Electrical lighting question

drkelly

drkelly

Dipstick who put two vehicles on jack stands
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Oak Ridge/Stokesdale, NC
I know very little about house electrical stuff. I would like to power four lights like the one posted below using 12V landscape power supply. Am I thinking correctly that I can just run the 12v landscape wiring up to the lights and install 12v candelabra bulbs in place of the normal 120v ones?

1647523857135.png
 
65B7FE1E-E7B3-4930-9E52-A08D8C64DF64.gif

The internal wiring is just delivering electricity from connection point to the socket. No reason the fixture would be voltage specific unless you were getting to connect to a higher than rated power source. But I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
 
skyhighZJ said:
The internal wiring is just delivering electricity from connection point to the socket. No reason the fixture would be voltage specific unless you were getting to connect to a higher than rated power source. But I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
Click to expand...
That is what I am thinking. I've just never heard of anyone doing it.
 
Futbalfantic said:
Problem with 12v is voltage drop. Depends on distance and number of lights.
Click to expand...
I was worried about then when I installed landscape lighting down my driveway, but it wasn't a problem. I've probably got 300-400 ft of wire ran out and about a dozen lights connected to it. They are all LED, and work fine.
 
drkelly said:
I was worried about then when I installed landscape lighting down my driveway, but it wasn't a problem. I've probably got 300-400 ft of wire ran out and about a dozen lights connected to it. They are all LED, and work fine.
Click to expand...
Got any pictures? Want to do the same but was worried about that.
 
Here are a few pictures. I took a couple the bottom two with 'nightsight' to see if they would come out better. I just used my phone.

PXL_20210829_004759642.MP.jpg


PXL_20210829_004742558.NIGHT.jpg


PXL_20210829_004904496.NIGHT.jpg
 
I think this is the transformer that I bought:

www.homedepot.com

Hampton Bay Low-Voltage 300-Watt Landscape Transformer DIY-300PS - The Home Depot

The landscape transformers are Hampton Bay's lowest profile slim line power units which can be easily concealed after installation. These units are based on a potted toroidal core design that eliminates
www.homedepot.com

I have another transformer for the lights around the perimeter of the house. That one above is bigger because I plan on adding more lights out in the front.
 
I've got a guy here now building some stone walls and columns half way down my driveway, and I want to put some lights on top of the columns. Since I already have landscape lighting running along the driveway, it sure would be cheaper and easier if I could just tap into it instead of paying the man to run power for the four lights.
 
Just looked at the lights and voltage calculators. 9w lights at 12v draws 0.75A. At 300ft with 4 lights connected the voltage drop is around 3.5V or 30%. Seems like they should be much dimmer from the first to the last.
 
Futbalfantic said:
Just looked at the lights and voltage calculators. 9w lights at 12v draws 0.75A. At 300ft with 4 lights connected the voltage drop is around 3.5V or 30%. Seems like they should be much dimmer from the first to the last.
Click to expand...
Unless they really only require 8 volts to oscillate and anything over that is just gravy.
 
I can't tell a difference between the furthest one and the closest one.
 
NOTE: Most LED landscape lighting fixtures can operate with full illumination from 9V down to as little as 6V. It is possible to have extended length runs with LED fixtures that go beyond the specifications shown in the guidelines above.

on the product page
 
drkelly said:
I've got a guy here now building some stone walls and columns half way down my driveway, and I want to put some lights on top of the columns. Since I already have landscape lighting running along the driveway, it sure would be cheaper and easier if I could just tap into it instead of paying the man to run power for the four lights.
Click to expand...
While he is building, have him put pipe in the column, and anywhere else you might want wiring in the future.
 
Futbalfantic said:
NOTE: Most LED landscape lighting fixtures can operate with full illumination from 9V down to as little as 6V. It is possible to have extended length runs with LED fixtures that go beyond the specifications shown in the guidelines above.

on the product page
Click to expand...
I didn't read that far, but that is good to know. I took a gamble. I am currently having another meter and electrical service installed at the road (house is 500ft from the road) for some lights on some entrance columns, so I figured worst case I would install another 12v power transformer up there and run a line half way back down the driveway towards the house. I didn't even realize until now that the transformer I have is 15v.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
While he is building, have him put pipe in the column, and anywhere else you might want wiring in the future.
Click to expand...
Yup, already done. Used 3/4" PVC electrical conduit.
 
drkelly said:
I didn't read that far, but that is good to know. I took a gamble. I am currently having another meter and electrical service installed at the road (house is 500ft from the road) for some lights on some entrance columns, so I figured worst case I would install another 12v power transformer up there and run a line half way back down the driveway towards the house. I didn't even realize until now that the transformer I have is 15v.
Click to expand...
Damn big money! 😳

I'm too cheap to pay that $20/mo service minimum. I'd have rigged up a ganky solar setup and a deep cycle battery 😅
 
awheelterd said:
Damn big money! 😳

I'm too cheap to pay that $20/mo service minimum. I'd have rigged up a ganky solar setup and a deep cycle battery 😅
Click to expand...
I looked into it when our house was being built and discovered that extra monthly fee. I wasn't willing to sign up for that for eternity back then. I changed mind recently when I decided that I really want some lights up at the road and some outlets to plug in Christmas lights etc.
 
drkelly said:
I looked into it when our house was being built and discovered that extra monthly fee. I wasn't willing to sign up for that for eternity back then. I changed mind recently when I decided that I really want some lights up at the road and some outlets to plug in Christmas lights etc.
Click to expand...
I have a long driveway and really wanted some Christmas lights at the end too. I took a gamble and bought some cheap Chinese solar led lights off Amazon though. I have to admit, I have been very impressed with them. The solar panel is maybe 3"x3" and it looks like it only has 1 AA battery in it. As long as it doesn't stay real dark with a lot of rain all day, it charges up well enough to run 6hrs. I debated throwing some burial rated Romex in the trench when the guy ran my internet but with 600' of driveway the voltage loss would be aweful.
 
Back
Top