Indoor Residential Lights, Commercial Outdoor Light Designers, Landscape Lighting Fixtures

RAB Motion lights use PAR38 lamps.

Which bulbs should I buy with the RAB STL360H thanks Steve

You need two PAR38 LAMPS for the RAB STL360H MOTION LIGHT KIT. The maximum wattage per lamp is 150.

Labels: RAB Bulb, RAB STL360 Motion Light Kit, RAB38 Lamp

Outdoor sub-woofer that looks like a rock and sounds like a million bucks!

Every outdoor sound system needs a great SUB WOOFER to boost your bass and compliment your ROCK SPEAKERS. Perfect around pools, patios and gardens the weatherproof speakers hide beautifully in the landscaping for full rich listening enjoyment!

If rock speakers aren't for you. we have TIC OMNI SPEAKERS. These 70 volt switching 150 watt Omni Speakers are known as the standard in commercial and residential exterior audio ground applications.

Labels: Outdoor Rock Speakers, Sub Woofer Speakers, Weatherproof Speakers

How do I calculate voltage drop for outdoor low voltage lighting?

I am currently installing landscape lighting and have done my research. I am using a digital volt meter to determine the exact voltage at any given light. I am clustering my lights to ensure each wire is less than 100ft and powering 100 watts or less. My volt meter tells me I am receiving 11.5 volts without any lights both from the terminals and at the end of the 100ft wire. After connecting 4-20watt fixtures, my first light is showing about 10.5 volts and the last is showing about 10.2 ... does this sound about right? I was thinking I should be seeing 11+volts running 100watts or less on 100ft or less of wire.Thanks for your help!

I would suggest installing a continuous loop system to prevent voltage drop. Low voltage lighting quickly loses voltage and amperage rises on runs over 100 feet. The loop system will help balance the load and supply equal voltage to all lamps on the run. Check out our How To Design A Low Voltage Lighting Systems page or our handy Voltage Calculator for more information.

You can also consider using a TRANSFORMER with higher output taps to boost the voltage and solve your problem.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Transformer, Voltage Drop Calculation

Commercial Christmas lights for my trees and fence.

Hello, I''m looking for lights I can wrap or attach to trees in my back yard, I''m looking for the type you see at major malls on their trees. I''m also looking for a light I can attach to my fence. It''s approx. 150 ft, I''d like all of these to be permanent.

We have a great selection of COMMERCIAL GRADE MINI LIGHTS for your trees and GLOBE LIGHTS for your fence.

These commercial CHRISTMAS LIGHTS are great for wrapping trees. You shouls always install a GFCI (Ground fault circuit interupter) on all outdoor lights for safety.

Check out our selection of HOLIDAY LIGHTING SCUPLTURES and NET LIGHTS.

For more information on holiday lighting see our CHRISTMAS MINI LIGHT PAGE for tips and suggestions on how to decorate your yard for Christmas!

Labels: Christmas Decorations, Holiday Lighting Supplies, Miniture String Lights

What is the smallest underwater light you have for a garden fountain?

By far, the Focus Lighting - Low Voltage Brass Underwater Lighting Fixture - SL-40 is the smallest and most powerful underwater light we have. The halogen MR11 lamp, solid brass construction and adjustable aiming bracket are just some of the features of this quality fountain light.

We also have several other UNDERWATER FOUNTAIN LIGHTS to choose from in copper, brass and composite. All of these low voltage lights require the use of a TRANSFORMER.

Labels: Fountain Lights, Outdoor Low Voltage Transformer, Underwater Lighting

The timer has stopped on my Malibu lighting transformer.

The Malibu low voltage transformer works manually with the on/off switch, but the clock has stopped working. Is their a reset botton available on this model.

There is not a reset button on MALIBU TRANSFORMERS for the timer. If it fails, you have to either buy a new transformer or add a OUTDOOR TIMER to control the TRANSFORMER.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Malibu Transformer, Outdoor Timer

Voltage drop is causing my low voltage lighting to be incredibly dim and ineffective. Help!

I have some existing low voltage lighting in my yard. This weekend, I added some more light to the system without really understanding voltage drop. After reading your "ASK THE EXPERTS" section of your website, I think I need a new transformer. What do you recommend that will boost the power to my new lights?

Voltage drop is a very common problem with "Do it yourselfers", so don't feel bad. Assumming that you have at least 12/2 LANDSCAPE CABLE and no more than 100-watts of light on that new circuit, here's what I would buy. TECHLIGHT USA makes a 600 WATT MULTI-TAP TRANSFORMER in a stainless steel enclosure that will solve your problem. Multi-tap means that it has multiple voltage outputs of 12V, 13V, 14V and 15V. So you can boost the power on the long runs! This will most certainly solve your voltage drop problem.

If you need any other OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT such as WIRE, CONNECTORS, or additional assistance to complete your project, just go online or give us a call at 800-239-2939.

Labels: Multi-Tap Transformer, Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Wire Connectors

How do I wire a dimmer on a three way switch?

Hi, originally my kitchen had only main lighting fixture with a 3-way dimmers. Recently I''ve decided to add two recessed lights which are controlled by a single pole switch. The power box has only one power input cable.And here comes the problem. Both fixtures work fine if the other one is off. However, if the both are on, the dimmer starts controlling the recessed lights as well, but in the opposite direction, i.e. if the main light goes brighter -- the recessed lights dim and the other way around. I''ve connected all the white wires together (from the power source and from the two fixtures) The black wire with a pigtail is connected to the dimmer and to the switch. The remaining connectors on the dimmer and on the switch are wired to the corresponding fixtures. Could you please help me to figure out what when wrong. Thank you very much!

