V12 outside LED lighting

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I’m looking to installing 12 outside LED lights along a path, these will be spiked in the ground, I preferred to use (low voltage) as small children running around.


I’m trying to calculate the driver required to power these, if the max 35 blub watts is used.


Wattage Max 35W
Bulb Base MR16/MR11
Voltage 12V
 
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MR16 and MR11 are not bases. They are the size of the reflector in eights of an inch. Bases are GU10, G5.3, ES, bayonet, SES etc to name a few.

Mains, 240v is low voltage. 12v is extra low voltage.

I don’t think 12v 35 watt LEDs exist, they would be awfully bright. Perhaps you mean 35 watt equivalent, so perhaps 4 watt. 12 x 4 is 48, so a minimum 50w driver (DC power supply) would be required.
 
https://energylightbulbs.co.uk/outdoor-lighting/garden-spike-lights/12v-spikes/outdoor-garden-black-stainless-steel-12v-mr16-low-voltage-spike-light-zlc328b

I’ve attached a url link to the lights. I was looking at 12v as wanted to avoid armoured cabling issue that would come from running cable in garden and also for safety for children that might crash in to them.

Well you need to contact them and tell them what I told you as they obviously don't know. Also ask them what the wattage actually is and go from there.
 
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I’m looking to installing 12 outside LED lights along a path, these will be spiked in the ground, I preferred to use (low voltage) as small children running around.
As
Those lights are not LED.
That company (and many others) has LED Garden-Light "kits" of several sizes.
Here is one group of "kits" which may be of interest https://www.gardenlightshop.com/70-alder-bundles-kits

When you use 12 V (AC) LED garden lights there is usually no need for a "driver" - just use an ordinary 12 V (AC) transformer, of adequate capacity.
(Although LEDs are DC devices, the "lamps" usually include a Full-Wave (Bridge) rectifier, so that these lamps are run on AC.)

If you are using twelve 3 W LED devices, the total would be 36 W (or 3 A) so only a "modest" transformer is required.
However, it is prudent to specify a larger transformer than the minimum initially required, since this makes it easier (and cheaper) to add more "luminaires" at a later date, if needed.

If you think that some of these "kits" are expensive as compared to buying a number of lights and the transformer, remember that these include connecting cables with (proprietary) plugs and sockets.
Such plugs and sockets also have a cost!

Because the plugs and sockets used tend to be associated with particular vendors/manufactures, there may be incompatibility problems if different "brands of lamps are used together.
However, these problems can usually be overcome with a soldering iron and heat-shrink tubing.
 
Last edited:
Hyperway
As others said, 35W per light unit is too high for LED.

I wrote some suggestions and a shopping list a few years ago that might be relevant to you.
Please see following link

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/decking-lighting-advice.466740/

SFK
While voltage drop is not likely to be much of a problem with LED lamps, it can always be reduced (if the lighting is installed in any "Circular" fashion) by making the circuit concerned into a "Ring" (i. e. Fed with same (Polarity/Phase - call it what-you-will) from both ends of any possible "Loop".
 
While voltage drop is not likely to be much of a problem with LED lamps, it can always be reduced (if the lighting is installed in any "Circular" fashion) by making the circuit concerned into a "Ring" (i. e. Fed with same (Polarity/Phase - call it what-you-will) from both ends of any possible "Loop".
Why complicate it with something non standard? Two equal length radials will work just as well.
 
As I said 2 equal length radials will work just as well. Rings are not standard for lighting circuits. They are special for 32 amp circuits using under rated cable and variable loads round the ring.
 
https://energylightbulbs.co.uk/outdoor-lighting/garden-spike-lights/12v-spikes/outdoor-garden-black-stainless-steel-12v-mr16-low-voltage-spike-light-zlc328b

I’ve attached a url link to the lights. I was looking at 12v as wanted to avoid armoured cabling issue that would come from running cable in garden and also for safety for children that might crash in to them.
Those are spiked lamp holders for halogen bulbs of 35watt max, you can put led lamps in them but cheaper and easier to use led spiked garden lamps designed for the job.
Example
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Spike-Install-Adjustable-White/dp/B013I77JFA
 
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