Low voltage outdoor lighting is an easy to implement, safe and a low-cost way to light up your yard. In order to set up the system, you won’t even have to pay for an electrician, since most likely you will be able to set up your low voltage outdoor lighting on your own.

Low voltage outdoor lighting uses a current, which is 10 times less potent than regular electric current. This low voltage lighting uses a 12 V current when regular current is 120 V. This naturally renders this type of lighting 10 times safer. Electric runs through a specific water proof cable, which creates a loop around the transformer, lighting up the garden.

There are several important advantages of the low voltage outdoor lighting setups, when compared to regular lighting:

1. A homeowner can set up his/her own low voltage outdoor lighting system hassle free, with the use of a special kit. Such kit usually includes all of the needed components, such as the cable, a transformer and the fixtures. The only needed component that is not included in the kit is the bulbs. However, it would not be prudent to include the bulbs in the kits, since every bulb may have a different wattage.

2. Low voltage outdoor lighting is a very low cost solution, since it can use light bulbs, starting at nearly 4 W. In addition to regular lamps, home owners may choose to use halogen or fluorescent lamps.

3. Most of the low voltage outdoor lighting kits also come with a built-in timer allowing the owner to set it to come on and off every 4, 6, or 8 hours etc., as well as many kits come with a built-in photocell, capable of turning the lighting on and off according to whether there is sun or there isn’t.

4. Low voltage outdoor lighting setups provide the homeowners with a maximum security, since they can easily indicate intruders after the sun goes down.

5. It is extremely easy to relocate your low voltage outdoor lighting system since its wires have to be just slightly immersed under the ground, instead of being buried deeply and permanently.

6. It is usually recommended to purchase a transformer for your low voltage outdoor lighting setup, which somewhat exceeds the current needs of your lighting system. This will allow you to expand your system in the future as well as to start using lamps with more wattage.

7. You can pick the low voltage cable depending on the amount of watts required to operate your low voltage outdoor lighting system. Popular sizes of the low voltage cables include 12 ga. (can carry 300 watts), 14 ga. (can carry 200 watts) and 16 ga. (can carry 150 watts). Standard wire size is 12 gauge.

8. Low voltage outdoor lighting designs can be built to suit a wide range of lighting situations. The types of lighting include path lighting, in-ground fixtures, tree-hung moonlighting fixtures, spotlights, and deck lighting for an extra measure of safety while walking on the steps etc.

9. Another advantage of the low voltage outdoor lighting systems is their low cost. Not only the systems may cost anywhere starting from $15, but they also help the homeowner save a lot on the energy costs. However, keep in mind that a sound quality system will usually cost anywhere around $300.

10. It is very easy to calculate how many lamps you can use with any given transformer. For example, if the transformer is 300-watt, then you can have up to 30 garden lights with 10-watt bulbs. Just multiply the number of bulbs in your system by the bulb wattage to find out how many lamps you can use with a given transformer.

Before starting to bring about your low voltage outdoor lighting set up, please consider the following:

1. Always plug the transformer of your lighting system directly into the power outlet, without using an extension cord between the electrical outlet and the transformer.

2. The wires of the low voltage outdoor lighting system are more prone to damages if they’re not buried deeply in the ground.

3. Even though your transformer is better to have some extra wattage, it should not exceed one third of the total wattage of your system.

Low voltage outdoor lighting is a very cost-efficient and easy to assemble lighting system. A low voltage outdoor lighting system will make your landscape come to life also after dark, letting you enjoy your gorgeous landscaping even twice more.

John Monsholi is passionate about low voltage lighting systems and low voltage lights.