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LED pathway lights
Resource: safe electric wiring
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DIY
pathway lights LED pathway lights Resource: safe electric wiring |
Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resource: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
Safety
when testing wires:
Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 Non-contact voltage tester Test for power without touching connectors NEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off |
 120 volt 15 amp devices
including GFCI, timers, switches, plugs, wifi controls etc can be
installed on 15 or 20
amp
breaker.120 volt GFCI, outlet, receptacle that is rated 20 amp can be installed on 20 amp breaker only, but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI |
Buy Basic electric book Home plumbing/ electrical codes  Or learn about basic household electricity... use and search my site/ Resource Safe electric wiring Basic house wiring |
 Use outlet tester to check for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
 Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Pull boxes |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX |
Connect wire to screw terminal Use only 600 volt solid copper wire. Do not use stranded wire or extension cord. Do not use solder anywhere on residential 120-240 volt wiring. Attach electric installation to structure. Tighten screws very tight against wire.  Buy: NEC books Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes Basic electric book National electric code guide/ illustrated Resources: How to twist wire How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
 Weatherproof
lever switch on outdoor lightsSafely operate outdoor toggle switch Replaces outdoor cover Install over top of ordinary switch Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc Use weatherproof box for outdoor Can be used indoor or outdoor Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon Lever switches Resource Cantex-toggle-switch-covers.pdf Cantex-PVC-junction-boxes.pdf |
Buy: |
Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon |
 Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. Code -Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
   When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Weather resistant plastic box for outdoor extension cord connections, Christmas lights, outdoor power strip etc . Not for connecting wires with wire nutsŪ, or in-wall wiring, but can be used indoors to organize extension cords, power strips etc. Weather resistant is not weatherproof or watertight. Use enclosures rated IP65 and IP67 for waterproof. Extension cords cannot be used for permanent wiring. Buy: Large-medium-small electric cord box Socketbox Raintight enclosures Water-tight cord lock Resource: Enclosures and boxes |
| LED (Light Emitting Diode) • Uses up to 80% less energy • Long life – up to 50,000 hrscolors • No IR or UV • Mercury Free • Semiconductor chip that produces light when electrical current flows into it |
Tungsten Halogen • Whiter light than incandescent • Excellent lumen maintenance • Tungsten filament same as incandescent/ burn hot • Longer life than incandescent • More efficient than incandescent • Ultraviolet radiation |
Compact Fluorescent • Up to 75% less energy • Longer life than incandescent • Produces less heat • Protect the Environment. |
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| Incandescent
Lamps
• Low initial cost • Low fixture cost • Simple installation • Inexpensive to dim • All-weather operation • High CRI |
Fluorescent Lamps • High efficacy • Very good color • Wide range of colors • Wide range of wattages • Good lumen maintenance • Long life • Glass tube coated with phosphor is filled with gas containing argon and mercury vapor |
High Intensity Discharge • High efficacy • All-temperature operation • Extensive range of wattages • Commercial lighting |
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 Buy Buy G4 LED Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Halogen burn hot and are NOT recommended for this project Halogen and LED will work with DC or AC transformers/ power supply/ LED driver Transformers, power supply, LED driver are same thing ... what varies is the type of voltage AC or DC, the total power (wattage), waterproof or not, plus size and number of wires for output. Example 200 watt 24 volt DC LED driver at my house powers 12 bulbs along 35" of #12 low voltage outdoor wire. Once circuit is activated, it takes several seconds before everything turns on. Sorter lengthens of wire and fewer bulbs would turn on faster, but the lag is no concern. I have not test wired long length or more bulbs. 24 volt DC 200 watt IP67 power supply FYI, the same power supply and circuitry shown this page can be used for a 24 volt sprinkler or irrigation system. Low pressure rain barrel timer Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) Are based on inorganic (non-carbon based) materials. An LED is a semi-conducting device that produces light when an electrical current flows through it. LEDs were first developed in the 1960s but were used only in indicator applications until recently. Center Beam Candlepower (CBCP) The intensity of light produced at the center of a reflector lamp, expressed in candelas. Color Rendering Index (CRI) The measure of a light source to render color correctly. Correlated color temperature (CCT) RI) is the measure used to describe the relative color appearance of a white light source. CCT indicates whether a light source appears more yellow/gold/orange or more blue, in terms of the range of available shades of “white.” CCT is given in kelvins (unit of absolute temperature) Luminous Flux Flux is the energy per unit that is radiated from a source over visible wavelengths. It is commonly given for a lamp based on laboratory testing during manufacturing. For instance, the Luminous Flux for a 100W incandescent lamp is approximately 1700 lm. |
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Build your own LED pathway lights
 I
considered both 12 volt halogen and 12 volt LED. Halogen burn HOT and
are not correct
choice to confine inside small bottle as this project calls for ....
