A good rule of thumb to prevent voltage drop is no more than 100 Watts on 100 feet of 12/2 cable.<br />
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Accent/Spot Lights - Versatile/adjustable fixtures used for up-lighting, cross lighting, accenting and grazing.<br />
<br /> High Pole Light Group your light fixtures into clusters of 2 to 6; do not form a group whose total wattages exceed 240 Watts. Decorative fixtures will be placed in plain sight; otherwise, conceal the light source when possible. Too little voltage drop burns the lamps too hot and shortens the lamp life.<br />
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Deck/Step/Brick Lights - These wall mount fixtures light pathways, steps, garden walks, deck and pool areas. To achieve continuous loop, simply connect both ends of one wire of the cable to the Positive lead and both ends of the other wire of the cable to the Common lead. If quick connection devices are not available, you can use a common wire nut. One cluster at a time, select a fixture -or a point between two fixtures- that is the most centralized and draw a line from the power supply to this point (your center point). These Quick Connectors are included with most low-voltage outdoor landscape lights. This entails the same preparation as the T-connector method, except you lay the cable from the transformer, along side each light fixture (one cluster per cable), and back to the transformer. Click here to view a sample layout.<br />
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Fixture and Lamp Selection<br />
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The fixtures and lamps are selected after determining which features of your landscaping are to be used. There is an extensive variety of selection in mounting hardware, so check to see which kind is offered with your light fixture. Place a small bead of household silicone seal inside the wire nut to create a water-tight fit. The T-connector allows you to place your cable along the path of the lights, cut the cable at the last light, and then connect the middle of the laid-out cable to a new piece of cable that will run back to the power supply.<br />
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Power Cable<br />
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It is important to note that the cable referred to in this document is two-pronged; i.<br />
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Circuit - a closed, usually circular electrical line that leaves a transformer (positive) and returns to the transformer (common)<br />
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Design Voltage - the amount of voltage a fixture is designed to operate on; the actual voltage that you supply may be more or less depending on the wiring method. One will have a solid color and the other will have writing, a stripe, or a different solid color. They are inexpensive but yield less light than other bulbs. Voltage drop on your system will affect lamp life and the amount of light the lamps will deliver. Be sure to include all landscape features, buildings, individual light fixtures, and power supplies in your drawing. Some also cut off glare and protect the lamp and socket from debris and moisture. Then you will use a similar item known as a Quick Connector to fasten the laid-out cable to each light fixture. Halogen and Quartz lamps are a compact light source which provides a consistently bright light.<br />
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In-ground/Well Lights - Burying these fixtures flush with the ground conceals the light source.
<br><br>. These are available as a reflector (MR) and as a projector (PAR) type for controlling the direction of the light. Sometimes, a lighting designer or a home owner will want to take advantage of voltage drop.<br />
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Lamp - a light bulb.<br />
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Area/Path/Bollard Lights - These low level units are designed to cast illumination in a broader pattern for: flower beds, perimeter plantings, driveways, steps and paths.<br />
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Bullet/Directional Lights - These designs help focus and direct the light beams. Be very careful to not mix these connections! The two internal wires can be distinguished by their markings.<br />
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Mounting Method<br />
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The mounting method is determined by the location of the fixture. From the center point, draw a line to the nearest fixture on the right, Emergency Light Manufacturers and do the same for the nearest fixture to the left.<br>
Fixture - a housing and the electrical components contained in that housing, a luminaire. The "T" stands for the Transformer, and the "35" represents a 35 Watt light fixture.<br />
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Now you must determine the amount of voltage being delivered to each fixture of each cluster. Here is an example of a typical layout. When mounted high up provide focused down-lighting and moonlighting. These fit into smaller and less obtrusive fixtures., there are two independent wires inside. You want a cable wire that will deliver the best voltage to each individual fixture, and the best method for selecting this cable begins with a layout of your project. Though you may start with 12 Volts, there is a phenomenon called voltage drop that will reduce the voltage being delivered to each fixture.<br />
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Another very effective way to eliminate voltage drop is to use continuous loop wiring.<br />
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The cable lengths in your design will determine many further aspects of your lighting system.<br />
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To achieve this wiring method, you will need a common device known as a T-connector. Repeat this process from the two newly connected fixtures until the entire cluster is connected.<br />
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Transformer - an electrical power source; this device is required to operate any low voltage fixture, in this case 12-volts. Too much voltage drop lowers the light output and changes the color of the light. Metal canopies allow you to mount fixtures to a deck or soffit, while plastic stakes are for mounting into the ground.<br />
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Incandescent lamps are the standard type commonly used around the home. Use for up-lighting trees and shrubs, an grazing textured walls.e