’s wattage rating exceeds 80%. This is an example:
Lighting should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and NEC regulations. Installing these systems in some states requires a licensed electrician or an electrical contractor. Before you do anything, make sure to check the state requirements. If you don’t have to be certified in your area, make sure you use an accurate RMS voltmeter and one that has fresh batteries.
LED stands for the light-emitting diode. This is a semiconductor device that emits visible light from an electric current. Because they don’t have a filament that gets hot or burns out, they are not like incandescent lamps. Individual LEDs are bundled together and then arranged on a circuit board. They are more expensive because they have a stricter tolerance for binning. LEDs are made as flat sheets, also known as a wafer.
The lens retainer clip keeps the lens in place.
A riser can be made from weathered copper or brass and increases the height of a fixture.
The job you are doing will determine the number of lights that you need. You will need more lights if you have a large yard and a specific lighting plan. A few fixtures can be sufficient to illuminate a small area.
Outdoor lighting fixtures can be used in any weather conditions and in all seasons. You will not have any problems with weather adversely impacting your lighting fixtures if they are installed correctly and maintained properly.
We don’t sell different colored bulbs but we do offer colored lenses that will alter the color of the light.
The type of fixture you choose will determine the bulb type. You can find the type of bulb that you require on the product listing page. These bulbs are often called lamps and given ‘names’ like MR16 or Par36 or T3. You can also vary the wattage of your lamp. It will be listed in the product listing along with whether it’s LED or incandescent.
Accessories such as a photocell and/or timer can be purchased to turn on your lights automatically when it gets dark or at a specific time. You can also have an electrician install an on/off button if you prefer to do it manually.
You can attach a photocell or other device to your transformer so that the lights turn on automatically at sunset and then go off at dawn. You can also use a timer to set the lights to turn on at specific times. Photocells make use of the ambient light to turn the system on when it sets. These accessories both use a switching mechanism that blocks and provides power to the transformer.
It is possible that the bulb (also known as the lamp) is the problem. You can replace the lamp only if you choose the correct type and wattage.
It may not be a lamp problem, but a problem with the wire connecting it to a transformer or hub. It is possible that the transformer’s fuse must be replaced. If the transformer was installed by an electrician, then the task of diagnosing the problem and fixing the problem should be easy.
