FAQs
- What is low voltage lighting?
- Low voltage lighting reduces the 120-volt current of electricity that comes out of your electrical outlets down to 12 volts by running it through a transformer. This transformer is typically mounted on an exterior wall next to an exterior outlet. In some applications it may be mounted on an interior wall if necessary. Then wire is run from the transformer to the light fixtures.
- What are the benefits of low voltage lighting?
- Low voltage lighting is safer and more energy efficient than line voltage or 120 volt lighting. Coming into contact with 120 volts of electricity can be life threatening. In contrast, according to the national safety organization of Underwriters Laboratory and the National Electricians Code, anything under 15 volts does not present a shock hazard.
In addition, the operating expense for 12 volt lamps is approximately 1/3 the cost of operating 120 volt lamps. This is due to the configuration of the lamps that produces more foot-candles of light per watt than it's 120-volt counterpart.
Perhaps the most important benefit of low voltage lighting, however, is its versatility. 12-volt lamps are capable of compact design and produce a smaller fixture that is less obtrusive and has more placement options. They allow for beam control that ranges from a narrow 6-degree beam to a wide 55-degree beam, whereas 120-volt lamps produce an uncontrolled flood of light. For wattages of 75 or less, there are over one hundred 12-volt lamps available as compared to twelve 120-volt lamps. 12-volt lamps also produce a better quality of light that is sharper and cleaner than any high voltage alternative. They are available in a wide range of quartz halogen not available to 120-volt lamps.
In short, a low voltage lighting system affords the versatility to select the intensity of light, beam width, lens options, quality of light and appropriate fixture for each application. This versatility enables us to design a custom lighting system that will tastefully and artistically showcase your unique property.
- What is the difference between a Natural Accents professional low voltage lighting system and the do-it-yourself kits found in home improvement stores?
- There are several important differences. First, the kits you buy from a home improvement store are not customized. Obviously, it is the same type of kit sold to each consumer regardless of the application it is used for. One of the most important components of a professional lighting system by Natural Accents is the design itself. Our knowledge and experience equip us to create a more complex system that is uniquely suited to highlight the best features of your property.
Secondly, there is a significant difference between the quality of Natural Accents' professional grade fixtures and those form a home improvement store. Our fixtures carry a minimum 10 year warranty. And our transformers carry a lifetime warranty. Professional quality fixtures offer better construction and construction materials. They can withstand Kansas City 's extreme variations in weather so you won't be dealing with cracked or leaking fixtures in a year or two. There is also a wider variety of professional quality equipment available, which allows us to choose the specific fixtures with the functions that will best serve a particular property.
In addition, we have technical knowledge that most do-it-yourselfers don't possess. This includes concerns regarding voltage drop and maintaining the same voltage and resulting light intensity at all fixture locations.
Taken together, all the benefits of a professional lighting design and installation by Natural Accents insures that you will have an aesthetically pleasing system as well as a safe and functional one for years to come.
- What are the costs of a Natural Accents professional lighting system?
- Costs depend on the number of fixtures specified, the size of the property in question, the purpose of the system and so on. You can be sure that the cost of a Natural Accents system will exceed the cost of a home store kit. However, this initial expense is offset by the extended life and added enjoyment available from a professional system that creates more appealing and diverse lighting effects. When compared to line voltage alternatives, low voltage lighting is far more economical with regard to operating expense and per fixture cost.
