Outdoor landscape lighting brings out the beauty of an outdoor environment at night. It’s essential for safety, security, and enhancing an outdoor space’s curb appeal.
There are two ways to power an outdoor landscape lighting system: line voltage and low-voltage. Knowing the difference between these two power sources will help in creating an outdoor landscape lighting system that is perfectly tailored to an outdoor space, ensuring that it will shine bright at night.
This week’s blog post will differentiate between line voltage and low-voltage for outdoor landscape lighting, detailing which power source is best for an outdoor landscape lighting system.
What is Line Voltage in Outdoor Landscape Lighting?
Line voltage is also known as standard or high voltage. It refers to the amount of 120 volts, which is the standard used in most commercial and residential properties in the US. Outdoor landscape lighting systems using line voltage don’t need a transformer, which makes it easier to install. Professional installation is often required when installing a line voltage outdoor landscape lighting system as the power cables must be safely buried. Applications for line voltage usually include outdoor security lighting, parking lots, and large spotlights.
What is Low-Voltage in Outdoor Landscape Lighting?
Low-voltage is when a transformer is used to reduce the standard 120V output to a safer and more manageable range of 12V-24V. Because of the lower voltage, it is safe to use in a high traffic area. Low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting systems can be easier to install and are more suited for lighting residential spaces or spaces with high traffic.
5 Key Differences between Line Voltage and Low-Voltage
In addition to the amount of volts used and whether or not a transformer is needed, there are other ways in which line voltage and low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting differs:
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Safety:
- Shock hazards are a huge safety concern when handling line voltage. To minimize risk, bury the cables at least 18 inches, put the cable in a conduit, and defer to professional installation when uncertain.
- Due to the lower voltage of low-voltage landscape lighting, there’s a lower risk of shock, cables don’t need to be in a conduit, and cables can be buried in shallow trenches.
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Cost:
- The initial costs for installation and light fixtures are cheaper than low-voltage systems. But because they use more power, line voltage systems will have higher operating costs.
- The initial cost of installing a low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting system will be higher than line voltage. But there are lower long term costs as they don’t use as much power. If high-quality, energy-efficient elements like LED bulbs are used, they won’t need to be replaced frequently.
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Light Output
- Line voltage landscape lighting systems produce a warmer, more diffused light.
- Modern technology has allowed for different options in low-voltage landscape lighting that will deliver different lighting effects such as diverse beam spreads and color temperatures.
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Light Quality
- Due to the brightness of line voltage landscape lighting systems, fewer light fixtures are needed to light an area
- Low-voltage landscape lighting offers a more natural light and better control over the direction of the light.
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Aesthetic Appeal
- Line voltage outdoor landscape lighting systems are best suited for large, open areas that need bright, expansive lighting. It’s not usually recommended for residential areas.
- Low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting offers more designs, styles, colors, and finishes to choose from. Creating and establishing a unique lighting design that will showcase an outdoor space in its best light is easy. Low-voltage landscape lighting can be adjusted or added onto to suit an ever-changing landscape.
Discover Low-Voltage Outdoor Landscape Lighting at LightCh8in
Low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting will transform any outdoor space into a magical nighttime setting.Outdoor low-voltage landscape lighting offers many benefits and is the preferred choice over line voltage outdoor landscape lighting. This makes outdoor low-voltage landscape lighting ideal for residential areas or outdoor environments with high foot traffic.
A LightCh8in account is free! Log in or register now to explore our wide range of high-quality low-voltage outdoor landscaping supplies. We’ve got brass outdoor light fixtures, energy-saving LEDs, premium direct burial cables, and more. Confidently set up an outdoor landscape lighting system that will make any outdoor setting shine at night with LightCh8in.