LED lights and voltage drop

[matt80]

Hi all,

I'm planning on swapping my halogen bulbs for LED equivalents. I will be using the existing electronic transformer (min 20W, max 105W) to power them. There are only three outputs on the transformer, so I plan to use junction boxes in order to split the outputs in order to power the 6 light fittings.

My question is... how worried do I need to be about voltage drop given that the cable run from the transformer (through the junction box(es)) to each light fitting is only around 1 metre? What size cable should I use, given a max load would be 20W on the 12v DC side?

 

[davelx]

How long is the cable run?

The current is less than 2 amps - I don't think there will be a problem!

 

[matt80]

The transformer is right next to the light switches, so only about a metre or so. My concern was that I know LED lights are very sensitive to voltage drop and that it can reduce their lifespan.

1mm twin cable will be ok?

 

[riveralt]

Hi all,

I'm planning on swapping my halogen bulbs for LED equivalents. I will be using the existing electronic transformer (min 20W, max 105W) to power them. There are only three outputs on the transformer, so I plan to use junction boxes in order to split the outputs in order to power the 6 light fittings.

Most transformer manufacturers give a limit to the distance from the transformer to the light and it is normally around 500mm max for one light.

My question is... how worried do I need to be about voltage drop given that the cable run from the transformer (through the junction box(es)) to each light fitting is only around 1 metre? What size cable should I use, given a max load would be 20W on the 12v DC side?

The other thing is that most leds that don't have the driver built in require either a constant current or constant voltage driver. I would suspect that your transformer is not suited to LED lights.