low voltage landscape wire

[ddubbs103]

what is the required depth for lv landscape lighting. For instance up along the side of a drive way at a single fam, just curious, sounds like a bit much to do 12-18 inches etc. Any special requirements for lv landscape lighting, any feedback or code articles would be appreciated, cant seem to find much on it?. thanks and happy holidays be safe.

 

[220/221]

No requirements.

 

[ddubbs103]

so you can basically burie cable with just little dirt and mulch with no requirements on burial depth, any specific article for that ?

 

[220/221]

It's 12V, it can't hurt anyone.

It will make smoke though :smile:

 

[wireguru]

and if you go a couple hundred feet with #12, your lights wont be very bright.


I guess i could add that one to my thread of things that are wrong with our own houses.

 

[frenchelectrican]

The low voltage system for the cable buried in the ground really there is noting must buried at proper depth

However keep in your mind the voltage drop is very senstive on 12 v system.

Merci,Marc

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Merry Xmas!!!

Are you guys giddy from the holidays? :grin:

Check out Table 300.5, column 5

 

[infinity]

Merry Xmas!!!

Are you guys giddy from the holidays? :grin:

Check out Table 300.5, column 5

What does "circuits for control of landscape lighting" mean?

 

[satcom]

Merry Xmas!!!

Are you guys giddy from the holidays? :grin:

Check out Table 300.5, column 5

As a kid I can remember Grand dad, buried the landscape circuits at least 6 inches, just the way they worked back then, craftsman. We get calls for troubleshoot on landscape lighting jobs, many times the problem is damaged from no covering, or conductors are not sized for the load.

 

[steelersman]

Merry Xmas!!!

Are you guys giddy from the holidays? :grin:

Check out Table 300.5, column 5

yeah this doesn't apply for the simple 12 volt landscape lighting cord for homes. You will never see an inspector give a care about draping this stuff right on top of the ground or across the driveway for that matter.

 

[satcom]

yeah this doesn't apply for the simple 12 volt landscape lighting cord for homes. You will never see an inspector give a care about draping this stuff right on top of the ground or across the driveway for that matter.

Try comming here in Jersey and see what happens! That does not apply to the DIY or Hacks that do work without permits.

 

[steelersman]

Try comming here in Jersey and see what happens! That does not apply to the DIY or Hacks that do work without permits.

So you would get a permit for some landscape lights?

Phone lines are more dangerous IMO as they have far more voltage than LV landscape lights, but phone lines don't get inspected in residential. At least not around here.

Guess i'm a hack for not getting that much needed permit for all the landscape lights I've done. My local govmnt. gets enough revenue from all the taxes they charge. I don't need to feed them any more in unnecesarry permit fees.

 

[iwire]

yeah this doesn't apply for the simple 12 volt landscape lighting cord for homes. You will never see an inspector give a care about draping this stuff right on top of the ground or across the driveway for that matter.

Never say never.

What’s Involved in Outdoor Lighting?

For outdoor use, 12 volt, 24 volt, 48 volt and 120
volt lighting are appropriate. A transformer is
necessary in order to convert 120 volt to low
voltage, such as 12 volt. Any wiring used for 120
volt lighting has to be buried in ground and secured
in a protective conduit. Twelve volt to 120 volt
lamps, wiring, junction boxes and con-nectors have
to be completely waterproof to avoid electrical
shock where water is present. These low voltage
and 120 volt systems must be installed by a
licensed electrical contractor and local permits
must be taken out before installation.
Under Connecticut law, the only lighting that can
be installed without a license are:

• pre-wired and pre-fabricated factory enclosed
transformers without any terminations or splices,
that can be plugged into an outdoor electrical
outlet previously installed by a licensed
electrician; AND

• individual solar-powered lamps.

From here

http://www.ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/2008_lighting__fact_sheet.pdf

 

[steelersman]

Never say never.



From here

http://www.ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/2008_lighting__fact_sheet.pdf

Well thank god i'll never be in Connecticut then!

 

[satcom]

So you would get a permit for some landscape lights?

Phone lines are more dangerous IMO as they have far more voltage than LV landscape lights, but phone lines don't get inspected in residential. At least not around here.

Here permits are required for low voltage work. I can't remember ever doing any landscape lighting without a permit.

 

[steelersman]

Here permits are required for low voltage work. I can't remember ever doing any landscape lighting without a permit.

this is just funny to me. Can we do anything anymore without Big Brother holding our hands?

 

[iwire]

Well thank god i'll never be in Connecticut then!

Think about it, in CT licensed electricians can get paid for installing LV lighting. Is that really a bad thing?

 

[iwire]

this is just funny to me. Can we do anything anymore without Big Brother holding our hands?

No we can't, welcome to 2008.

 

[steelersman]

Think about it, in CT licensed electricians can get paid for installing LV lighting. Is that really a bad thing?

So I now am wondering if they require companies that install Christmas lights to get permits as these are 120 volts (at least the regular ones are). I know they are temporary but.....

 

[don_resqcapt19]

... Phone lines are more dangerous IMO as they have far more voltage than LV landscape lights, but phone lines don't get inspected in residential. At least not around here. ...

While there is more voltage and a potential shock hazard with the phone wires when it is ringing, they do not have enough energy to be a fire hazard. Low voltage lighting has enough current to make enough heat to start fires.