Take a Load off: Converting your Outdoor Lighting System from Halogen to LED
There are a number of reasons why you might be looking to convert your outdoor lighting system from halogen lamps to LED lamps.
you may want to cut down your energy bill, you might want to expand your outdoor lighting system, or you could simply want to have something that will cut down routine maintenance.
Whatever the case, there is no downside to retrofitting your outdoor lighting system with LED lamps!
Save Money with LED
It’s incredible how much LED lamps will cut down your energy bill! LED lamps use less electricity than traditional halogen lamps. Low-wattage LED outdoor lighting typically uses 80 to 90 percent less electricity than a halogen system.
Less electricity is used because LED’s reduce the overall electrical load of your outdoor system. For most outdoor lighting systems, converting to LED will take a load off your outdoor lighting operational costs. The average outdoor lighting systems electrical bill can be lowered to as low as $3.00 to $5.00 per month in most cases with LED.
Cut Down on Lamp Replacement and Routine Maintenance
The overall cost of replacing lamps, and routine maintenance, is reduced when you switch to LED as well, With a halogen system, your lamps need to be replaced about every year or so. You have to consider the cost of each individual lamp and the cost of replacing every lamp each year.
Switching to LED lamps, on the other hand, eliminates the number of times you have to replace lamps in your system. Most reputable LED lamps on the market today are rated to last for at least 10 years, with a 5 year replacement warranty. A high quality LED lamp is designed to last. While LED lamps may cost more upfront, they will pay off very quickly.
It should be noted that switching to LED lamps does not completely eliminate the need to service your system and keep it in optimal operating condition.
Adding More Lights to Your System
Converting your lighting system from halogen lamps to LED lamps will also take an electrical load off your overall lighting system, allowing room to add more lights. Let me explain this in a little detail. With any given lighting system, there is a fixed amount of wattage that the system can handle, depending on the type of transformer.
A 300 watt transformer, for example, is restricted to supporting 260 watts without potentially overloading the system and tripping. With a halogen system, each lamp uses 20-35 watts. With a maximum capacity of 260 watts, a halogen system can only support 8 to 13 lamps/fixtures without potentially overloading (don’t worry, there won’t be a test on any of this).
In theory if we take that same 300 watt transformer, and use 4 watt LED lamps instead of 20 watt halogen lamps, that system can now support 65 lamps/fixtures instead of 13 (when designed properly). If you have an existing halogen system and retrofit it with LED lamps, it reduces the amount of electricity being used. Taking a load off your system with LED lamps makes room to add more fixtures without having to switch to a larger transformer.
It’s important to understand that there are multiple things to consider, if you would like to have more lights added to your system, after having it retrofitted with LED lamps. How long are your wire runs? How will voltage drops affect adding more lights? Are your lines balanced correctly? Every system is uniquely engineered, and has to be approached differently. It’s always a good idea to consult with your lighting specialist about LED lights and other lighting solutions.
If you’re located in Utah and have questions about LED lighting systems, call us at (801) 440-7647 schedule a free consultation!
Located in Midvale, Landscape Lighting Pro of Utah serves throughout Utah’s residential areas, including Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper, Davis and Utah Counties. Our outdoor lighting portfolio includes projects throughout Utah and beyond.