Halogen, by way of producing heat, use considerably more energy. LED
have almost no heat. Both yield about 300-320 lumens, roughly 25 watt
equivalent.Waterproof LED driver is correct choice for either LED or Halogen. Buy G4 LED bulbs/ choose warm white for soft natural color G4 bi-pin base / ceramic socket Waterproof LED driver For a less bright bulb, buy 150 Lumens LED |
 Materials
18" long 1/2" PVC electric conduit Translucent Plastic bottle 60 watt LED driver: G4 ceramic base and 2-pin G4 LED bulbs Buy Waterproof LED driver G4 LED bulbs G4 ceramic socket Waterproof LED driver |
 To
make light fixture, I started with black aluminum step flashing,
flattened with hammer, then drew a circle using large soft drink cup.
Cut circle with tin snips (cut could have been smoother), then made a
radius-cut to
centerpoint. Rolled the aluminum into a cone, held it together with
vice grips and drilled hole for pop rivet (I used a tap and handle put
in 8-32 thread and used small bolt since I was out of pop rivets). The
aluminum top should be
proportional to size of bottle.Paint with black paint? I found black aluminum step flashing, but if not, aluminum can be painted. Unlike many materials, aluminum can be painted with latex paint, or coated with spray paint without special preparation or primer. Clean dry surface and the paint will stick. Paint will not stick to silicone, so seal the aluminum joint with regular latex caulk. Rolaids bottle is 4-1/2" tall, 2-3/8" wide, 1-7/8" wide top   For the lens, I chose a rolaids bottle. A number of other household bottles and internet sources were investigated, as listed below. The general target size was ≤4 oz or 125 Ml ... the mouth must be minimum 5/8" opening for ceramic G4 socket, and 2"-2.5" tall for the bulb and socket together. List of bottles I searched and/or found. Carefully center the top onto bottle and then apply silicone... I used a 2-1/2 galvanized drywall screw down through the center of cap and into bottle. This let me hold the top exactly where I wanted so glue could be applied. Clear or slightly opaque 60-125 ML or 4-8 Oz are target Buy Clear plastic jar/ 3.6" tall by 2.2" in diameter 4 oz clear plastic bottle Nalogene wide mouth bottles Polypropylene bottle Polystyrene Jar Packer bottle nut and bolt jar clear plastic jar Pot jars Cosmetic containers Specimen bottles Prescription bottles for Halloween or green or amber lighting.. 50 small bottles 2.2"x1.3" Mercantile bottles Travel bottles Travel bottles were way overpriced and have evolved away from solely functional into stylish. |
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 Low voltage wire I suggest using low voltage outdoor wire that is correctly rated for exposure to weather without cracking. Using 14 or 18 gauge lamp cord might be tempting, and less expensive, and it might be okay for wires that are not directly exposed to weather... but a home inspector might tag lamp cord, leaving homeowner to explain that it is being used strictly as low voltage. Low voltage wire cannot be used for household 120-240 volt because it is not power-rated 600 volts required for household wire. Buy wire: Low voltage cable |
  Most
electric boxes are large and bulky ...Cantex, Thomas-Betts, Intermatic, Raco, Wiegman, Bud, Arlington, Hoffman Uxcell, Hubbell, etc ... ..I wanted something thin and small, Nema3R outdoor ... then remembered the fused cut-off or pull-out typically used for air conditioners as per code .... it's thin, narrow .... fits the driver with enough space for delay timer, photoeye, all the wiring etc .... includes a ground busbar, saving another couple dollars. Buy: fused pull out All parts in this DIY installation are fully replaceable, making the system repairable, unlike factory-sealed transformer boxes, that come with photoeye, and optional timed circuit, and blow out and become trash after a surge event. Tips for installing LED driver: Attach the driver using a threaded bolt. Re-use the ground lug ... always ground electrical equipment. The low voltage line does not need to be grounded, but the incoming 120 volts requires grounding, and should be installed on GFCI-protected circuit  Twin timer and base 120-240 volt off delay timer/ .1 sec to 99 hours Twin timer is a delay timer so you can turn lights off a fixed number of hours or minutes after photoeye activates lights. Twin timer is typically used for blinking lights on-off-on-off-on etc in endless cycle. To use as off-delay, then set first time for 2 or 6 hours, whatever you choose, and set second time for more than 16 hours so the timer never activates the blinking sequence. Buy: Twin timers/ .1 sec to 99 hours Omron twin timers Resources: How to wire twin timer How to wire H3CR timer How to wire one-shot timer |