That is a hard on to diagnose without seeing what you have done. Typically, the white wire is used in a three way switch configuration. You might take a look at a 3-WAY WIRING DIAGRAM as a solution to your problem. First, you should identify the hot wire and then back into the travelers for the switch leg. Disconnect the dimmer and use the switch until you get things figured out. If you have damaged your dimmer, we ahave a full selection of LUTRON DIMMER CONTROLS to choose from.

Turn of the circuit breaker and be careful!

Labels: Kitchen Lighting, Lighting Controls, Lutron Dimmer Control

How do I repair a section of rusted electrical conduit in a flower bed?

While preparing a flower bed I came across a rusted and broken conduit wich contains an electrical line that controls a light in the detached garage. The line comes out from under contrete stairs through the flower bed and back under a conrete deck. How can I fix this? Can I cut and splice the line re-bury it with new conduit, or do I even need the conduit?

You can replace the rusted section of pipe however; you will need to replace the wire through the conduit from box to box. This can sometimes be tricky if the pipe is rusted in other areas you can''t see. You could end up ruining the wire and loosing power to the lights. You should never make an open splice in the ground!

As an alternative, you could install a buried PVC junction box to splice the wire after replacing the section of pipe. If you have a ground wire you will need to reconnect it or you may loose the ground between conduits.

Should you decide to upgrade or add to your existing LANDSCAPE LIGHTING SYSTEM we have a 120 VOLT OUTDOOR LIGHTS and 12 VOLT OUTDOOR LANDCAPE LIGHTS for your garden.

Hope that helps!

Labels: Landscape Lighting System, Low Voltage Light Fixtures, Outdoor Path Lights

What should I look for in a good home lighting fixture?

There are many nice HOME LIGHTING FIXTURES on the market today. Some are made in the United States and most are imported from China. Some of the imports from China are made very well and should not be discounted because they are imported. I always check to see that the fixture has a UL sticker, which means it complies with published safety standards from Underwriter's Laboratory. Secondly, I look at the quality of the materials to see that it is constructed well and is sturdy. And finally, I like to see if the fixture has good proportions and style. Once, you have checked these simple guidelines, you a ready to make your selection.

Some of the home lighting fixtures we offer include: Bathroom Vanity Lights, Chandeliers, Floor Lamps, Hanging Pendant Lights, Desk Lamps, Table Lamps, Wall Sconces, Swing Arm Lamps and Library Light Fixtures.

Labels: Bathroom Vanity Lights, Chandeliers, Indoor and Home Lighting

How do I convert a 120 volt garden light to a 12 volt light?

I am replacing a garden lighting fixture. the old fixture had a white, a black, and a copper ground. i purchased a new fixture that requires a 12v transformer. do i need this? the new fixture does not a a white, black, and ground. it just has 2 wires. which one do i connect the black to and white? what do i do with the ground wire?

Let's assume that this is the only LANDSCAPE LIGHT in your yard. First, I would find where the 120 volt power exits the house and install a 12 VOLT TRANSFORMER supplying power to the fixture the fixture. You can also mount the transformer near the fixture if that is more convenient.

Now that you have converted to a 12 volt system, the colors of the wire become basically insignificant. Connect one wire to the white and the other to the black. You can disregard the green wire. For safety sake, please turn off the circuit breaker to the outside light before getting started.

Feel free to visit our HOW TO DESIGN A LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM page for more information.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Low Voltage Transformer, Outdoor Landscape Lights

Whats the best way to light an outdoor waterfall?

I have a fiberglass swimming pool with a waterfall flowing in to it. What is the best way to light the waterfalls, so the water can be more that just noise in the dark?

Using a HALOGEN FEATURE SPOT mounted in a tree or on the house is the best way to dramatically illuminate your fountain feature. I would use the 75-watt spot lamp with the louver accessory to minimize glare. Depending on the mounting position and size of the fountain, you may need two lights to do it properly.

You will also need a LOW VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER and 12/2 LANDSCAPE CABLE to complete the job. With the 75-watt lamp, I would run a home run wire from each fixture back to the TRANSFORMER.

You can a install a DIMMER CONTROL SWITCH to soften the light and finish the job!

Labels: Dimmer Switches, Landscape Cables, Low Voltage Transformer, Waterfall Lighting

How do I light a stained glass window?

What is the proper lighting to use in lighting a stained glass window from behind? It is in a bookase and will be lit from behind the window.

Lighting stained glass windows is a real challenge. The thick glass prevents the light from penetrating evenly because of the various wave length characteristics assosicated with the colors. It sometimes takes several lights to get it right.

I would suggest the you consider using a HALOGEN LIGHT with a spot lamp. Set up a test with the light before selecting a final mounting position.

You might need a DIMMER CONTROL to set the intensity.

Labels: Dimmer Control, Halogen Spot Lights, Indoor and Home Lighting

Which House Of Troy fine art light is right for me?

I have an original oil painting that is 21 inches high x 32 inches wide and was wondering about the best painting mounted lighting options? Please advise. Thanks John

You have two styles of HOUSE OF TROY LIGHTS that will work for your painting.

