Hi
I am planning various low volt light systems (12V) for the great room. The systems chosen are made by Tech Lighting. ( www.techlighting.com)
When pricing the components of their different systems ( Kable Lite and Monorail) one of the high cost items are the electric transformers.
WAC lighting ( www.waclighting.com ) also manufactures electric transformers for low voltage systems that are significantly less costly.( $40 vs $150 ).
Are these components interchangeable?
Thanks.
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Replies
The difference will be in how many Amps can be delivered by the transformer. The number of Amps your system will require will depend on how many lights you will run off the transformer. Take the wattage of each lamp and divide by the voltage and you will have the Amperage required for each lamp. Add them up and you will have the total. You do not have to drive all of the lamps off of one transformer. You could have several smaller transformers instead of one large one. Remember that all electrical components are affected by heat. Be sure to mount the transformer where it will get good ventilation to lengthen its life.
There may be warranty issues.
Another day, another tool.
To eludicate the obviscation on a further point, the transformer could be "self limiting." UL provides this designation to transformers made a certain way such that they don't need to be separately fused. It is a safety issue. It could be that your supplier of the high priced xfmer has this listing while the other doesn't.
Yes it is amps and volts but protection is a problem too.
if you are looking for low voltage lighting and possibly transformers, go to http://www.lightingfx.com. I have used some of their products and have used replacement transformers for the lights that i have.