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12-Volt System vs. 120-Volt System

By: Roger Neumann

Every system has it’s pros and cons and you are the one that must decide which is better for you and your family. I elected to work with the 12 volt system simply because I am not a licensed electrician. In order to meet code for your community, you will most likely need a licensed electrician to install the system if you choose the 120-volt system.

Since I like to do things myself, I only looked at the money end of the application and decided the 12-volt system was designed for me. One of my common sayings is, “I’ll take dumb luck over skill (or in this case, knowledge) any day of the week. As it turned out, I made the right decision to use the 12-volt system over the 120-volt system or line system. If I would have done my due diligence, I would have discovered there are many reasons why I should have chosen the low voltage system, 12-volt system, over the line voltage system, 120-volt system.

To capsulize some of the advantageous of low voltage lighting, I discovered the quality of light produced by a low voltage system would always be brighter, sharper and cleaner than any high voltage alternative. The effect will dramatically enhance any outdoor scene. It is more energy efficient than their high voltage counterpart system. That means the operating cost is minimal in comparison to the high voltage system. Low voltage lighting allows for superior system control, from selecting a specific light intensity and position of a single fixture to automating an entire system to correspond to your schedule.

Here are a few reasons why the low voltage system is a better choice for your application:

Low voltage, 12-volt, landscape lighting is safer to operate than the traditional line voltage, 120-volt, system. Feel at ease knowing your 12-volt lighting system poses no risk of accidental electrical injury.

Operating expenses for 12-volt lighting systems are much lower than the operating expenses for 120-volt systems. 12-volt systems operating cost are about 1/3 the cost of the 120-volt systems.

Installation cost per fixture on the 12-volt system is pennies on the dollar compared to the 120-volt system.

12-volt lamps, bulbs, give beam-spread control compared to the directional control with the 120-volt lamps. This allows more exact and precise specialized lighting effects to be incorporated into your low-voltage system designs.

With wattages of 75 or less, you now have a choice over 100 (one hundred) 12-volt lamps (bulbs) available for your application. 120-volt systems have 12 (twelve) available for your application. This eliminates problems of fixture and lamp availability along with concerns of limited selection when you choose low-voltage lighting. Which one seems better for you?

12-volt lamps are capable of compact design therefore allowing you to use fixtures that are more appealing. This allows people to see the effect of the light and not the source of the light.

12-volt lamps produce a better quality of light than 120-volt, which results in achieving the “WOW” effect.

12-volt lamps are available in a wide range of quartz halogen and they are the secret of creating the mood you want for your application.

For more information on landscape-lighting, creating a design that fits your wants, needs and desires, taking you step by step from the beginning to completion of your project, I invite you to download a “How To” book on landscape-lighting.

Article Source: http://articlekarma.com

Roger Neumann has extensive background in aviation. He started flying when he was 15 years old and his parents had to drive him to the airport because he was too young to drive. His flying career started then and he finished his career with the airlines until the 60 years of age forced him out of the airlines. During his career, he flew Army helicopters in Viet Nam and went from the Army to the Air Force side to fly fighter jets for the Missouri Air National Guard. He retired from the military with 23 years of service. Within the civilian arena of his aviation career, he flew nearly everything from turbo-props to jets. The last few years before retirement, Roger’s normal route was from Houston, Texas to Narita, Japan and back to Houston. He incorporated the flying protocol of using a checklist and planning to create his system. He also carried the skill of being a perfectionist as a pilot into the landscape-lighting business that created his checklist type system. Because of that system, he was able to write an awesome “how to” book on installing landscape-lighting systems. He wanted to create a book that was simple and clear enough to share with anyone that is interested in installing there own system but did not know how to complete the task. His guarantee is anyone who buys, studies and follows his book, can install a system that will turn their home into a showcase masterpiece. To locate his book, just start with www.landscapelightingabc.com Roger graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. After he left the farm in Illinois, he always was involved in business and started several companies throughout the years. Six years before retiring from the airlines, he started a landscape-lighting company that is doing extremely well today. The combination of business and flying caused Roger to create a system that anyone can follow and be successful installing landscape lighting for their home. For more information, visit Neumann’s site at www.abclandscapelighting.com

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