General Lighting: Transformers

The transformer is an essential device that is needed to help aid a low-voltage lighting system. In detail; a transformer is what raises or reduces the wattage of lamps in your lighting system. It is a device that converts normal house current to the current required by a lamp, but be careful not to exceed the transformer’s maximum rating system because you will overload it. There are two types: magnetic & electric. Do not mix magnetic & electric transformers on the same dimming circuit.

Magnetic Transformer

Though magnetic transformers can be used in both the residential and commercial applications they are most often used in commercial spaces. It steps down 120VAC or (277+ for commercial) line voltage to 12VAC or 24VAC. This particular transformer uses copper to “wound around a steel core which is inductive by nature”.

Advantages:

• provides additional boosts
• has a higher capacity to support more circuits than that of an electronic transformer
• a longer life span

• aesthetically not pleasing; its heavy, big and harder to hide
• has to be closer to the source

Electronic Transformer

Electronic transformers can be used both in commercial and in your homes, its usually used in the residential arena because it only allows so much support to the lighting system before needing additional transformers.

Advantages:

• it is much smaller in size than a magnetic transformer and aesthetically more pleasing
• compatible with dimming options
• less expensive
• more versatile in use, you can fit them in smaller places

• has a shorter life span than a magnetic ballast
• can not have long runs of lights; without additional support the electronic transformer can push enough power down the line for 6-8 ft from the source

Where can I put my transformer and how far from the system can it go?

The distance of your transformer from the system depends on the amount of wattage being used, the quantity of lamps, and an appropriate transformer to support your lighting system. The electronic transformer has the ability to push power down a line for 6 to 8 ft. on a low voltage system before requiring additional support. If a magnetic transformer is used for your lighting system keep in mind that it should be closer to the system to provide a sufficient amount of energy for all of your lamps.

My system shuts off after use and the transformer is constantly tripping. Is it defective?

The transformer in this particular situation might be overloaded. If the transformer is drawing more current then what it is rated for, it will trip. Sometimes tripping can also be a safety feature that will automatically shut down if the transformer is over loaded.

Make sure that your transformer is able to support the wattage of your lighting system. The quantity of lamps that are going to be used should not exceed the wattage of a transformer’s maximum load. The lamp wattage used should always be equal or less than the total wattage of the transformer. For example if you take a 300 watt transformer and a 50 watt lamp in your lighting system, to figure the quantity of lamps that can be used simply divide the wattage of the transformer by the wattage of the lamp.

A calculation that might help: 300 watt (total load of transformer) ÷ 50 watt (wattage of one lamp) = 6 (the number of lamps that can be used)