Do LED landscape lights need a special transformer? The answer to your question is “Yes”. If you’re looking to install low voltage 12-volt landscape lighting. In our many years of experience, we have seen many 120 volt lighting systems. Many of these systems are outdated and dangerous. Let me clarify. Nearly every system that we’ve looked at had water in the electrical boxes holding the fixture. These older systems can be controlled using a yellow dial timer located in your garage or basement. These systems cannot be adjusted as the wires are held in rigid pipes below ground. This makes it difficult to move the fixtures.
Landscape Lighting and Transformers
The power entering a transformer is usually reduced to 120-volt. It can then be set to a lower voltage (usually 12 volt). It is safer to use in your yard for landscape lighting. A 12-volt landscape lighting system allows for more flexibility in moving fixtures and adding new ones. It is also easier to install and cause minimal damage to your yard, burying wires and setting fixtures.
There are many sizes of transformers depending on the wattage they can handle. You should never use more than 80 watts of the transformer if the transformer can handle 100 Watts. How can you determine how many watts your transformer is able to handle?
First, you need to determine how many watts each fixture uses (they could all be different), and then add the total number of Watts. Keep in mind the 80/20 rule and be prepared for future requirements. There are many other factors you should consider once you know the size of the transformer that you require. Multi-tap transformers make up the majority of commercial-grade transformers.
Multi-tap transformers will have voltage taps ranging from 12-volt to 15 volt, with some even going up to 20 volt. The 12-volt tap will be sufficient to connect lights to transformers that you find in big box stores. If you have long runs of wire, the higher voltage connections will be useful to ensure you have 12 volts at the light fixture. You don’t want to make your yard look like an 80s disco. LEDs won’t like to be below 12 volts. This article was written by a lighting specialist at LD lighting. https://www.ldlightings.com/ was Established in 2017 and is located in Central Florida, LD Lighting offers services in screen enclosure lighting, pool lighting, outdoor entertainment, and landscape lighting systems. We promise to give you the best quality of work and bring your ideas to life.
