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Low voltage landscape lighting suggestions please

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John Timmins

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Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
857
Location
Flagler Beach, FL
My home is 2 years new and it's time to upgrade the landscaping. I have completed adding some electrical boxes for a transformer and also added a water line and spigot for a hose. I am ready to call the landscaper to bring the rock, landscape brick, and bushes.

I want suggestions for a better quality landscape lighting kit of somekind. I think I need to buy a transformer and a timer. I am not sure how the wiring is done. I think I can bury the low voltage wiring ( or not) for the sidewalk lights and spotlight cans for a small tree or two and then the lights get added.

I am not sure how the light are attached to the wires. Are the lights wired by smashing the connector so the connector pins penetrate the power wire ?

I need some advise and possible a place to read this procedure. Thanks :beer:

Any recommended quality brand names for outdoor lighting is welcome ! No Solar !
 
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bzinsky

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Oct 27, 2014
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5,565
Yes, I pieced together a few systems with photocells and transformer. It was a constant problem as I never knew which led’s worked with which photocell.

My last one I just bought a malibu. Flawless operation with any lights. Highly recommend.

Best way to make the connections is to use a crimper or solder and then shrink wrap

I dont practice that, i usually just get lazy and wire nut then and burry. Never had an issue doing that. Doubt it would last 20 -30 years though
 
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P

PugetDude

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Mar 13, 2013
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Superstition Mountains, AZ
Buy the silicone-grease filled wire nuts for your buried connections.
There is a new type of self-piercing tap connector that looks interesting but I haven't tried them yet.
I'm installing 20 more lights this week; switching to LED so I don't have to change out the transformer.
Bought all my lights online. Much cheaper than the big-box stores.
 
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joseywales

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Jun 23, 2017
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Location
Southeastern, PA
PugetDude said:
Buy the silicone-grease filled wire nuts for your buried connections.
There is a new type of self-piercing tap connector that looks interesting but I haven't tried them yet.
I'm installing 20 more lights this week; switching to LED so I don't have to change out the transformer.
Bought all my lights online. Much cheaper than the big-box stores.
Click to expand...
Can you provide any names or links? Need to install a complete system and will start with the Malibu 125W transformer.
 
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cybrdyke

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Sep 9, 2014
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3,442
Location
USA
Landscape contractors use Volt and Sollos.
Professionals use Kichler, Focus Industries & Hadco.
Prices go up along with the quality. The difference in quality between these brands and the big box store is huge. So is the price.
CD
 
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justsam

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Aug 20, 2010
Messages
1,267
Location
Penngrove, California
I have used "time of day" and motion and or daylight sensors with some degree of satisfaction. My current one, and most flexible, is to use a smart outdoor receptacle, and then Alexa of other App to control, as I see fit. Just use a "dumb" transformer and put the smarts elsewhere where you can can better control it.

Now my issue is the birds just love to poop on my pathway lights, in spite of the top design making it difficult to perch, they find a way. Does not seem to matter to them if it is Kichler or Hampton Bay, they still persist.
 
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hector

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Oct 24, 2020
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47
Location
USA
Want to point out that with landscape lighting price is not 1:1 correlated with quality. Others above are correct professionals/contractors use Kichler, Vista, FX, Focus, Hadco, and some other brands. But the model is: they buy the fixtures at ~50% off of retail and then charge retail per fixture to their customers. Recently some of these brands decided they wanted a piece of the DTC pie, but in order to keep their contractors happy, the DTC price is still set at 80-90% of retail. So, a significant portion of the price increase is intended for contractor profit, and speaks nothing to quality for the end user.

Volt made a lot of enemies in the industry by offering a high quality fixture for 1/3rd to 1/4th the price of equivalent fixtures available to contractors at retail pricing. As a result they are far and away the best choice for a homeowner/DIYer that wants to do a professional-level install.

The big box fixtures (even Kichler sold at Lowes), "solar" lights and the resurrected Malibu discount brand listed above are poor quality and should be avoided.
 
M

mrVanagon

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Jul 21, 2015
Messages
105
Location
Belleville, IL, USA
I'll add just a bit more here. I exclusivly do landscape lighting, mostly for higher-end customers and subdivisions. Volt sells good quality stuff to the public but there's another side of the same company that only sells to lighting pros. Many of the lights are very similar but they also have a line of products that the public can't get from Volt. Whatever fixture you get, look for one that is brass, cast if the budget allows. We largely install fixtures that use replaceable bulbs rather than integrated LED fixtures. VOLT is a source of good quality LED bulbs with many options and reasonable prices.

I'd avoid getting fixtures from the big boxes but, for smaller systems, like 150 watts or less, I have had good results with the transformers you can find at Depot.

As for underground connections, we have been using standard wire nuts pre-filled with a squirt of lithium grease for many years. They're cheap, easy to use and reliable. We find that the standard white grease is less messy than silicone products. I've been experimenting with the wago gelbox connectors but they are expensive overkill for the 12v systems we deal with except maybe for pond lights.
 
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Git

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May 18, 2008
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S Cal
We had professionally installed Vista Transformers and high quality brass/copper 12v lighting installed almost 15 years ago now. For the most part, everything has held up well, no problem with the transformers, I replaced all the actual lights with led and I have had to repair the wiring here and there where it got stretched by tree roots or something similar. I do believe you get what you pay for.

With that in mind, I see these Volt lights from time to time at Costco, and if these lights would work out for what you had planned, that is what I would buy. When it comes to grease caps, Home Depot sells some decent one, but I really like the Blazing Waterproof Connectors


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Sprinkler Warehouse
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HomeDepot
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Blazing Waterproof Connectors
 
B

Buckaroo5

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Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
820
Location
Central Ohio
Ordered these from Amazon - very rugged. I used the junction boxes for each light as the cheaper connectors are the weak link in the system. Short sections of 3" Schedule 40 DWV PVC Pipe can be used as a housing for the well lights. The lights nest into the end of pipe nicely and the assembly can be placed in a shallow hole.

$70 Malibu 120 Watt Power Pack with Sensor and Weather Shield for Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Spotlight Outdoor Transformer 120V Input 12V Output 8100-9120-01

$60 Sunriver Low Voltage Landscape Lights LED Landscape Lighting 3W Landscape Well Lights 12V-24V Waterproof Outdoor In-ground Lights for Paver,Pathway,Driveway,Deck, Garden (Warm White 6 Pack)

$50 ZUCKEO Low Voltage Landscape Lights LED Landscape Lighting, 5W 12V Garden Pathway Lights Waterproof Warm White Walls Trees Flags Outdoor Landscape Spotlights with Stakes (8 Pack)

$18 Junction Box, 5Pcs Waterproof IP68 Cable Connector, Larger 3-Way External Electrical Junction Box 5.5mm-10.2mm (1 PCS Screwdriver)
 
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D

DwellerK

New member
Joined
Jan 13, 2022
Messages
1
If you are looking for low voltage landscape lighting then I would suggest this SUNVIE 12W LED Landscape Lights. It comes with warm white color and high lumen output. 900 lumens. 270-degree adjustable head. 50,000 lifespan.
 
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