WELCOME TO OUR Low Voltage Lighting PROJECT
This project is presented by Wickes – DIY and Home Improvement
Summary: Installing and using low voltage lighting for different roms and occcasions.
Please also see our project on the New Wiring and Cable Colours .
Low voltage lighting can be used in a variety of ways. It is used as a safe option in highly dangerous areas such as kitchens and bathrooms or simply to create an atmosphere in a dining room or lounge. Low 
voltage lighting is easily installed and in this project we have tried to look at the best ways to use Low Voltage Lighting. For a comprehensive "How To" on low voltage lighting please click here to go to the Wickes Web Site and have a look at Good Idea Leaflet number 89 and from there click through to the Wickes Lighting section of their site and browse through the fantastic range of low voltage lighting supplies and products.
The superb quality "specific" lighting you see in so many shops, art galleries, museums etc is called Extra Low Voltage Lighting (ELV) but is commonly (and mistakenly) referred to as just low voltage lighting. For the home owner this has opened up huge opportunities and existing lighting can be replaced, or just enhanced by the use of extra low voltage lighting.
Extra low voltage lighting consists of small tungsten halogen bulbs producing two or three times the light of conventional bulbs of equal wattage. They are powered by a 12 volt electrical supply rather than the 230 volts needed to power conventional lighting and are therefore fed through a (concealed) transformer. Through the use of this transformer, energy consumption may be reduced by up to 60% although this really only becomes apparent when several conventional lights are replaced. Additionally, bulb life is increased by about 3 times.
The halogen bulbs are fitted into special multi faceted mirrored reflectors with sealed fronts so they can be used safely in bathrooms and kitchens. They are described as dichroic reflectors which means that the majority of the heat generated by the bulb is reflected backwards and not into the room. The light, as a result, stays relatively cool.
Lighting in the home falls into three categories. General, Task and Specific. General lighting provides overall space brightness with no concentration on any part of a room. Task lighting, as you would imagine, provides light for tasks such as reading, sewing etc where general lighting may be inadequate. Specific lighting is intended to highlight specific features without giving out to much light elsewhere. When thinking about lighting for any particular room it makes sense to think about the function of that room and what will be done in there. Most rooms will require a level of general lighting which, by the use of dimmer switches, can be transformed into various moods. All the lighting products mentioned here, with many others, can be seen in the Wickes Lighting section of their site.
If you are using low voltage lighting for a complete room, the general rule of thumb is one 20W wide beam light per square metre or one 50W light per 1.5 square metres. This rule starts half a metre in from the edge of the room.
Generally Low Voltage Lighting transformers are placed in the floor or ceiling void and it is very important to ensure they are in a well ventilated space. Do mot cover them with insulation, remember, the heat comes out backwards. Never position transformers near central heating pipes. All Wickes transformers are fitted with a safety cut out which will operate if the transformer core temperature gets too high. The cut out will automatically reset when the temperature cools. For Wickes Lighting products click through to their site.
Bathrooms have strict regulations as to the type of light fitting that should be used, and where. Under the regulations, a bathroom is sectioned into four separate zones. Each zone of the bathroom is related to the position of the water source, ie bath, shower, basin etc. Bathroom lighting is given an IP rating. This IP rating is followed by a number and the higher both numbers are the better protection a light fitting has against the ingress of water. If you are unsure about the position of any light fitting you should consult a qualified electrician Please see our project on Part P of the building regulations.
Kitchens also are subject to special regulations and advice should be sought as to the placing of lights here. Follow the links through to Wickes Good Ideas Leaflet and you will be able to gain much more information together with some great ideas for lighting your home. You can see wiring diagrams for low voltage lights, together with a layout of the bathroom zones and explanations of how to fit the lights.
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Wickes have just added some more great functionality to their site. The new review and ratings feature allows customers to rate and review their purchases - giving new customers a real overview of products. As well as this whenever a review is completed a £5 discount is given for your next online purchase! All you have to do is submit a rating, write a review, and share your thoughts with others. It really is that simple. Click below to get started!
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 1.5mm2 3 Core and Earth 6243YH |
 10 Way Consumer Unit |
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 Boston Tilt Downlight |
 VDE Screwdriver And Plier Set |
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Autumn maintenance checks
BASEMENT - USING AS UTILITY ROOM
BASEMENT CONVERSION
BATH REPAIRS AND RESURFACING
BATHROOM DESIGN BOOKS
BLOWING LIGHT BULBS
Boxing in a boiler
CHOOSING A SHOWER
CONNECTING AN ELECTRIC SHOWER
Digging a basement
ELECTRIC CABLES - FLEXES AND WIRES
ELECTRICAL - EXTENDING A RING MAIN
ELECTRICAL - WIRING IN WALL LIGHTS
ELECTRICAL LIGHTING CIRCUITS
ELECTRICAL RADIAL CIRCUIT WIRING
ELECTRICAL RING MAIN WIRING
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
ELECTRICAL STRIPPING WIRE & CABLE
ELECTRICAL WIRING A JUNCTION BOX
Fitting a kitchen wall unit or cupboard.
FUSES: MCB's, RCD's, MCBO's
LIGHTS AND SWITCHES
REPLACING A LIGHT FITTING
Socket Height
UNDERFLOOR HEATING (ELECTRICAL)
USING SOLAR ENERGY
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