Outdoor lighting can make a world of difference for your curb appeal. Whether you want to install lighting for your house, pathways, pools, patio, trees, shrubs, deck, walls – practically anywhere – low voltage lighting is ideal.
What is Low Voltage Lighting?
When you plug lights into your home’s sockets, they’re usually in a 120V socket. But when you have outdoor lighting, a transformer is reduced to lower the voltage of the lighting to 12V.
Ideally, you’ll use these low voltage options when you know it will be challenging to run:
- Standard-voltage wire
- Standard-voltage conduits
For homeowners, there are a lot of reasons that a professional would recommend low voltage lighting solutions.
Why Low Voltage Lighting is Preferred for Outdoor Lighting
A 12-volt line allows for a few key advantages over line voltage systems, or your standard lighting system. The key advantages of why you may want to install this lighting or work with a professional to do so include:
- Energy efficient. If you want to save money on your lighting, this is a good opportunity. When you use the right bulbs, such as an outdoor LED, you can save 20% to 25% on energy costs.
- Reduce risk of injury. Do you like to garden, have pets or kids or like to be out in your yard often? If so, you’ll want to have a low voltage solution. If you hit an electrical wire while digging, the 12V will not cause the same level of injury as it would if you sliced through a 120V line.
- Easier to install. While it may seem complicated to install your low voltage lighting, it won’t require a call to the electric company. You will need a transformer, but it requires far less electrical work and will cost less to have a professional installation done.
- Versatile. If you want to revamp your lighting in the future or add new lighting, 12V outdoor lighting offers a versatile option that can be installed in tight spaces easily.
- Security. Outdoor lighting adds security to your home, too. These solutions illuminate your space, making it less inviting for intruders and acts as a deterrent.
- Lower heat production. Heat is a concern for many people. When you have lighting near trees, there’s always a concern that the light will be too hot and cause harm to sensitive plants. The lower heat production of 12V lighting adds an extra layer of safety to your outdoor areas.
Outdoor lighting is one of the best ways to make your home more inviting while also adding value to your property. Whether you want to illuminate a walkway or make a certain area of your landscape the focal point of your yard, lighting can help.
Converting your standard line to low voltage will require you to use a remote or in-line transformer to convert the voltage. The remote transformer is the preferred option, and working with a landscape lighting contractor that has experience with these conversions is the best option.
A professional will make sure that your outdoor lighting is installed properly and safely while adding to your home’s curb appeal.
