Choose Your Low Voltage Lighting Products
You've thought about your low voltage lighting and now need to choose what you need.
Just work through our simple three stage 'lighting plan' described below.
IMPORTANT: Decide where you want to place your light fittings (spotlights etc.). It helps you choose in Stage 3 what cables will be needed to run from your mains 230v electricity supply.
ALSO IMPORTANT: Our simple 3 stage lighting plan fits each outdoor and garden lighting system that we sell and work with.
NB: All light fittings have a 'lead cable' attached and that cable connects to the main connector cable. This allows some flexibility in the final positioning.
We'd be pleased to help if you are unsure. Draw a rough sketch of the garden or outdoor area and either scan it or take a photograph from a smartphone then email it to us at info@12vgardenlights.com. We'll gladly help design or check your cabling runs. Or have a look at our 'Example Plan for Garden Lighting Design' page.
We can also advise on where to run the cables, will your cables be appropriate and is there a better or cheaper alternative.
TIP: USE OUR CART TO HELP KEEP A LIST. While you browse feel free to add the products to our Cart. The Cart will keep your list as well as building up the overall cost. If you change your mind then it's easy to swap the items and 'Update' the cart prices. We'll keep no details about you if you choose to use our Cart.
If however you want to keep your items in the Cart while you have a think for a few days, then it's best to Create An Account . This keeps your Cart items so that you can come back a few days later to have another look before deciding to buy. It's a very quick process and just use a simple password such as 'guest' if you can't be bothered to think of another one!
TIP: USE OUR CART TO HELP KEEP A LIST. While you browse feel free to add the products to our Cart. The Cart will keep your list as well as building up the overall cost. If you change your mind then it's easy to swap the items and 'Update' the cart prices. We'll keep no details about you if you choose to use our Cart.___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stage 1 - Choose Your Light Fittings (e.g.spotlights, post lights, wall lights)
Firstly, decide what light fittings you want (Stage 1). See our spotlights, post lights, decking lights etc in our All Products section
Once you have decided on the fittings you like, make a note of the electricity each LED light bulb fitting uses. It's shown as 'watts' in the product description.
Then add up the total units of electricity (in watts) that all the light fitting bulbs will use. Don't worry about remote controllers and cables at this stage.
Once you have the total 'watts' go to Stage 2 - Choose The Transformer.
Stage 2 - Choose Your Transformer
Now that you know what electricity ALL your light fitting bulbs will use then you can choose the transformer you need (Stage 2).
The transformer must be bigger than the total of all the watts.
We like to give a little leeway here. So as an example, using the In-lite Low Voltage Lighting System, if the total number of watts you will use adds up to 50W then we wouldn't choose a 50W transformer but a transformer with a greater maximum output such as the 100W transformer. The reason is to allow the transformer to work at slightly less than its maximum capacity.
If your total wattage is more than 100 watts (or very close), then see if you can split your cables (circuits) into more than one run and then add another transformer. Another option is to consider installing the Smart Hub 150 which features three separately controlled cable entries to create three separately controlled cable runs also referred to as lighting zones.
Stage 3 - Choose Your Cables
Then decide on the cables and any connectors you need (3).
Bear in mind most light fittings have a 'lead cable' so your cabling run doesn't have to be measured to the millimetre! You can move the fittings around even when they have been cabled-up so you are definitely not fixing your plan 'in concrete'!
Make sure you have thought about the light fitting spacing, where the cables will run (e.g. around bends and corners or down walls). That will give an overall picture for the types of cables needed and their length.
Remember your cable layout can use 'cable dividers' (connectors that take one cable and 'divide' the electricity supply into separate cable runs).
If you use the most powerful transformer together with the thicker cabling then you should be able to have a cable run of about 80 metres. If in doubt then split the circuit and add another separate cable.
If you want to extend the run but do not require connection points for light fittings then an extension cable can be used.
If in any doubt, drop us an email with a note. If you can draw a rough sketch of the garden or outdoor area and either scan it or take a photograph from a smartphone then email it to us at info@12vgardenlights.com.
We'll gladly help design or check your cabling runs.