Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Landscape lighting bulbs burn out prematurely
Ike wrote:
We have Malibu landscape lighting and the bulbs burn out after only about two months of service. They are very bright compared to my neighbor's Malibu lights and he only replaces bulbs about once a year. When the landscapers installed our lights they did not use the wiring that came with the set. Instead, they used their own wiring which is a much larger gauge resulting in less voltage drop by the time the current reaches the lights. I am sure they thought they were doing me a favor, but their generosity appears to have worked against the life of the bulbs. Is there a simple solution to drop the voltage enough so these bulbs don't burn so hot? Would a standard light dimmer for 120 VAC work to adjust the 12 VDC voltage? Run them in to sets of series so each gets only half the voltage. You also may want to check the voltage they are really getting with a good meter. You may find over voltage. -- Joseph Meehan Dia duit |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Landscape lighting bulbs burn out prematurely
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message m... : Ike wrote: : We have Malibu landscape lighting and the bulbs burn out after only : about two months of service. They are very bright compared to my : neighbor's Malibu lights and he only replaces bulbs about once a year. : When the landscapers installed our lights they did not use the wiring : that came with the set. Instead, they used their own wiring which is a : much larger gauge resulting in less voltage drop by the time the : current reaches the lights. I am sure they thought they were doing me : a favor, but their generosity appears to have worked against the life : of the bulbs. Is there a simple solution to drop the voltage enough so : these bulbs don't burn so hot? Would a standard light dimmer for 120 : VAC work to adjust the 12 VDC voltage? === Dunno I'd guess it's possible to do something like that but not with a regular dimmer. For DC you'd need something different, made for the application. Or, maybe the right transformer? Does it have multiple taps? Did they yuse the right ones? I would doubt an install would depend on the resistance of wires to be done right - very unreliable way to design anything. : : Run them in to sets of series so each gets only half the voltage. You : also may want to check the voltage they are really getting with a good : meter. You may find over voltage. === Uhh, in series, meaning half voltage for two of them, you'd be lucky if the bulb even glowed visibly in the dark of night! It required about 80% before you start to get usable light from them. Your dropped your teeth or something there! Pop : : -- : Joseph Meehan : : Dia duit : : |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Can I Mix 40 Watts and 25 Watts Light Bulbs in One Fixture? | Home Repair | |||
Landscape Lighting Controller Installation | Home Repair | |||
Looking for photo's or suggestions for kitchen/hallway lighting | UK diy | |||
Do unused floricient bulbs go bad? | Metalworking |