12 volt garden lights?

[H6CJF]

Visiting friends 'darn sarf' this weekend and they have asked me to fit a light at the bottom of their drive for them - a distance of about 40 yards from the house. Options as I see it are: 1) run a 240v feed in conduit all the way. 2) Solar powered (not my favourite choice 'cos it's in trees and faces N.W. so gets very little sun) 3) 12 volt feed to reduce the obvious risk associated with option 1.

I am inclined to go 12v which is safer and avoids the need for earth leakage trips etc but I'm not having much joy in finding a 12v lantern style lamp. Any suggestions?

Cheers, Chris

ps - I need to be able to get the bits by tomorrow night to take with me so on-line suppliers not best option

[Nobby Diesel]

Run it in 240V SWA. Proper IP rated light at the end.

Job done.

[Simpo Two]

Caravan shop or chandlers? Everything on a caravan or boat is 12V.

[H6CJF]

Nobby Diesel said:

Run it in 240V SWA. Proper IP rated light at the end.

Job done.

Could that be surface mounted on the fence without conduit then do you reckon?

[Goochie]

You need to consider how you're going to terminate the SWA at the light fitting. Normally it has to be terminated in a special junction box.

Most light fittings for this type of instalation wont have the facility to terminate SWA.

[H6CJF]

Back to 2.5 twin & earth in overflow tubing then!

Edited by H6CJF on Thursday 28th October 13:07

[JustinP1]

H6CJF said:

Visiting friends 'darn sarf' this weekend and they have asked me to fit a light at the bottom of their drive for them - a distance of about 40 yards from the house. Options as I see it are: 1) run a 240v feed in conduit all the way. 2) Solar powered (not my favourite choice 'cos it's in trees and faces N.W. so gets very little sun) 3) 12 volt feed to reduce the obvious risk associated with option 1.

I am inclined to go 12v which is safer and avoids the need for earth leakage trips etc but I'm not having much joy in finding a 12v lantern style lamp. Any suggestions?

Cheers, Chris

ps - I need to be able to get the bits by tomorrow night to take with me so on-line suppliers not best option

If you run 40 yards of 12V you won't have much juice at the end...

On my system the lights 20 yards away are clearly dimmer than those closer.

240v. Easier.

[Nobby Diesel]

Goochie said:

You need to consider how you're going to terminate the SWA at the light fitting. Normally it has to be terminated in a special junction box.

Most light fittings for this type of instalation wont have the facility to terminate SWA.

Correct.
An appropriately IP rated enclosure, with short conduit to light fitting.
You can ofcourse use a light fitting that is rated for such use, but these can be expensive.