12v Outdoor lighting wiring diagram

[Naylor87]

Hi All,

I'm planning on wiring up a set of outdoor lights like the following -

I just wanted to clarify that this was the correct way to wire everything up in parallel?

I've checked in this forum and found this topic which I think confirms my plan as ok - //www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Parallel-Lights

So I guess I'm double checking more than anything before I commit to putting this all together. It's my first project where I've had to do this sort of electrical installation.

One question I have is is there an issue with wiring all the live together on a single metal terminal block within each junction box? The same goes for neutral.

 

[endecotp]

looks fine to me.

 

[ericmark]

Many of the 12 volt spot lamps are AC, where as most of the ribbon lamps are DC. I don't know why, but instead of writing AC or DC on the lamp often it is written as 50 Hz or with a lamp able to work on AC and DC seen it written 60, 50, 0 Hz I will guess it's a way of saying not suitable for a switch mode power supply who's output is likely in the GHz range.

There are DC spots often used in caravans tend to be high quality with a voltage range of 10 ~ 36 volt, but they are expensive, I would use low voltage (230 vac) spots and just use the extra low voltage (12 vdc) for the ribbon lamps.

 

[Naylor87]

Thanks Eric. I'm intending on using these for the spotlights - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CP19O62/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1

and these for the ground lights - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011KPY9GO/ref=pe_385721_51767431_TE_dp_1

Both seem to support DC by the looks of it.

I'm going to hook everything up first and make sure it all works ok. If there's flickering, or if something blows up, then I guess it's time to separate the spotlights from the LED ribbon with a different transformer or 230v.

Cheers

 

[SFK]

Naylor,
Your comment about 'hook everything up first' got me to look for this picture that showed my test run to see if 29m of 0.75mm2 cable was going to cause a problem with voltage drop. For me the 29m length did not - or at least not enough for me to care. The picture shows 240V on the left and 12V on the right and the lamps attached using choc blocks that are now inside sealed boxes http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...RS0&_nkw=Outdoor+Waterproof+IP66+box&_sacat=0.

Your wiring layout looks good and correct. But you mentioned using "single metal terminal block", isn't that a bit expensive? Would you not be better just using a connector block like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-6-15-30...hash=item1ea18ded1a:m:mad5bdxv9XI_Ohqnic6ygYQ or perhaps even better like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REUSABLE-...hash=item418adea7c4:m:mzPLe4t73lxRJBogtOLaE8A

FYI, the lights I used are rated at 3W and I find them very bright for my usage. This might be because I wanted a soft lighting effect, but be warned as I notice that yours are 5W.

sfk

 

[Naylor87]

Thanks SFK. I mentioned single metal terminal block because I need to terminate 5 neutral wires and 5 live wires in each block on the first junction box. I had looked at the connector blocks you mentioned, but wondered if terminating all 5 cables into one of those might be a bit of a squeeze. Also, what happens when you have more than 5? I'm probably showing my inexperience here

 

[SFK]

Naylor,
Your question is perfectly valid. Your method will work perfectly. My method was simply to be tight on money as I think/presume that solid metal connectors are expensive and you have to ensure the 0v and the 12V metal terminal blocks do not touch each other.

Regarding "squeeze of cables", when using a REUSABLE SPRING LEVER TERMINAL BLOCK ELECTRIC CABLE : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REUSABLE-...hash=item418adea7c4:m:mzPLe4t73lxRJBogtOLaE8A and
and you need more than 5 connections, then you use 2 blocks (for the 0V and for the 12V), and put a short jumper wire between the 2 blocks (of the same voltage). This will give you 8 connections (as you need 2 connection to join the blocks). If you are asking about a connector block like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-6-15-30...hash=item1ea18ded1a:m:mad5bdxv9XI_Ohqnic6ygYQ then the 15A or the 30A versions have big holes and you normally can easily twist together 3 (or more) 0.75mm2 wires and stick them in each side (not the prettiest but works). You can see on this photo that I have 3 cables in and I am sure I could jam in another 3. Or you could again use a jumper between two (or even three) and increase the number of connections.
In the end it just comes down to what works best for you as your method is perfectly good.
SFK