 Wiring tips:Always clamp wire or conduit to enclosure so it cannot be pulled loose. Attach wire or conduit firmly to structure. Use correct size wire for breaker: 12 gauge for 20 amp breaker, 14 gauge for 15 amp breaker. Do not connect 120-240 volt household electricity using extension cord, lamp cord or any cord not rated for 600 volt. Important: Wrap stranded wire tightly around solid copper wire Cover all copper with wire connector. Do not use black tape unless wrapped numerous times. Tape not recommended. Wire connector is easier for repairs later if needed. Do not solder 120-240 volt household wires. Solder causes risk of solder melting and connection failure from heat on household lines. Choose correct size connector and tighten very tight against copper. Always connect ground wire to incoming wire and bond to metal enclosure.  Twist-on wire connector assortments Do not reuse old connectors Buy:Connector assortment at Amazon Connector assortment at Amazon Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon End cutting nippers at Amazon Resource How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
 Photocell Buy:59409 at Amazon Fixed photo control 59409 at Amazon Fixed photo control Photo controls at Amazon  Photoeye how-to How to wire and troubleshoot photo-eye Reverse photo eye so it turns ON in day Buy Tap and handle Tap wrench |
 Larger imageThe 60 watt LED driver powers LED bulb at end of 100' long 16 ga low voltage cable. This mean the voltage drop is not significant enough over full length of wire to affect operation of LED. I did not test Halogen over the same length of wire. Nor did I test longer length of wire, or smaller diameter 14 gauge wire. LED pathway light is done ... total price for 10 lights and 100' of wire: $112 including lights, timer, wire and photoeye. Breakdown cost of individual light: Estimate each light costs $4.00-$4.20 G4 base and LED, 1/2 conduit, 1/2" male adapter, lock nut, step flashing, screw, tape, bit o glue, plus wire .... plus ordinary household rolaids bottle which would end up in recycling bin or worse (but would cost another $2 for wide mouth bottle online .... raising cost to $6.00 each if I purchased the bottles separately) Buy 12 Nalogene wide mouth bottles In Oct 2018, this means buying a solar light and converting to LED would cost about $2 more per light ... by the time you add timer. photoeye, wire, base and LED. Why not buy solar and forget it ... right now the price of solar path lights is cheap cheap and flooding the market with soon-to-fail junk that ends up in landfill... Why does it end up in landfill quickly? It's cheap so it got a cheap battery ... and if it was such a great product, why is so cheap, when quality LED path lights cost more than $100 ...; the solar lights are junk and the battery will wear out within a year by my estimate. So this DIY experiment shows a way to recycle those solar pathway lights when they fail. When the solar goes bad, it can be recycled into a useful product by installing LED lights and driver that requires minimum electric power ... and saves plastic trash,... |
 LED
deck lights using G4 socket and bulbTwo bulbs per 4 feet yields nice indirect lighting for deck, porch, or any indoor or outdoor location. These lights replaced old 120 volt system that used more power and took considerably more wiring and effort to install ... for the same result ... except less expensive to buy ... and safer around bare wood structure.  |
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