For a TRADTIONAL PICTURE LIGHT I would go with the 24" Traditional Picture Lights HOT T24-1.

For a CONTEMPORARY ART LIGHT I would go with the 30" Slimline Picture Light HOT SL30.

Labels: Fine Art Lighting, House of Troy Picture Lights, Picture Lights

Outdoor globe string lights for hardwire and dimming.

We want to string permanent lighting on our pergola. Is your outdoor globe lighting (1) hardwirable and (2) dimmable? Thanks!

The outdoor globe light strings can be hardwired, simply cut off the plug. These lights are dimmable - all incandescent bulbs can be dimmed with an incandescent dimmer.

Labels: Globe Stringer Lights, Incandescent Dimmer, Lighting Control

Who makes screwless switch plates in custom colors?

LUTRON ELECTRONICS makes Claro screwless switch plates in a GLOSS FINISH and a DIVA MATTE FINISH.

Lutron makes the world's best lighting controls. They manufacture such dimmers as LUTRON SKYLARK, LUTRON DIVA, LUTRON ARIADNI, LUTRON NOVA T, LUTRON FAEDRA, LUTRON QOTO as well as LUTRON GRAFIK EYE and RADIO RA LIGHTING CONTROLS.

In addition to dimmer controls, Lutron manufactures SWITCHES, RECEPTACLES and FLUORESCENT BALLASTS and POWER BOOSTERS to handle just about any application

Labels: Power Boosters, Receptacles, Security Lighting

How can I calculate what size low voltage cable I need for my outdoor lighting system?

Calculating wire size for an outdoor lighting job is a very common question here at Ask The Experts. Many people simply just don't understand the principles of voltage drop and why their lights appear dim. So we created a couple of useful tools to assist you in CALCULATING WIRE SIZE and HOW TO DESIGN A LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM.

If you are interested in a simple solution to your lighting project, take a look at our PRE-PACKAGE LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING KITS. They contain everything you need for a professional lighting installation.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Lighting Kits, Wire Cable Size Calculations

Why do my outdoor lights on a photocell blink on and off all night?

PHOTOCELL CONTROLS operate by turning on when light levels drop below a certain level. If a floodlight or other light source is directed at the photocell it will cycle on and off as if it were day and night. You can reposition the photocell or the light to solve this problem.

If your photocell is controlling a HID (high intensity discharge) fixture, the problem may not be the photocell. I would replace the MERCURY VAPOR LAMP and/or replace the MERCURY VAPOR BALLAST.

Labels: Mecury Vapor Lamps, Photocell Controls, Replacement Mercury Vapor Ballast

What recessed lighting fixture can I use for a thick plaster ceiling?

I'm putting in recessed lighting on the main floor of an old house. The ceiling is drywalled with plaster and lathe above it making it quite thick. One of your previous answers says that Halo makes an expandable clip for the thick ceiling However, i cannot find this. I also would like to know if I need an IC if it will be in contact with the lathe and plaster. Could you please point me to the product that will work. I already have 5 inch holes in my ceiling and it's wired. Thanks in advance.

Both HALO and LIGHTOLIER make a remodel housing that will work for thick ceilings. The LIGHTOLIER 1003R/1005 will work fine for the lathe and plaster as long as you are not in direct contact with the insulation. The Halo lighting version is a H7RT/410P. I would go with the Lightolier fixture for what you have described.

Labels: Halo Lighting, Lightolier Fixture, Recessed Lighting

Do you have a medium base fluorescent lamps that will replace a standard incandescent lamp?

I am the maintenance man for a large apartment complex. The propertry is about 20 years old and we have incandescent fixtures throughout the corridors. Do you have a medium base fluorescent lamps that will replace a standard incandescent lamp?

We have many replacement fluorescent lamps in a variety of shapes and wattages. Here is a partial listing of our products:

200-Watt Replacement
The GREENLITE FLUORESCENT MINI SPIRAL is a perfect alternative to a 200W incandescent bulb, and it only uses 40W. Energy Star qualified product. Sold in pack of 50.

100-Watt Replacement
The GREENLITE FLUORESCENT MINI SPIRAL is a perfect alternative to your ordinary 100W incandescent bulb, and it only uses 23W. Energy Star qualified product. Sold in pack of 12.

75-Watt Replacement
The GREENLITE FLUORESCENT MINI SPIRAL is a perfect alternative to your ordinary 75W incandescent bulb, and it only uses 20W. Energy Star qualified product. Sold in pack of 12.

60-Watt Replacement
The GREENLITE FLUORESCENT MINI SPIRAL is a perfect alternative to your ordinary 60W incandescent bulb, and it only uses 15W. Energy Star qualified product. Sold in pack of 12.

If you don't see what you need, please call for information and a quote. Our toll free number is 800-239-2939.

Labels: Fluorescent Lamps, Medium Base Socket, Replacement Bulbs

Do you have any small low voltage surface mount step lights?

FOCUS LIGHTING manufactures a very popular ALUMINUM 120VOLT DECK/STEP/PATIO LIGHT- SL07.

They also make a BRASS STEP/DECK/BRICK LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT- SL07-BRASS.

HADCO LIGHTING makes a similar fixture in molded Ryton composite material STEP/DECK LIGHTING- HAD DCL1G for salt air environments.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Surface Mount Step Lights

Can you help me find some mission style fixtures for my house in Southern California?

