Assignment B - Low Voltage Lighting Answer Key

Page 1 1. Describe four reasons for installing low-voltage lighting. (4) 1. Security: Low-voltage lighting helps discourage intruders by removing dark corners around a property and making the landscape feel safer. 2. Personal safety: It makes steps, pathways, grade changes, and water edges visible so people can move around without tripping or falling. 3. Wayfinding: Lighting guides visitors through the landscape toward entrances or outdoor spaces, making it easier to navigate at night. 4. Extended use of outdoor spaces: Good lighting lets you enjoy patios, decks, and gardens after dark and even appreciate the landscape from indoors during winter. 2. Define/describe the following: (7) a) Brightness Brightness refers to how intense or strong the light appears when it reaches the eye or an illuminated surface. b) Foot-candle A foot candle is a measurement of light falling on a surface equal to one lumen spread over one square foot. c) Glare Glare is harsh, uncomfortable light that hits the eye directly. It makes it difficult to see details and is something lighting designs try to avoid. d) Lumen A lumen measures the total amount of light produced by a lamp. e) Downlighting Downlighting places the light source above the area being lit, shining downward. It mimics natural light like the sun or moon and creates softer, more natural illumination. f) Moonlighting Page 2 Moonlighting is a type of downlighting where fixtures are mounted high in trees to cast soft, filtered light that looks like natural moonlight. g) Contour lighting Contour lighting highlights the edges where surfaces meet, such as along walkways, patios, or the edge of a water feature, mainly for safety and orientation. 3. Explain mirror lighting and its applications in the landscape. (4) Mirror lighting uses a still water surface like a pond as a reflective backdrop. By lighting the object behind the water and keeping the water itself dark, the feature is reflected, doubling the visual effect. It works especially well with large trees, sculptures, or architectural features to create a dramatic nighttime focal point. 4. Describe the difference between a well light fixture and a bollard light fixture. (4) A well light is installed flush with the ground and is designed mainly for uplighting. It hides the fixture so only the light effect is seen. A bollard light stands above ground (about 1 meter tall) and provides diffused lighting for paths or open areas. It is visible in the landscape and usually has glass or plastic panels around the lamp. 5. Briefly outline the seven steps of a low voltage lighting installation. (7) 1. Check whether permits are required. 2. Order all materials including fixtures, cable, connectors, transformer, and switches. 3. Lay out the system by marking fixture locations and wire runs. 4. Dig shallow trenches and run the cable. 5. Connect the fixtures to the cable using waterproof connectors. 6. Install and connect the transformer to a GFI-protected receptacle. 7. Test the system at dusk and make adjustments as needed. Page 3 6. Voltage drop calculation (1) 80 ft run, 128 watts, #12 cable (constant 7500) Voltage Drop = (128 × 80) ÷ 7500 Voltage Drop = 10,240 ÷ 7500 = 1.36 volts (approx.) 7. Voltage drop calculation (1) 120 ft run, 115 watts, #12 cable (constant 7500) Voltage Drop = (115 × 120) ÷ 7500 Voltage Drop = 13,800 ÷ 7500 = 1.84 volts (approx.) 8. What is the maximum acceptable voltage drop? (1) The maximum acceptable voltage drop is 1.3 to 1.5 volts . 9. Research three Canadian or local suppliers of low-voltage lighting materials. (12) Supplier 1: LiteForm Landscaping Lighting (Canada) Website: https://www.liteform.ca LiteForm carries a wide range of LED low-voltage fixtures, including path lights, uplights, and transformers. They offer durable, professional-grade products that would work well for long-lasting residential landscape installations. Supplier 2: Rona / Lowe’s Canada Website: https://www.rona.ca Rona stocks many low-voltage components such as LED path lights, deck lights, transformers, 12-2 landscape cable, wire connectors, and installation accessories. It’s a practical source for homeowners completing small to medium-sized systems. Supplier 3: Landscape Lighting Canada Page 4 Website: https://www.landscapelightingcanada.ca This supplier specializes in high-quality landscape lighting including brass fixtures, underwater lighting, transformers, and LED lamps. They focus on professional-grade materials suitable for long-term, outdoor use.