landscape lighting

[Joerg]

mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

On Jun 12, 3:42 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@removethispacbell.net
wrote:
mrdarr...@gmail.com wrote:

[...]

Anyone know where I can get LED landscape lights for cheap? At $4
each from a web vendor, I calculate breakeven time to be 3 years
electricity-wise. On the other hand, I won't have to worry about my
house burning down from hot lamps...
You can get some really fancy one from Lowes:http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=284364-...

Her are some more:http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&No=108&Ne=7000&cate...

Of course, in a front yard this stuff might grow legs overnight and vanish.

--
Regards, Joerg


Yep, no kidding.

I was thinking of alternatives to these, at $4 each (for white):
http://www.superbrightleds.com/malibu.htm

I don't think Lowe's carries these, but I've been wrong before...

Well, I doubt they'd carry them at $4 a pop since people will then just
keep buying regular bulbs. Also, one would have to make sure that they
aren't run flat-out at 150% rating or so and that they don't all fry up
during a thunderstorm. Once they get to less than $1 I'd think Lowes
might carry them.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

 

[Rich Grise]

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:

On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
....
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.

The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...

Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper

prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.

If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.


+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'

Good Luck!
Rich

 

On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.

The wire is 18 gauge I believe.  Those Chinese vendors...

Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper
prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.

If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.

  +V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
              |          |          |          |          |
            [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]
              |          |          |          |          |
              o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
                                                                  |
                                                                  |
  0V -------------------------------------------------------------'

Good Luck!
Rich

I just paralleled them into 3 separate loops. At first only 2, but
then one wire had to jump over the walkway: trip/fall issues. So I
split that one too...

No more than 6A on any wire, now. Wire doesn't even get warm. Works
great/bright lights.

Thanks,

Michael

 

On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.

The wire is 18 gauge I believe.  Those Chinese vendors...

Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper
prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.

If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.

  +V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
              |          |          |          |          |
            [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]     [lamp]
              |          |          |          |          |
              o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
                                                                  |
                                                                  |
  0V -------------------------------------------------------------'

Good Luck!
Rich

After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Joerg]

mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.
The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...
Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper
prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.

If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.

+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'

Good Luck!
Rich



After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Mind those Malibu "press-together" type contacts. They expect a certain
shape of cable. When it's too small you'll get flaky contacts, dirt in
the connection, followed by corrosion. When it's too thick the connector
might break into pieces.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

 

On Jun 20, 5:48 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@removethispacbell.net>
wrote:

mrdarr...@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.
The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...
Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper
prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.

If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.

+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'

Good Luck!
Rich

After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Mind those Malibu "press-together" type contacts. They expect a certain
shape of cable. When it's too small you'll get flaky contacts, dirt in
the connection, followed by corrosion. When it's too thick the connector
might break into pieces.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

Break into pieces, house on fire... break into pieces, house on
fire...

There's always the cut/solder/electrical tape method... ;-)

Michael

 

[Joerg]

mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:

On Jun 20, 5:48 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@removethispacbell.net
wrote:
mrdarr...@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to the
maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10) would be
silly and even risky due to heating.
The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...
Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear copper
prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10 or #8 wire.
If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent idea.
+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'
Good Luck!
Rich
After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
Mind those Malibu "press-together" type contacts. They expect a certain
shape of cable. When it's too small you'll get flaky contacts, dirt in
the connection, followed by corrosion. When it's too thick the connector
might break into pieces.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.


Break into pieces, house on fire... break into pieces, house on
fire...

There's always the cut/solder/electrical tape method... ;-)

That would corrode even faster.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

 

[C. Nick Kruzer]

Hi Michael, you wrote:

On Jun 12, 8:52 am, ins...@webtv.net (C. Nick
Kruzer) wrote:

Hi mrdarrett, you wrote:

Why did they bother to rectify the 12V output
power, I wonder... ?

Joerg's reply:

No idea. For light bulbs it doesn't make sense.
Only one reason I could think of: A cheap
switcher can only generate DC and maybe it
was a few milli-cents lower in cost than the
transformer.

Another reason for DC might be that it is safer
(from electric shock) than AC. Landscape
wiring means exposure to the effects of
weather.

insula

12V AC is less safe than 12V DC? How so?

Michael

Got me there. I was up late all night...I was thinking of a 120V AC that
would be powering the system, and I wasn't taking into account the
information you had provided about the power.

I wasn't intending to claim that 12vac is less safe than 12vdc, although
I certainly see how that is what it looks like. Mea culpa, mea stupida.

insula

 

[Rich Grise]

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:10:14 -0700, Joerg wrote:

mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 20, 5:48 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@removethispacbell.net> wrote:
mrdarr...@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to
the maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10)
would be silly and even risky due to heating.
The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...
Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear
copper prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10
or #8 wire. If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent
idea.
+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'
Good Luck!
Rich
After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
Mind those Malibu "press-together" type contacts. They expect a certain
shape of cable. When it's too small you'll get flaky contacts, dirt in
the connection, followed by corrosion. When it's too thick the
connector might break into pieces.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or
send PM.


Break into pieces, house on fire... break into pieces, house on fire...

There's always the cut/solder/electrical tape method... ;-)


That would corrode even faster.

Yes - use weatherproof wire nuts.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Joerg]

Rich Grise wrote:

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:10:14 -0700, Joerg wrote:

mrdarrett@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 20, 5:48 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@removethispacbell.net> wrote:
mrdarr...@gmail.com wrote:
On Jun 19, 1:19 pm, Rich Grise <r...@example.net> wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:41 -0700, mrdarrett wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:29 pm, "Alvin Andries"
...
Anything less than 2.5mm^2 (someone will have to convert this to
the maximum gauge for the
US,http://www.reade.com/Conversion/wire_gauge.html=> gauge 10)
would be silly and even risky due to heating.
The wire is 18 gauge I believe. Those Chinese vendors...
Toss the wire or recycle it (or find somebody to buy it - I hear
copper prices are getting pretty high these days), and get some #10
or #8 wire. If you can get 10-3 or 8-3, then the loop is an excellent
idea.
+V ---------o----------o----------o----------o----------o
| | | | |
[lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp] [lamp]
| | | | |
o----------o----------o----------o----------o-------,
|
|
0V -------------------------------------------------------------'
Good Luck!
Rich
After thinking about it a bit, perhaps I should go for AWG10, or at
least AWG14.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
Mind those Malibu "press-together" type contacts. They expect a certain
shape of cable. When it's too small you'll get flaky contacts, dirt in
the connection, followed by corrosion. When it's too thick the
connector might break into pieces.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or
send PM.

Break into pieces, house on fire... break into pieces, house on fire...

There's always the cut/solder/electrical tape method... ;-)


That would corrode even faster.

Yes - use weatherproof wire nuts.

Then some critter comes along, sniff, sniff, sniff, petroleum jelly! Yummy!

BTDT :-(

Now everything goes into home-made domes, made from ABS tubing and end
caps. Keeps the low voltage connections from the elements without
emitting a scent.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.