We represent ARROYO CRAFTSMEN who are famous for their MISSION STYLE LIGHT FIXTURES. All their mission style lights will bring an artistic touch to your porch or patio.

For area lighting I would suggest the ARROYO LOW -VOLTAGE RAYMOND 6" AREA LIGHT LV27-R6GW-VP in a verdigris patina finish.

For path lighting I would consider the ARROYO LOW-VOLTAGE BERKELEY 8" STEM MOUNT LV24-B8R-BZ in bronze finish.

Labels: Area Lighting, Low Voltage Applications, Mission Style Light Fixtures

Do you have any small low voltage outdoor hanging lights to go over a patio table?

Focus Industries make a handsome little SL15- COPPER HANGING LIGHT that is designed to create a starlight paterrn of light! It is about the size of an orange juice can and comes with a hook mount, 18 Watt, S-8 #1141 lamp and 5' 18/2 black cord. Other lamp options and colors are avaialable.

If you would light a bell shaped fixture the SL05-BRASS HANGING LIGHT is another fine selection.

SEE MORE HANGING LIGHTS.

Labels: Landscape Lighting, Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Hanging Lanterns

What is the best priced copper MR16 accent light for my home?

The TECHLIGHT TLMR16CB is by far the best value for the money. This sturdy little fixture is made of spun copper with a locking brass knuckle and silicone gasket. It is rated for up to 50-watt lamps and will patina nicely over time.

The FOCUS DL22-COPPER is also a great buy. This fixture comes with the 20-watt lamp standard.

Labels: Landscape Lighting, Low Voltage Lighting Fixtures, MR16 Lamps

Do you know where I can find a LED flashlight that has a head band?

I work on small scale models as a hobby in my garage. The lighting is poor in the area and I thought have a head mout light would put the light just where I need it. Do you have any strap on lights?

AMERICAN LIGHTING makes a great little LED HEADLIGHT. It has (3) super bright LED bulbs, adjustable elastic head strap, detachable main body, sliding on/off switch
and comes with (3) AAA batteries included in the package.

Labels: Headlights, LED Applications, Task Lighting

I just love my new rock lights and rock speakers in my garden!

I just wanted to thank you for recommending the TIC ROCK LIGHTS and ROCK SPEAKERS for my home. They arrived last week and I have been thrilled with the sound quality and how well the natural looking LIGHT ROCKS blend with the stone around the pool. I could not be more pleased! Thanks again!

Labels: Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Rock Lights, Speaker Lights

How does a Lutron dimmer switch work?

Light dimming is based on adjusting the voltage that gets to the lamp to emit only small amount of light. Light dimming has been possible for many decades by using adjustable power resistors and adjustable transformers. Electronics controlling also made possible to make them easily controllable from remote location.

Most homes have lamps or fixtures that can be made brighter or dimmer by rotating or sliding a control on their on-off switch. Years ago, this was done using a device called a rheostat--a large variable resistor. This method wasted electricity and generated a lot of heat. To control the amount of energy going to the light the rheostat had to throw a lot away, turning it into heat. For example, at half brightness a 100-watt bulb would waste about 20 watts to heat in the rheostat.

Early light DIMMER SWITCHES had a pretty straightforward solution to adjusting light levels -- a variable resistor. An ordinary resistor is a piece of material that doesn't conduct electrical current well -- it offers a lot of resistance to moving electrical charge. A variable resistor consists of a piece of resistive material, a stationary contact arm and a moving contact arm. As charge works to move through the resistor, energy is lost in the form of heat. When you put a resistor in a series circuit, the resistor's energy consumption causes a voltage drop in the circuit, decreasing the energy available to other loads (the light bulb). Decreased voltage across the light bulb reduces its light output.
The problem with this solution is that you end up using a lot of energy to heat the resistor, which doesn't help you light up the room but still costs you. In addition to be being inefficient, these early dimmer switches tend to be cumbersome and potentially dangerous, since the variable resistor releases a substantial amount of heat.

Modern dimmers take a more efficient approach. Instead of diverting energy from the light bulb into a resistor, modern resistors rapidly shut the light circuit off and on to reduce the total amount of energy flowing through the circuit. The light bulb circuit is switched off many times every second.

Modern LIGHT DIMMER SWITCHES use a transistor like device called a TRIAC to switch the electricity on and off very rapidly--120 times each second. Because they sort of 'chop up' the electrical power this way they are sometimes called 'chopper switches.' The current doesn't change suddenly. It rises and falls or, undulates.

The switching cycle is built around the fluctuation of household alternating current (AC). AC current has varying voltage polarity -- in an undulating sine wave, it fluctuates from a positive voltage to a negative voltage. To put it another way, the moving charge that makes up AC current is constantly changing direction. In the United States , it goes through one cycle (moving one way, then the other) 60 times a second. A modern light dimmer switch "cuts off" the sine wave. It automatically shuts the light bulb circuit off every time the current reverses direction -- that is, whenever there is zero voltage running through the circuit. This happens twice per cycle, or 120 times a second. It turns the light circuit back on when the voltage climbs back up to a certain level.
The knob or slider on the DIMMER SWITCH is also a variable resistor but, in this case it's just used as a signal to move the turn-on point --it's not redirecting the flow of current as the old time rheostat was. With the dimmer circuitry very little energy is wasted. A typical modern dimmer control is more than 99 percent efficient--less than 1 watt is wasted controlling a 100-Watt bulb.

