TierramadreLandscape.com

Well, I may be a bit late to ask this since I already ran the wiring and installed all the lights, but anyway, here's the dilemma.
I am installing a light fixture on top of each post on my deck railing. There are a total of ten posts, hence ten lights. Each fixture has three 12v light bulbs. Each light bulb is 18watt, push-turn (bayonette base, like car tail light bulbs), so each fixture is 54 watts. I ran 14 gauge solid romex (2 conductor plus ground), from the transformer and daisy-chained to each fixture. In other words, all fixtures are wired in series. I was carefull to observe the polarity at all fixtures.

Since total wattage is 540watts, I installed a 600 watt 110v-to-12v transformer to an outside GFCI outlet and connected the wire from the fixtures to the terminals on the transformer.

When I flipped the switch to energize the GFCI, all the lights worked but the bulbs are of different brightness: the fixture that is first in the series, or closest to the transformer was very bright, but the brightness of each subsequent fixture is stepped down, and in the last fixture the filament in the bulbs barely glows. Reversing the polarity at the transformer makes no difference.

Any thoughts???
In reply to a comment by Les. When I said "fixtures are wired in series", I meant daisy-chain, as in the way several outlet receptacles are wired together in one room. Is that what you call wired in parallel? if so, my mistake.
And yes, when I remove the first fixture (or any other), all the others still light up and I get the same step down in brightness, where the first one is the brightest light then they get dimmer and dimmer down the line.
My original thought for this dimming feature was because the solid wire could make it harder for the transformer to push the low voltage throughout the entire length of the wire (about 60ft.). Is this a correct assumption? Or does stranded or solid make any difference?

Also, I used romex because I had several rolls left over from building the house and I pushed it through pvc pipe and it's all under the deck, nothing exposed, so no worries there.
Another idea I had was to remove the transformer and just push 110v through the wires by using a dimmer switch and push very little current to see what happens.
Will the 12v bulbs blow out if I set the dimmer at the lowest setting? I have read that bulbs don't care if the current that is ran is either AC or DC.

The romex insulation and rubber jacket will deteriorate from being exposed to UV rays, and There is no need to use wire that big on low voltage wiring

2009-06-13 15:51:15 by J C

www.LandscapeLightingWorld.com - The Volt Corp. Puck Light, demonstrated by Tommy the Lighting Geek from the diy network and HGTV.

My house is medium gray, I have a blk dr with sivler fixutes, silver outside light, and a dark brown deck w/ blk rail. Should I use blk landscape lights or silver?
Which would "flow" better, I feel I have a lack of blk but could get blk plant pots or blk chairs...any ideas

Great colours! The black lights would really add to the look.

2007-05-07 06:12:53 by Mike C

Price: $54.00

Includes one (1) 6.5-Watt 12-Volt incandescent T-5 wedge base bulb
UL/CSA listed for wet location use
3-3/4-Inch wide by 1-3/4-Inch high

I have 16 lights at 18 watts for my deck lighting. This is 282 watts total and they are running on 12v. This is roughly 23.5 amps. I am using 10 gauge landscape wire for the outdoor lights and a 500 watt transformer. Do I need to run 10 gauge wire to the transformer and put it on a 30 amp breaker? Someone told me this is overkill. If there is 23.5 amps of load on the lights, don't I need 30 amp breaker which calls for 10 gauge wire?

Converting the 18 volts to the 120 volts coming from the house, you will have 2.35 amps (280W/120V=2.35A) Therefore, you do not need a 30A circuit to run your lights. There is very little draw.

2008-05-17 01:54:31 by Kevin C

Price: $139.90 $88.81

IP66 - Rated for indoor and outdoor use
Kit Includes: 10 Step Lights with 16.5-Inch of pre-wired cable, plug-in transformer, 10 port junction box, and dusk to dawn sensor
Easy to install - No wiring necessary

We bought our house in 2007, brand new. It had no upgrades at all, and we've done a lot of work to it to the tune of almost $10,000.

Now I realize you do not get a dollar for dollar return. I understand that.

But the realtor said a deck adds ZERO. We have 15x20 deck with a railing all around. It's gorgeous, it's new, and it is attached to the house. We put it in ourselves, and paid about $1600 for materials. However, this same deck plan would have been several thousand thru a contractor. Yet it adds absoultely nothing?

