FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What voltage do landscape lights use?
12V is the most common option for residential outdoor lighting. Known as "low voltage," it is achieved by converting standard 120V current into 12V through use of a transformer. The main benefits of low voltage are:
- • Very little risk of electrical shock, even underwater
- • Wide selection of energy-efficient fixtures to choose from
- • Low voltage wire can be directly buried in a shallow trench (minimum depth: 6"), generally without using conduit
Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a lighting professional, low voltage is the clear choice for residential use. For commercial, security and municipal applications, shop 120V outdoor lighting.
What is the best landscape lighting?
With in-house engineers and lighting experts who use the latest LED and control technologies, VOLT® designs, manufactures and sells the best products in the landscape lighting industry. Our fixtures are constructed of solid brass or copper, with no paint or powder coating to peel or corrode, and feature premium internal components. All of our products are truly professional grade - that's why we have an average customer rating of 4.9 stars on more than 10,000 reviews.
Are LED lights good for outdoor use? How long do LED landscape lights last?
VOLT® products are designed to withstand weather and water for a lifetime of outdoor use. Our professional grade solid brass and copper fixtures, low voltage transformers, LED bulbs and accessories are built to the highest standards of construction and performance, using state-of-the-art components. They are field tested for durability and ease of installation, and meet rigorous standards of electrical safety and electromagnetic emissions tests. And we back them with our no-hassle lifetime warranty.
Is landscape lighting expensive? How much does landscape lighting cost?
Outdoor lighting is very cost-effective to own - especially when you use the latest LED technologies, as VOLT® products do. LED lights require far less energy to produce the same brightness as halogen bulbs; you can save up to 85% in energy costs by using LEDs. And when it comes to buying your system, you'll find VOLT® prices are especially low because we're factory-direct. On top of that, we offer special bundled pricing on our outdoor lighting kits, which are the easiest and most affordable way to add a high performance LED lighting system to your home. Wholesale pricing and military discounts are also available.
How do you install landscape lights?
Low voltage lighting is safe and easy enough for most homeowners to install themselves as a do-it-yourself project. And with the how-to videos and articles in our Learning Center, as well as live support available by phone 7 days a week, we're here to help make installation a breeze. The key is to start your project by creating an outdoor lighting installation plan, which is tremendously helpful in avoiding mistakes. It's easy, though - simply make a rough sketch of your property, set your transformer location, set your fixture locations and determine your wire runs.
Where should landscaping lights be placed?
Landscaping lights can be used to enhance the beauty, safety and security of your yard, garden, patio, deck, dock, flower beds, pathway, driveway, outdoor kitchen, pool and pond areas, tree canopies, flag poles, retaining walls and more! By installing low voltage lighting, you can continue to enjoy your outdoor living spaces when the sun goes down.
How far apart should you place landscape lights?
This depends upon your application, personal preference, terrain and the beam spread of the fixtures. For example, if you're installing path lights with a 12-foot diameter beam spread, and you want continuous lighting along a walkway, you might space the fixtures 12 feet apart. But for indpendent pools of light, you might space the fixtures 16 feet apart. Before installing your fixtures, it's helpful to walk the area, mark where you want to put fixtures with small flags or pencils, then measure the distance between fixtures as well as the distance from the fixtures to your transformer.
What is a good wattage for outdoor lights?
When it comes to LED lighting, a better question is, "How many lumens are needed for outdoor lighting?" The difference between lumens vs. watts is important to understand. Watts measure energy comsumption - and for old halogen bulbs, that would give you a rough idea of light output. But modern LEDs are incredibly efficient, requiring far fewer watts to produce the same light output as halogens. So, the metric that you'll want to focus on is lumens, which measure visible light energy. How much light output you'll need depends on your application. For example, you might want lower light output from a downlight, where you're trying to achieve a natural moonlighting effect, than you would want from security lighting. But bear in mind not all lumens produced by a lamp will exit the fixture - so when comparing fixtures, you'll want to know the "fixture output" or "fixture lumens."
What is the best material for outdoor lighting fixtures?
VOLT® fixtures are constructed of solid brass or copper for a lifetime of beauty and durability. There's no paint or powder coating to wear off, peel or corrode - just solid brass or copper that will patina beautifully as it ages.
What if I have more questions?
Our lighting experts are on hand from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET Saturday-Sunday; call us at (813) 978-3700
