low voltage lighting

Outdoor landscape designers often create their plans based on artistic effects and soft illumination with a few lights included for safety and security. Lighting that is installed for safety and security should be traditional 120-volt lights that provide ample lighting seeing and maneuvering in the dark. However, choosing outdoor low voltage lighting is the best route when it is being used to enhance features of the landscape that would otherwise be hidden in the darkness.Low voltage outdoor lighting systems use a transformer to drop the power delivered to the lights from 120 volts to a mere 12 volts. This drastic reduction in power makes the low voltage lighting system much safer for use outdoors. This reduces the risk of electrocution to animals who might chew into wires or children who may accidentally uncover them while playing.Once the low voltage lighting system is chosen, the method for installing the lights has to be chosen. Typically, low voltage lights are either straight line or loop installation. A straight-line installation is one in which all of the lights are attached to the main wire one by one. The wire supplies the power to all of the lights; however, the lights toward the end of the line typically suffer power drop. This means they don't receive as much power as those at the front of the line. Power drop can be minimized by using heavier gauge wirer and creating shorter runs or skipping the straight-line installation and using a loop installation.A loop installation is different in that the first light from the terminal connects to one light then each light after that connects to the one before. At the end of the run, the final light connects back to the terminal to complete the loop. Loop installations do not suffer from power drops. Regardless of which type of installation is used, if the lights are placed closer together their will be less power loss. Adding additional transformers for long runs will also help to reduce power loss.Choosing outdoor low voltage lighting helps reduce the risk of electrocution to children and animals. It reduces power bills and conserves energy while at the same time providing a beautiful way to light up the garden and create a place of rest and relaxation.