:
 |
- Magnetic Transformers vs Electronic Transformers
Magnetic transformers use two coils, a primary coil and a secondary coil, to reduce the voltage from 120 volt down to 12 volts. The primary coil carries the line voltage (110 v or 120 v). The flow of electricity through the primary coil induces a magnetic field that creates a current in the secondary coil. Since the secondary coil has fewer windings, it has a low voltage. The size of the secondary coil or windings determines the voltage output of the transformer.
With-in magnetic transformers there are two types of coils or windings: laminated/stacked cores or toroidal cores. Laminated or stacked windings have sheets wrapped in copper wire that are then stacked or laminated together to make a core. This is the more common, less expensive method for manufacturing a core. Toroidal cores are one solid unit shaped like a donut and have the windings wrapped around the donut, in and out of the donut hole. Toroidal cores are more efficient, don't buzz and rattle, run cooler but are more expensive to make.
In either case, toroidal or laminated cores, magnetic transformers use a lot of copper windings, are very heavy and expensive. However they are the much more reliable, quieter and the only real solution for an outdoor lighting solution.
Electronic Transformers use an inverter to change the frequency of the electricity form 50 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. By not using bulky and heavy copper windings, electronic transformers can be very small, light and inexpensive. As such they can even be incorporated into the lighting fixtures themselves. All transformers that are small, light or built into a fixture are electronic. The downside is they have short life spans and can be noisy. For example you are probably familiar with the florescent light that takes a long time to come on or that florescent fixture that has failed-- that is usually the result of the electronic transformer in the ballast failing-- a very common occurrence. Additionally they cannot take as high loads and their performance is effected by heat. They hotter the operate or their operating environment, the shorter their life span. Electronic transformers will not perform well in hot environments.
In short magnetic and electronic transformers use two different technologies to lower the voltage-- one is inexpensive but unreliable, the other is heavy duty but bulkier and more expensive.
Outdoor low voltage transformer QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS and TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (click link)
Unique Features:
 |
- Stainless steel case
- 300W & 600 W : Cabinet measures. 17"T x 7"W x 6"D (300W unit =25lbs, 600W unit = 29lbs)
- 900W & 1200 W : Cabinet measure 18"T x 10"W x 8"D (900W unit = 47 lbs, 1200W unit = 50 lbs)
- Top Mounting bracket 1 1/4" tall, 3 keyholes, bottom mounting bracket 5/8" tall, open keyhole
- Multi-tap voltage output from 12 to 22 voltsInput Voltage 120V A/C
Output Voltage from 12-22V A/C. Max output amps per circuit: 25 Amps Huge tap connection ports -- each individual tap can hold up to 6 home runs! That's 6 home runs per 300w circuit E.g. 6 runs on a 300w, 12 runs on a 600w, 18 runs on a 900w, 24 runs on a 1200w transformer! Latest technology -- TOROIDAL CORE transformer Toroidal core transformers are the best type of low voltage transformer you can buy. They are more efficient, reliable and last longer than the lamenated magnetic transformers found on other brands Toroidal cores also run cooler and quieter (no buzzing) than laminated magnetic core transformers. Each port has large capacity and space so you can hook up to 6 different runs to each of the many ports giving you as many home runs as you could ever need Has built-in timer and photocell ready ports (timer and photocell not included) 10 YEAR WARRANTY. UL LISTED.
:
Transformer Instructions
Quick Start
General:
1. The transformer plugs into an exterior GFI
outlet. Do not use extension cords with
transformers.
2. Each
300w circuit has its own circuit breaker (toggle switch) and Common (Black
label that says COM). E.g. a 300w
transformer has 1 COMMON TERMINAL, 600w transformers have 2 COMMON TERMINALS,
900w transformers have 3 COMMON TERMINALS, a 1200w transformer has 4 300w
COMMON TERMINALS.
3. Use
COMMON TERMINAL #1 until you begin to approach 300 watts of lamps used (for
example when you reach 250-275 watts), then start using COMMON #2, and so on.
Connecting Home Runs to the transformer:
1. The home run cable (e.g. 10/2 or 12/2) has two
wires. One wire gets connected to the
COMMON TERMINAL (black label that says COM), the other wire connects to a
VOLTAGE TERMINAL (the colored labels that say 12, 13,14, etc). Which VOLTAGE TERMINAL you connect that
particular wire on depends on the voltage you need for that run. This is a MULTI-TAP transformer, which means
you can output at a variety of voltages to compensate for VOLT DROP (see our
learning area for more information on layouts and voltage drop). For example, if you have a long run of 100 feet
you may need to use the 15v VOLTAGE TERMINAL in order to have 12v of power all
the way out at the far away fixtures.
2. You
can hook up multiple home runs to each and any of the terminals. For example you may have 6 home runs, in
which case you would have 6 wires in the same COM terminal and the other half
of the 10-2 wires go into the colored terminals. The VOLTAGE TERMINALS can have multiple
runs/wires in each tap as well.
3. To
connect a home run wire to the terminals, split the 10-2 or 12-2 wire down the
middle to separate the two wires and strip half an inch of insulation off each wire. One end goes in the COM terminal, the other
into a voltage terminal. Loosen the
terminal screws (small flat head screw driver) and insert the wire into the
terminal opening which is located at the bottom (90 degrees from the terminal
screw facing the bottom of the transformer).
Tighten screw to secure wire(s).
Other:
1. Low voltage wire does not have polarity, it
does not matter which of the 2 wire connects to the COMMON TERMINAL and which to
the VOLTAGE TERMINAL, as long as one wire goes to each.
2. Optional
timers and photocells plug right into the transformer ports labeled and located
inside the cabinet.
3. It is
easier to see and insert the wires into their terminals when the transformer is
lying on the ground. Affix all your
wires BEFORE mounting the transformer. Operating temperatures: The VOLTŪ Toroidal Core Transformers run 10-20C cooler than laminated magnetic core transformers. They are more efficient, use less energy, last longer and are more reliable. They are also approved for mounting indoors as well. Below is the normal operating temperatures of our transformers: |
|
Type
|
Maximum Surface Temperature (℃)
|
Temperature of Ambient (℃)
| |
Toroidal 300W
|
30 (86F)
|
8 (46F)
| |
Toroidal 600W
|
35 (95F)
|
7 (44F)
| |
Toroidal 900W
|
39 (102F)
|
7 (44F)
| |
Toroidal 1200W
|
54 (129F)
|
8 (46F)
|
If the VOLTŪ transformers are
manufactured with thermal protection on the primary, they will automatically shut down when over-heated.
|