Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Components: Materials you need to get started

If you ever thought about lighting your yard at night, I’m sure you have heard of low voltage outdoor lighting. It can be the perfect solution for many of your landscape lighting needs. Since installation is simple and straight-forward, you can install your new lighting system over the weekend. And there is a variety of lighting fixture styles to suit your design needs.

If you tried older versions of low voltage outdoor lights and were disappointed, you will be surprised at the light output, durability, and features of new low voltage lighting systems. It is also costs less than the older versions. You no longer have to worry deal with expensive, flimsy lighting systems that are incredibly difficult to install and break at after a short period of time.

Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Components

Before you head to the hardware store, let’s go over the basic components of your low voltage lighting system:

1. Transformer – The transformer supplies the electricity for the lighting system. It plugs into a standard home outlet and reduces the regular house electrical current (120 volts) to safe 12 volts. Most transformers have an automatic timer that turns the lights on and off at predetermined times.

2. Low Voltage Lamp – This is the light source. The lamp houses the light bulb and the cable from the transformer powers it.

3. Low Voltage Cable – The cable transmits the electricity from the transformer to the low voltage lamp. The cable is sealed, weather resistant, and insulated copper wire available in various lengths (100 to 200 ft.). The gauge for your cable comes in 12-, 14-, and 16-gauge sizes. The required gauge for your lighting is determined by the wattage of your system:
- 150 watts is carried by a 16-gauge cable
- 200 watts is carried by a 14-gauge cable
- 300 watts is carried by a 12-gauge cable

Reference Sites:
Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Guide