Archive for October, 2011
The Outdoor Lighting Expert on ‘Choosing the right size Transformer’
By Maria Bargellini
Transformers are used when installing low voltage lighting. Its function is to step down your line voltage, which is approx. 120 volts, and reduce it to 12 volts to operate your landscape lights. Transformers are typically the most expensive part of your landscape lighting project and often the least thought about. Properly sizing your transformer is the first step in your installation. Not sure what that means? No worries. This post will help you choose the right transformer for your outdoor lighting needs.
First Step (Math)
Adding up the total wattage: If you are using (5) – 50 watt up lights, (6) 20 watt path lights and (2) 35 watt well lights your wattage total will be 440 watts. Note: Just because a fixture comes with and is rated for 50 watts doesn’t mean that you have to use a 50 watt bulb in there. 20 and 30 watt bulbs are often used in place of 50 watt bulbs. You can adjust your total wattage according to what you plan to actually use. If you plan to add more fixtures in the future add that wattage as well. It is less expensive to oversize your transformer in the beginning than to buy a larger one or an additional one later.
Second Step (More Math)
Transformers are sold by wattages. The most commonly found sizes are 300w-600w-900w-1200watts. Here’s where it gets tricky, you can only use 80% of the wattage that a transformer is rated for. So that 300 watt transformer can only hold 240 watts from your fixtures. For the project listed previously you will need a 600 watt transformer to run the 440 watts with only 40 watts available for additional fixtures. Confused yet?
- A 300 watt transformer can be used for 240 watts of fixtures.
- A 600 watt transformer can be used for 480 watts of fixtures.
- A 900 watt transformer can be used for 720 watts of fixtures.
- A 1200 watt transformer can be used for 960 watts of fixtures.
If you are planning to install landscape lighting in the front and back, unless you plan to have them turn on and off at the same time you will need 2 separate transformers, as you cannot run 2 different timers off of 1 transformer. If you do want them to be controlled by 1 timer then go ahead and add all the wattage together and make sure you are within 80% of the transformers capacity.
For pictures and more information clink on these links: Alliance Fixtures Kichler Fixtures
Related articles: Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Whats up with up lights Landscape lighting design DIY landscape lighting Area Lights / Path Lights
DIY Landscape Lighting
By Maria Bargellini
If you want to highlight your home with outdoor lighting but you don’t have it in your budget to hire a professional – don’t worry. We can help you. This post along with many others on this site will help you figure out what to do, what to use, and most importantly – what not to do. This post will help you get started.
What to light: Invest in a few new flashlights to use to figure out what areas you want to light and how it all looks together. You can always use more flash lights so it’s a good investment. Place the flashlights in the areas you are thinking of lighting. You may need a rock to prop it in place.
What to look for: Once the lights are set go into your home and make sure there isn’t any glare or lighting entering the house in an uncomfortable way. Once your happy take a walk around your landscape lighting display and make sure you’re not getting blasted in the face with light. Don’t forget your neighbors and cars. Look at your outdoor lighting from different vantage points.
What you’ll need
- 20 amp outlet
- Outdoor Transformer
- Digital timer
- Fixtures
- Direct burial cable (properly sized for your project)
- Direct burial wire nuts (connectors)
- Shovel
- Hand tools (pliers, screw driver, electrical tester, etc.)
- Power tools (drill and anchors to mount the transformer)
If you are buying a kit follow its instructions. I personally do not like the kits because landscape design isn’t a one size fits all project. There are 2 ways to wire your fixtures, daisy chaining and the hub method. We generally use the hub method although in certain cases where we are using LED landscape lighting fixtures, daisy chaining is OK. Consult a professional whenever you can. You should be able to talk to a professional when purchasing fixtures or the electrical components. Browse our other articles for more information on installation and maintenance. If you do not see what you need drop us a line and we’ll make sure to post the information you requested.
For pictures and more information clink on these links: Alliance Fixtures Kichler Fixtures
Related articles: Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Whats up with up lights Landscape lighting design Choosing the right size Transformer Area Lights / Path Lights