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Fall is here, and the sun sets lower each night. While there are many ways to light your outdoor living space to maximize the time you can play outside; we like automated low-voltage LED lighting systems.
These systems use low-voltage wires that are thin and less visible to power LED lights with 12 or 24 volts. This low voltage really saves on electricity costs. The lights are controlled by a smart controller that can talk to your smartphone. You can set the lights up to come on and off automatically when you want them to. Further, you can control the warmth and even the color of the lights, so you can turn them red for Chiefs games or other colors for other celebrations.
Line voltage is the voltage that comes out of the wall socket, typically 120 volts here in the United States and Canada. Low voltage is typically 12 or 24 volts. Here are some of the differences.
| Line Voltage | Low Voltage |
| Use with most out-of-the-box lamps and lights | It needs a transformer and LED lights to use |
| Cheaper initially | Saves money on electricity costs |
| It uses thick copper wire | It uses thin speaker wires |
| Electricity costs are expensive | Light warmth and color can be easily altered with the controller |
| It can be automated with smart plugs for each light. | It can be controlled with a smart controller |
| Light is defused and less sharp | It can be automated and scheduled easily |
| Lights can be dimmed to 30 percent or on full based on occupancy or need, or turned off | |
| Like looks sharper and more natural | |
| Bulbs can last 6,000 hours before needing to be replaced |
Here are the components you will need to install an automated low-voltage LED lighting system in your outdoor living area.
The transformer steps the line voltage of 120 volts down to 12 volts. This is the voltage most low-voltage LED lights use. Transformers are rated for different loads. Choose a transformer that is larger than the sum of the wattage of the lights you will hook to it. For example, if you have ten 12-watt lights, choose a 150-watt transformer. Avoid the temptation to buy a transformer with a much bigger rating than the load you will put on it.
The wiring for a low-voltage LED lighting system is much smaller and safer than using 120 volts. If your system will use more than 200 watts, you should use a 12 gauge wire. If your system uses less than 200 watts, you can use a 14-gauge wire. You can often use speaker wire for this application.
There is a wide range of low-voltage LED light fixtures to choose from. The key is placing each light fixture at least ten feet from the transformer and ten feet from each other. Don’t overload your transformer, or your lights will be very dim or not work at all.
You can choose lights and bulbs that allow you to change the warmth and color of the light. For example, you could turn your lights red for a Chiefs-watching party.
Timers allow you to set the times you want your lights to come on. Photocells will trigger the lights when the sun goes down and turn them off when it gets light. Many timers can be used with a smartphone. Depending on the configuration of the system, you may be able to schedule individual lights to come on at different times. Our favorite timer is the astronomical type that will automatically reset with daylight savings time based on your zip code.
Making sure you use a reputable brand when buying your components is important. Here are our three favorite brands.
Pro Trade lighting is a good choice if you are on a tight budget. The fixtures are durable and tough but don’t have the bells and whistles some other brands have. Pro Trade has a wide variety of fixtures available, so you should be able to find the lighting you want. However, it may not have the range of choices on lighting warmth and individual control some systems have.
Unique Lighting fixtures are a step up from Pro Trade. Unique Lighting has fixtures that you can turn into different colors. In addition to a range of fixtures and transformers, Unique Lighting has the SMRT LOGIC® Cloud-Based Landscape Control System. This lets you control your lighting system on your smartphone. You can even turn fountains and other landscape features on and off with this system.
If you are looking for the best home system, Coastal Source is your brand. Coastal Source includes their own proprietary brand of smart controller that can control not only the color but the shape and intensity of your outdoor lights. These lights are durable and look nice anywhere. You can also get lights that are low profile, so they are invisible but light a specimen tree or other feature without the fixture taking away from the scene.
Designing and installing your automatic low-voltage LED lighting system can be a chore. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can design the perfect lighting system. Our Blue Crew can install the system and make sure it works just the way you want it to. We can even set up the automation program on your smartphone and show you how to work it. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your outdoor living lighting system needs.
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