low voltage landscape wire

[tkb]

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

How about in MA?
I see landscape contractors advertising landscape and holiday lighting.

 

[220/221]

Yes LV can be a fire hazard.

Like I said, I've seen 12V smoke too. Once in the landscape where there was nothing to burn and once in a jewelery store where the red wirenuts melted on the 12V lighting connections.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Ryan Jackson posted pictures of a 12v lighting system that created a fire. It was a while ago, but proves a point. "low voltage" does not equate to "no fires".

 

[peter d]

Ryan Jackson posted pictures of a 12v lighting system that created a fire. It was a while ago, but proves a point. "low voltage" does not equate to "no fires".

Right, it is power (heat) which caused fires, and as we know power is current times voltage. So a few amps at 12 volts can create enough power (heat) to start a fire.

 

[satcom]

Right, it is power (heat) which caused fires, and as we know power is current times voltage. So a few amps at 12 volts can create enough power (heat) to start a fire.

We see many more fires from low voltage wiring, an they usually cause more damage, to only other work that can equal or meet the same damage, the the bone heads that try to remove meter sockets, to install remod siding. some LV transformers where they never figured the load, can get pretty hot, they usually take out the garage with a few new cars inside, after all fireman have to eat too.

 

[ceb58]

I was reading the installation instructions for one of those do-it-your self lv lighting kits at Slowes. The instructions said to bury the wire 4-6". It said to use a small spade or if there were many feet of wire to be installed to use a chainsaw to cut the tench for the wireing.
My thought was "have you lost your mind" thinking I would stick my $500.00 chain saw in the dirt on propose. Then it hit me there are idiots that would and even worse there are idiots that would buy a chainsaw just to stick it in the dirt.

 

[steelersman]

I was reading the installation instructions for one of those do-it-your self lv lighting kits at Slowes. The instructions said to bury the wire 4-6". It said to use a small spade or if there were many feet of wire to be installed to use a chainsaw to cut the tench for the wireing.
My thought was "have you lost your mind" thinking I would stick my $500.00 chain saw in the dirt on propose. Then it hit me there are idiots that would and even worse there are idiots that would buy a chainsaw just to stick it in the dirt.

you wouldn't get far before dulling the blade beyond oblivion. Not to mention the dirt would fly up all over the user. Not the way to go. Are you sure that was recommended in the manufacturer instructions?

 

[Power Tech]

Where did you get this information?

I think I read it in the instructions that come with the Malibu tx.

 

[ceb58]

Are you sure that was recommended in the manufacturer instructions?

The little white piece of paper that says installation instructions that comes in the box with the lights. That's what is stated. I have also seen the same instructions for using a chainsaw to bury the wire for invisible fence for dogs.
That is why I said.

My thought was "have you lost your mind" thinking I would stick my $500.00 chain saw in the dirt on propose. Then it hit me there are idiots that would and even worse there are idiots that would buy a chainsaw just to stick it in the dirt.

 

[bradleyelectric]

I think I read it in the instructions that come with the Malibu tx.

Says something about the quality of their product.

 

[Karl H]

I got a call last summer.A new restaurant had lost all the lighting
in the outside patio area. The lights were 12v floods with 50w MR-16's.
The wire was 12/2 300v cable. While looking around I noticed a
2' x 2' hole in the ceiling above the bar. It was a clear plastic
roofing material that was completely melted. Below the hole was
a 12v flood. The Transformer was smoked and the wire going to that
fixture was melted.The "Installer" had put 26 50w fixtures on one
run of 12/2 @12v. 108amps. The fixture below the 2'x2' melted hole
was the first fixture in the run. Being that the restaurant was a
all wood structure,I consider them very lucky that they did'nt
catch on fire.

Three months after that call a Patio Furniture Store burned down.
Cause: Low Voltage Lighting.

 

[peter d]

I got a call last summer.A new restaurant had lost all the lighting
in the outside patio area. The lights were 12v floods with 50w MR-16's.
The wire was 12/2 300v cable. While looking around I noticed a
2' x 2' hole in the ceiling above the bar. It was a clear plastic
roofing material that was completely melted. Below the hole was
a 12v flood. The Transformer was smoked and the wire going to that
fixture was melted.The "Installer" had put 26 50w fixtures on one
run of 12/2 @12v. 108amps. The fixture below the 2'x2' melted hole
was the first fixture in the run. Being that the restaurant was a
all wood structure,I consider them very lucky that they did'nt
catch on fire.

I bet you get to see some real beauties with LV stuff in your neck of the woods. I know I sure did...lots of nasty junk that was installed by landscapers.

 

[Karl H]

I bet you get to see some real beauties with LV stuff in your neck of the woods. I know I sure did...lots of nasty junk that was installed by landscapers.

Yeah, Have you ever seen the electrical work in Mexico? Some places here you couldnt tell the difference.

 

[peter d]

Yeah, Have you ever seen the electrical work in Mexico? Some places here you couldnt tell the difference.

Yeah, I did the obligatory day trip to Tijauana back in '99 when I was out in SD. I remember a fluorescent light fixture was nothing more than the lampholders mounted directly to whatever surface they are lighting up and a free air ballast.

The rest I have seen in pictures that some of the guys have posted here.

 

[steelersman]

I got a call last summer.A new restaurant had lost all the lighting
in the outside patio area. The lights were 12v floods with 50w MR-16's.
The wire was 12/2 300v cable. While looking around I noticed a
2' x 2' hole in the ceiling above the bar. It was a clear plastic
roofing material that was completely melted. Below the hole was
a 12v flood. The Transformer was smoked and the wire going to that
fixture was melted.The "Installer" had put 26 50w fixtures on one
run of 12/2 @12v. 108amps. The fixture below the 2'x2' melted hole
was the first fixture in the run. Being that the restaurant was a
all wood structure,I consider them very lucky that they did'nt
catch on fire.

Three months after that call a Patio Furniture Store burned down.
Cause: Low Voltage Lighting.

Is this setup the kind where each fixture has it's own stepdown transformer from 120volts to 12 volts? Or is it one transformer for x amount of lights?

 

[Power Tech]

Yeah, I did the obligatory day trip to Tijauana back in '99 when I was out in SD. I remember a fluorescent light fixture was nothing more than the lampholders mounted directly to whatever surface they are lighting up and a free air ballast.

The rest I have seen in pictures that some of the guys have posted here.

Seen real can lights - you know with real 3# coffee cans and a an A base lamp holder at a seinors home.

 

[steelersman]

Seen real can lights - you know with real 3# coffee cans and a an A base lamp holder at a seinors home.

what's a seinor? do mean senior as in senior citizen? or do you mean senor as in Senor Gonzales?

 

[Karl H]

Is this setup the kind where each fixture has it's own stepdown transformer from 120volts to 12 volts? Or is it one transformer for x amount of lights?

It was a remote transformer in a crawl space above the restaurant.
The fixtures did'nt have individual xfers.

That transformer in the crawl space was toast.It just covered me
in stink!