Low voltage lights, need transformer

[Richard]

I have (forget) something like 12, (12 watt I think) low voltage lights. I have two transformers since we bought 2 packages.

I want to get a SINGLE transformer, as I think one of these has finally bitten the dust. Even if not, I want to thin one out.

I'm trying to find a GOOD brand on internet and don't really know one from another.

Any thoughts on a WELL MADE transformer for this purpose? I prefer US made if there's a choice.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[_RaT_]

If you want one for outdoors, there are stainless encased ones. The important thing is to size it correctly. Whether its Franklin, ACME etc, they all basically will have a wattage output that they can handle. We typically load it to about 80% of that rating. To find out your load, take each light bulb and find out what its wattage is. If its not written on it, thats a problem. If its just a little incandescent style bulb with bayonet type mount, its probably no more then 15 watts, if its a MR16, its probably no more then 50 watts. Total number of bulbs times the wattage will give you the total wattage.

 

[BB_TX]

I had the original transformer on mine fail after about 10 yrs. I just went to HD and bought a replacement. That was about 5 yrs ago and it still works fine.

 

[Richard]

seems the bulbs we have are 12 watts. 12x12=144 watts.

I think I'm going to get a 2 or 3 times rated transformer so I can possibly add lights in future or increase wattage.

Unfortunately, when we were building, the wife insisted that I NOT put these on the house current like the other two are. I told her I thought it would be better if we did but I listened to her anyway.

Seems the ONLY ones we're having troubles with are the low voltage lights /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. We've not had a PEEP of issues out of the other two rows of lights that are 120 volts (insert smug face)

It was recommended to me that I get a 300 watt transformer. I might bump that up to 600 for peace of mind and expandability.

 

[avorancher]

Richard, I'm using a 600 watt that is separated into two 300 watt circuits. Low voltage wiring loses quite a bit of power if a single run is too long. The dual circuits are nice and each can have its own timer if needed.

 

[_RaT_]

It is better to have the transformer closer to the lights. If adding more lights later also means long wire runs, your better to try and locate the transformer closer. 600 watt transformers are fine but you do pay quite a bit more and if you don't even get close to the 300 watt rating, there is no advantage in a 600 over a 300 watt. The voltage drop on low voltage lighting is high. I rarely run #12 wire and pretty much start off with #10 or larger but in your case with the low wattage bulbs, your probably fine with the #14 or #12 zip cord type stuff I suspect you have. Most of the lighting I have done is with MR 16's in the 35 or 50 watt range.

 

[BB_TX]

My transformer is located on the front porch. The wire coming out of the transformer is spliced in near the center of the long wire that connects all my lights. That way the maximum length of wire from the transformer is cut in half and reduces the voltage drop significantly.

 

[RobertN]

There's a couple ways to do this. First, as _RAT_ says, big wire. The losses across distance are are considerable for 12v lighting. The other is higher voltage. You want 12v at your lights. If you only have a 12v transformer, and then add a run of wire, you've already lost your 12v's at the lights...

I like keeping the transformer close to the lights to minimize the run, and use multi-tap transformers. The ones we use go from 12v to 18v taps, so you can get voltage out over longer runs...

Check out:

BK lighting
Unique

There are others, like Hadco, FII-Focus, SPJ Lighting...

Most have good tutorials on thier sites too. Good stuff to read over before you go buy something.