If we hook up a really cheap dimmer switch, we may notice a strange buzzing noise. This comes from vibrations in the bulb filament caused by the chopped-up current coming from the triac (triode alternating current switch).
BETTER DIMMER SWITCHES have extra components to squelch the buzzing effect. Typically, the dimmer circuit includes an inductor choke, a length of wire wrapped around an iron core, and an additional interference capacitor. Both devices can temporarily store electrical charge and release it later. This "extra current" works to smooth out the sharp voltage jumps caused by the triac-switching to reduce buzzing and radio interference.

Some high-end dimmer switches, such as the ones commonly used in stage lighting, are built around an autotransformer instead of a triac. The autotransformer dims the lights by stepping down the voltage flowing to the light circuit. A movable tap on the autotransformer adjusts the step-down action to dim the lights to different levels. Since it doesn't chop up the AC current, this method doesn't cause the same buzzing as a triac switch.

Most of light dimmer switches are built around the same simple idea -- chopping up AC current to reduce the total energy powering a light bulb.

Contact the professionals at Residential Landscape Lighting & Design to learn more about which dimmer control is right for you!

Labels: Dimmer Switches, Lighting Control System, Lutron Controls

Do you have any real looking artificial pre lit Christmas trees?

We are hosting a Christmas party at our house for my husband's company employees. He asked me to find a realistic prelit Christmas tree that is no larger than 10' high for the part. Do you have any suggestions for a pre lit tree?

Our ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES WITH LIGHTS are some of the most realistic trees on the market today. We have several varieties of trees including:

These trees come already with the lights instaleed and are easy to assemble. We also have LIGHTED PRE LIT WREATHS to match the trees for the door and PRE LIT GARLAND for the bannister rails going up the stairs.

Labels: Holiday Decorations, Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Decorations, Seasonal Items

Do you have any Snoopy Halloween lighted decorations?

We have some of the coolest LIGHTED OUTDOOR SEASONAL SCULPTURES you will ever see on the web. Have you seen the Peanuts classic characters LUCY AND CHARLIE BROWN trick-or-treat sculpture or SNOOPY SITTING ON A PUMKIN? It is perfect for a Halloween party or just a fun decoration in the house.

For Christmas yard decorations, we have a SNOOPY SLEEPING ON A DOGHOUSE scuplture and a SNOOPY ICE SKATING sculpture as well as others. Check out our full line of CHRISTMAS LIGHTING SUPPLIES.

Labels: Christmas lighting supplies, Holiday Decorations, Outdoor Seasonal Items

Why is my Malibu low voltage outdoor lighting system so dim?

I installed a 100 watt Malibu system and tried to test it with a couple lights. I only got dim light out of the first fixture and nothing from the second. The total length of my set-up is about 160 feet. I have a 300 watt transformer.

I would check the output voltage from the transformer to see that it is producing at least 11.5 volts. If that is fine, I would check each light directly to the transformer to see that they perform equally. If that passes the test, the problem is with your wire. It should be a minimum of 12/2 CABLE with two feeds running back to the transformer. Put 40-watts on the long run and 60-watts on the short run. Please check out our OUTDOOR LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING products should you need lighting fixtures, lighting wire or a replacement transformer. Check out our DESIGNING A LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM page for more helpful information. Thanks for the question!

Labels: Direct Burial Cable, Low Voltage Landscape Lighting, Malibu Lighting System

How should I install the low voltage wiring for 12 volt lights on a brick retaining wall?

Dear Experts, I am building a retaining wall along the back and side of my property. Total wall length is 120ft. I would like to put some lighting in the wall. I have chosen some round 12V well lights with 20 Watt bulbs that can be slipped into a drilled hole in the wall blocks. I would like to put a transformer in my shed which sits at one end of the wall. I was thinking of using a multitap transformer and running 3 different wires to groups of lights spaced evenly in the wall, as to avoid voltage drop (a total of 12 lights). Is this possible? How would you arrange the lights to the multitap and what kind of wire would I need? Thanks.

I like your plan! Run three runs of 12/2 DIRECT BURIAL WIRE back to the TRANSFORMER. If at all possible, sleeve the wires in 1" PVC conduit just in case you have to replace a damaged wire. Put (3) lights on the longest run, (4) lights on the middle run and (5) lights on the shortest run. Please send me a photo of the finished project for our OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING GALLERY. Please check out our selection of FOCUS BRASS LANDCAPE LIGHTING FIXTURES.

Labels: Focus Lighting Fixtures, Landscape Lighting, Low Voltage Wiring

What would I install for decorative down lighting on the eaves of my home?

What would I install for decorative down lighting on eaves ~7.5 feet above ground on a brick ranch house and how far apart for spacing. Any help would be much appreciated.

The HALO H99RT/993 is a very effective and simple fixture to install in the eaves of your house. I would suggest that you do a symetrical layout with the fixtures spaced roughly 8-10'' apart. Every house is different, so you might want to perform a test before cutting the holes. The Halo housing only requires 5 1/2" of depth, which makes it perfect for your application. We have a wide selection of HALO RECESSED LIGHT HOUSINGS & TRIMS if you want to look at other options. Don''t forget to order some 12/2 ROMEX WIRE!