Another thing we added was landscaping. The place was literally a mudhole. No seed, nothing. We put in sod, grass seed, plants, trees, etc. Adds nothing.

Another thing we did was that our new contruction came with cheap carpet. We replaced most of the carpet with expensve wood laminate. Not the 99 cent a sq foot stuff....the good stuff..$3700 worth of stuff. The reator said hard floors are hard floors---reguardless of quality.

There was more stuff too she said added ZERO value. Storm doors, new light fixtures, appliances, crown molding, chair rail. All added zero.

So basically in 18 months our house appreciated only 6,000 (high end apparently, the low range would have been only a $2000 increase) and we put in about 10,000 in upgrades that are worthless?

I guess my question is do you think it would be worth getting a real apprasial verses just CMAs? I just do no see how the deck could add zero value..




Thanks for the feedback. It's helpful.
We're getting another opinion from another agency and then we'll get an apprasial done. Unfortunetly we don't have alot of options since we have to move due to job relocation.

Oh For the record...we are Lowes people! They know us by name.
lol

Your realtor is absolutely incorrect in nearly everything they told you. Heed my advice...in the real estate world, 1 out of 10 people actually know what theyre doing, so be wary of advice received from "experts".

When an appraisal is done on the home, the value is based on comparable properties. An appraiser looks at local homes similar to yours, what they've sold/are listed for, and then makes adjustments for the differences between homes. One adjustment area is for patio's, decks, etc. Your deck would add value over a comparable property with no deck, and you'd lose value if most comparable properties had decks and yours did not, so the deck does add value...not necessarily the quality of the deck, but the fact that you have one. Same thing w/the hardwood floors, if they're much nicer than most comparable homes, you'll get a good adjustment.

There is also an adjustment section for "shape" . If most homes are in average shape, and yours is in average-good, good, or excellent shape, you can get a large adjustment for this, which is what might result from landscaping, installing new floors, or any type of remodeling/home improvement. So it sounds like you've done some worthwhile upgrades.

You certainly won't get back dollar for dollar, but you've added value to your home, and in this market, having a nicer home than others in your neighborhood is a valuable commodity.

2008-10-11 10:35:41 by Jessica T

I was going to refi my house and I had an appraisal done 4 months ago. The appraiser appriased my house and 2 acres @ $120K.

Since having it appraised, we've had a death in our immediate family and we have decided to sell. We had it pre-inspected and made other improvements - remodeled bathrooms - new ceramic tile, light fixtures, repainted interior/exterior, new 6x6 deck, landscaping, etc (I watched HGTV to help w/the sale and profit).

The realtor gave me really low comps and I asked her should I have it re-apprased. She said "No, why would you pay for an apprasal when you can get a FREE comparable Market Apprasal from a realtor? She also came back 2 days later w/higher comps - which doesn't set well w/me.

She also stated that a appraisers will fudge their numbers to appease the bank/owner in getting the loan.

Does this sound right? Should I have it re-appraised? Is there a difference btwn a re-fi appraisal and "selling appraisal"?

First time seller - please help

KoolKeyna is right about the Realtor, you should get a new one. She sounds fishy and unlikely to put genuine effort into selling your home. An appraisal can be as low as $250 in some areas. Check the local listings in your area within 1 mile radius in city/suburbs. If your in the country or low population you can go up to 10 miles away. An appraiser bases their estimated price on houses sold in the past 12 months, but you are probably competing in a tough market so price accordingly. To get an even better idea of your value check out the other houses (open houses etc). If a house with the same bedrooms and sq ft (within 100 sq ft +/-) lot size and amenities. Take into consideration any updates you have done compared to theirs. In this new buyers market the seller has to work harder but in can and will pay off. As an avid HGTV watcher you should know that staging is very important. A couple days of deep cleaning and clearing clutter and personal effects (put in storage not the garage) can do wonders for the value and quick sell of a house. In the end though it all comes down to the appraisal done by the buyer's banks appraiser. They're the ones who set the price that the bank is willing to make a loan on.
Good luck.

2007-02-20 09:35:20 by jodeerob