Here’s Why Landscape Lighting Needs Low-Voltage Fixtures

New homeowners love the idea of residential garden lighting. Landscape lights add a gorgeous glow to the outdoor area of your home, helping you create a warm atmosphere for your family and guests. As you search for high-quality outdoor lighting solutions, you will find that top landscape lighting contractors provide low-voltage options. Why are low-voltage lights essential for creating outdoor lighting arrangements? How do lighting systems for your patios, walkways, and gardens work? Let’s break down the benefits of low-voltage installations in your residential spaces.

What is Low-Voltage Lighting?

Regular power usage requires line voltage: a robust system of 120 volts. In contrast, a low-voltage setup uses just 12 volts. Outdoor lighting arrangements in public areas, such as floodlights in a stadium, can require line voltage. However, residential outdoor lighting rarely requires such a heavy load. Hence, landscape lighting specialists prefer this form for gardens and walkways. They also prefer low-voltage lighting because of the extensive benefits that it offers.

Benefits of Low-Voltage Lighting

Low-voltage lighting solutions offer several advantages over line voltage lighting. Let’s break them down:

• Safety: When you set up low-voltage garden lights, you can rest easy knowing that your children will not risk severe electrical shocks. Landscape lighting for residential properties must be safe to be feasible. Low-voltage options ensure this safety aspect, making them beneficial for residential buyers.
• Affordability: Low-voltage lights are more cost-effective than line-voltage options. Line-voltage cables often cost more. Moreover, their high-wattage bulbs and fixtures consume a lot of electricity. In comparison, low-voltage systems work with inexpensive wires and LED lights that consume less power.
• Variety: Since most landscape lighting companies work with low-voltage fixtures, more options are available in this market. If you go shopping for light fixtures, you are more likely to find a large variety of options for low-voltage options than line-voltage ones.
• Ease of Management: Installing and managing a low-voltage lighting system is much easier than handling a line-voltage fixture. Line-voltage options come with safety requirements that are cumbersome to execute. For example, the placement of a line-voltage cable needs to be 18 feet deep for proper installation. On the other hand, low-voltage fixtures require very little time and effort to set up and maintain. 

How Do the Low-Voltage Lights Work?

A transformer channels the 120-volt electricity from your home to create a 12-volt charge for the outdoor lights. Cables connect the transformer to the light fixtures, passing through soil and mulch to light up your beautiful designs. The cables can be of 12, 14, or 16 gauges. 12-gauge cables are the thickest, and they can power the brightest lights. After consulting your lighting contractor, you can choose a cable gauge as per your needs. The length of your cable gauge will depend on the total area you need to light and the strength of your transformer.

Now that you know why low-voltage lights are the best choice for your outdoor areas, it is time to call landscape lighting specialists. Contact Illuminated Gardens today to set up stunning landscape lights outside your home!