Labels: Decorative Down Lighting, Direct Burial Cable, Recessed Lighting

What wall mount exhaust fan do you recommend?

Which Nutone or Panasonic bathroom exhaust fan would work well in the wall? I cannot mount a vent fan in the ceiling and need to mount it in the wall above the toilet. Which fan is best for this space?

The best EXHAUST FAN for wall mounting is the NUTONE 671R FAN or the PANASONIC PAN FV08-WQ1 WALL VENT FAN. The Panasonic wall vent has an attractive ABS grill and built in back damper and bird screen. We also have HEAT VENT COMBINATIONS for ceiling applications. Both are quality vent fans!

Labels: Bathroom Exhaust Fan, Combination Fan, Ventilation Systems

How do I attractively light the canopy of a large oak tree?

I want to light the canopy of a large oak tree. What will be the best ground mounted lamps mercury vapor, metal halide or something else? I think it will need at least two 250 watt lamps. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

The best light source for lighting the canopy of your tree is a MERCURY VAPOR BOX FLOOD with a four sided shield pointing straight up. You hide the fixtures in the flower beds surrounding the tree for a very dramatic effect. If you are in a lawn area, you can always use a GRADE LEVEL WELL LIGHT so the fixture is hidden. Depending on the shape of the tree you can sometimes hide the fixture in the crouch of the tree as long as it is above eye level. You might also consuder doing some MV DOWN LIGHTS to cast shadows on the ground and provide general lighting for the area. Hope this is helpful!

Labels: Grade Level Well Lights, Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting

What is the best fixtures to put in my trees to create moonlighting?

I am thinking about having some outdoor landscape lighting installed. On company wants to do low voltage and the other company wants to install moonlighting in the trees. I kind of like that idea. What is the best fixtures to put in my trees to create moonlighting?

By far the best lighting fixture to use for moonlighting is the MERCURY VAPOR DOWN LIGHT. This high intensity discharge fixture produces a beautiful blue green color that is complimentary to plants and trees. It is the closest thing that we have in the lighting business to replicating actual moon light. Dramatic shadows are artfully displayed on the ground as the light passes through limbs and leaves. MERCURY VAPOR BOX UP LIGHTS or MERCURY VAPOR BULLET UP LIGHTS are also used to create a moon light effect. Lights are concealed in the trees above eye level or hidden in the shrubs below are used to showcase the tree and limb structure. You won't be sorry that you decided to install mercury vapor OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURES!

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Warehouse Lighting, Fluorescent Light Fixture, Metal Halide Fixture, Shop Light & Fluorescent Light Replacement

I am interested in replacing the F96 fluorescent lights in my warehouse to more powerful metal halide fixtures. What recommendations do you have for a suitable replacement light fixture?

If you are looking for more light output or high footcandle levels I would jump up to the 320-WATT METAL HALIDE LOW BAY LIGHT from Techlight. It comes with a multi-tap ballast that is good for 120, 208, 240 and 277 voltages. The fixture come with the METAL HALIDE LAMP and all the necessary mounting hardware. For just over $160 this is a great choice to vastly improve your warehouse lighting. Buy 10 or more and get 10% off!

Labels: Fluorescent Lamps, Metal Halide Lamp, Replacement Bulbs

Mushroom Light, Path Lighting, Outdoor Garden Light, Landscape Lighting & Area Light

In approx. 1996 I purchased some line voltage landscape lights from either Lowe's or Home Depot. These lights were a mushroom style, and the manufacturer was located in Carrollton Texas. I need to replace a couple of the units but can no longer find these fixtures anywhere. Are you familiar with this product, or one that is similar? If so, where can I buy these? Thank you!

We have a couple of LINE VOLTAGE MUSHROOM LIGHTS with a center mount stem and a MUSHROOM LIGHT with a side mount stem that might work for you. Check out our other LINE VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT.

Labels: Line Voltage Light Fixtures, Outdoor Landscape Lights, Outdoor Lighting Equipment

Mount For Security Camera, Light Pole, Outdoor Pole Light, Commercial Pole Light & Commercial Lighting

I am a security contractor who installs cctv cameras for my clients. The company who I used to buy poles from has changed hands and I am looking for a new vendor. Do you sell just the poles or only with lights?

We would be happy to sell you just the LIGHT POLES if that is all you need. We have a wide selection of SQUARE POLES, ROUND POLES and SQUARE TAPERED POLES and ROUND TAPERED POLES in all heights. Should you ever need SECURITY LIGHTING FIXTURES we have those as well.

Labels: Commercial Lighting, Commercial Lighting Poles, Security Lighting Fixtures

Outdoor Landscape Lights, Light Fixtures For Landscapes, Outdoor Lighting Kits & Path Lights

You have so many selections of low voltage lighting fixtures it is overwhelming! I am interested in up lighting some trees and my house with a good quality fixture. Can you help me pick some?

I would be glad to help you design a LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM for your home. I know it can be hard deciding which fixtures to buy so, we created some LOW VOLTAGE STARTER KITS to make it easier for you. Everthing you need including the transformer, wire, mounting spikes fixures and lamps are included!

The MR16 LIGHTING KITS are probably the most popular because of the small fixture size and numerous wattage selections. They are very powerful little lights that can be concealed anywhere in the garden. You can get wattages ranging from 10 to 50 watts in several beam paterns such as spot, medium and wide spread. To complete your new lighting you might want to also consider some LOW VOLTAGE PATH LIGHTS to illuminate sidewalks, steps or seasonal flower beds.

Labels: Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Kits, Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Path Lights

Outdoor Basketball Light, Sport Court Lighting, Halogen Fixtures, Metal Halide light & Recreational Lighting

I have basketball light posts on a home court. It cost me $600 to change the light bulbs because I had to rent a scissor jack. Is there a better way?? Is there such a thing as a collapsible post which one can break down to change the bulb. I''ve been looking all over the internet and can''t find an easier way. Any help would be greatly appreciated.thank you, Joanne MacMillan

Sounds like you have a HALOGEN LIGHT FIXTURE with a very short lamp life of 4,000 hours. Using a METAL HALIDE BASKETBALL LIGHT will extend that lamp life to over 18,000 hours! So, a little investmet to upgrade your fixture will save you lot's of money down the road. If you hire a local electrician to install your new light, he might even have a ladder that works instead of renting the lift. Good Luck!

Labels: Basketball Lighting Posts, Halogen Lighting Fixture, HID Applications

Bathroom Light Fixture, Vanity Bathroom Light, Bathroom Vanity Light & Make Up Light

We are in the process of remodeling our master bathroom and I need some vanity lights. Do you have a mounting recommendation and fixture you can help me with?

We have several BATHROOM LIGHTING FIXTURES that would look great in your new bathroom. Vanity lights are a good form of lighting because they throw light on your face without shadows. This is very helpful when putting on make up, shaving or just fixing your hair. VANITY LIGHTS are typically mounted at 6' or higher and centered over the sinks or opening, depending on your architecture. It is always nice to install a LUTRON DIMMER CONTROL to set just the right intensisty of light.

Labels: Bathroom Lighting, Lighting Control System, Vanity Lights

Outdoor Step Lights, Outdoor Path Lights, Step Light, Step Light Louver Cover & Safety Lighting

My home had step lights on the outside patio. We recently removed the brick pavers and replaced it with coral pavers. In that process the lensed covers for the step lights were lost. Water got into these lights and shorted the ballasts. The step lights line voltage comes in from the left and back and exits to the right to the second step light which has lights coming in the left side only. Both units are shorted.What do I have to replace beyond the ballast? The box is cemented in place so I cannot remove it - My best guess is to buy new ballasts and covers to replace the current ones but don't know if those parts are available separately.Or - should I buy new units - toss the housings and attempt to fit them to my current housing?

Boy, that is a tough one. Do you know if the contractor damaged the conduits or wire during the construction? If the power is ok then, I would try retrofitting a new STEP LIGHT interior and faceplate to your existing housings. I would need some dimensions to narrow down the selections. Contact James in Customer Service at 800-239-2939.

Labels: Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Step Lights, Security Lights

Commercial Lighting, Lighting Pole, Outdoor Parking Lot Lighting, Outdoor Pole Lighting & Commercial Outdoor Lighting

I am quoting a large shopping center that has specified 1000-watt metal halide fixtures mounted on 30' poles. Can you help me cross over the lighting specifications and provide me with photometric calculations to show the architect?

Sure, we can help you substitute our PARKING LOT LIGHTING EQUIPMENT for the ones that are currently specified on the drawings. We have several 30' POLES WITH METAL HALIDE FIXTURES to choose from. They are manufactured to the highest standards and come in several popular colors, including custom colors if needed.

You might also look at our WALL PACKS, LOW BAY FIXTURES, HIGH BAY FIXTURES and CANOPY LIGHTS. We would be happy to assist you in selecting the appropriate lighting fixtures.

Labels: High Bay Fixtures, Outdoor Commercial Lighting, Parking Lot Lighting Equipment, Wall packs

Lighting, Outdoor Landscape Lights, 12 Volt Lighting System, Transformers & Landscape Lighting Designs

I have a 600 watt tranformer 275 foot of 12 guage wire the wattage of the lights. I have a total 540 watts. Can I put the lights all on one or do I have to split my transformer?

You are going to need multiple circuits or runs of wires to handle these loads over that distance. Check out our HOW TO DESIGN LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEMS page for more information.

Labels: Low Voltage Lighting System, Outdoor Landscape Lights, Transformer

Outdoor Sport Court Lighting, Basketball Lights, Tennis Court Light, Outdoor Play Area Lighting & Commercial Outdoor Lighting Equipment

Hey there, i am designing an outdoor basketball court and i am going to use 4 poles for to hold the lights and the poles are 14m in height. i was wondering what type pf dimensions are needed for the poles and the cost of each pole.

We have SPORT COURT LIGHTING FIXTURES designed specifically for basketball courts. We also have a full selection of TENNIS COURT LIGHTING EQUIPMENT as well. All the court lights require concrete footing designed for WIND LOADS in your area. We are priced to sell!

Labels: Basketball Court Lighting, Outdoor Commercial Lighting, Wind Loads

Outdoor Lighting System, Outdoor Fountain, Underwater Lighting, Low Voltage Lights, Direct Burial Cable & Landscape Lighting

I am working on the lighting plan for my upcoming backyard landscaping project and have found your site incredibly valuable. However I do have a question.I have a fountain in which I would like to place between 1 & 3 submersible lgihts. Can I tap these lights directly into the burial wire that I will be running by the fountain for my Malibu lights? I really would like one transformer to power all lights as I want the timing to be the same and I only have 2 plugs outisde and need to power other things (like the fountain pump)/Would it be better if I teed off the lighing cable and tapped these lights into that T? Thanks for your help!!!

If your TRANSFORMER and DIRECT BURIAL WIRE is large enough to handle the load, I don't see why not. The FOCUS SL40 is a great little UNDERWATER LIGHT for just about any fountain. You can order extra cord to make splices outside the pond and most importantly above water level! If you decide to replace your Malibu Lighting with some new fixtures, take a look at our PRE-PACKAGED OUTDOOR LIGHTING KITS.

Labels: Fountain Lights, Outdoor Lighting Kits, Underwater Lighting

Trail Lighting, Outdoor Fountain, Outdoor Water Garden, Low Voltage Lighting & Outdoor Lighting

I am involved in laying out a low voltage landscape project. It involves 10 trail lights (10-20 watts each - haven't decided on style - focal pt is fountain), a separate fountain (snow pagoda) with pump and light. Want to be able to control all three separate - Trail Lights, fountain light and fountain pump -from switchs inside the house. Probably need 3 transfomers 1- 250 watt, and two smaller ones fountain light 20 watt, pump 14 watt (if I go with low voltage pump) - right now have line voltage pump. Question -suggest transformer for 20 watt fountain light and 14 volt pump. I am thinking that the only way I can control each is to install 3 transformers to three switched outlets to which the transformers are pluged into. The lowest wattage outdoor transformer I can find is 88 watts. I noticed you have direct burial - I could run line (14-4 or 12-4 -If I can find it!!)voltage (40 feet) to the fountain and have two transformers to control the trail lights and the fountain light and run the pump on 120. Have #12 wire and length of run is 150 feet. Transformer at fountain would place it a "T" with side runs of about 50' each. ANY assistance or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Well, that sounds like quite a project! The best transformer for your application is a HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER from Focus Industries. They have multiple taps that allow you to overcome voltage drop problems and still power up your fountain pump. LANDSCAPE CABLE only comes in two conductors unfortunatel. Yes, the MALIBU TRANSFORMER is our smallest model. Have you looked at our PRE-PACKAGED LIGHTING KITS?

Labels: Landscape Lighting Kits, Low Voltage Landscape Lighting, Transformer

Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Malibu Lighting, Transformers, Low Voltage Lighting & 12 Volt Power Supplies

How can I combine two 88w malibu transformers?

Please contact Intermatic Corporation directly for more information on your MALIBU TRANSFORMERS. You might consider going to a larger TRANSFORMER to solve your problem and use the smaller units in other areas of your yard.

Labels: Landscape Lighting, Low Voltage Transformer, Malibu Transformer

Low Voltage Light Socket, Wedge Base Socket, Lighting Socket, MR16 Socket & Outdoor Lighting Accessories

My low voltage landscape lighting fixture's 12 V wedge bulb sockets are broken/rusted/not working. I would like to just replace sockets with wires. I would rather repair the fixture than buy new ones as these fixtures are cast aluminum. I cannot find any place where I can buy replacement socket. Please suggest where I can buy them. Thank you.

The best place to find replacement wedge base sockets is at your local auto parts store. If you want to change your SOCKETS to another type of lamp we have SINGLE CONTACT BASE SOCKETS and MR16 SOCKETS.

Labels: Aluminum Light Fixtures, Low Voltage Landscape Lights, Replacement Socket

Rope Light, LED Rope Light, Outdoor Rope Lighting, Strip Light & Outdoor Strip Lighting

I have two clients that want me to add rope lights under steps in their yards. 120v is not going to work, the hardscaping is in the way. plus its too close to water features. At one house I have two steps to light, total length maybe 120 feet. The other maybe 50 feet. If I use the 12v lED lightrope light can I use my existing landscape transformer if I have the wattage available? And is it easy to install? Any suggestions would be very helpful.

The 12V LED ROPE LIGHTING can be connected to a landscape transformer. It is easy to install. Do not exceed 150 ft run of the 12V LED or 16 ft on standard 12V ROPE LIGHT.

Labels: LED Rope Lights, Rope Lighting, Step Light

Voltage Drop requires Multi Tap Transformers

Hello. I appreciated the quick reply to my first question, and so proving that no good deed goes unpunished, I have a follow on...I am going to take your advice and run two wires to the tree in the circle in the center of my driveway, and have decided to use two 50 watt halogen uplights (it''s a Bradford pear which has very think foliage, and is about 20 feet tall, and will get to 30ish). You suggested the economical 150 watt Techlight transformer, but I am concerned about voltage drop with halogen lamps, and with them being at the very end of an 80 foot run. Using 12/2 wire, and a 1.5x adjustment for the fact that they are at the end, gives a voltage drop of 1.6. Is this too much for halogen? Would a better choice be a multi-circuit 200 watt transformer with one light on each circuit? It''s not shown on your website, and the voltage drop for each light would then only be .8 volts, and I might be able to add a 20 watt lamp to each side somewhere in the middle, without dropping the voltage much over 1? Thanks!

Yes, 1.6V drop is too much for a 12V transformer. Use the 13V leg on a multi-tap transformer instead. Try a Techlight Transformer CLVE300M.

Labels: Multi-Tap Transformer, Outdoor Landscape Lighting, Voltage Drop Calculation

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