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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 11,239
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Low Voltage Electrical Questions
My BIL wants to dim some landscape lighting. He purchased a low voltage dimmer and asked me to install it. While I have worked around both 110 and low voltage, I have never done this particular DIY job.
I could not make it work. I took out a simple on/off and wired this in its place. There were just two black wires on the dimmer. I took it to my ohm meter and could not make it complete a circuit. BIL took it back, where they told him it would not work with his timer they had sold him. Aren't they just 24 vac? I know this is probably a stupid question, so go easy on me 
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David 1972 911T/S MFI Survivor Last edited by daepp; 11-08-2012 at 10:39 AM.. |
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11-08-2012, 10:32 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
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Most that I see are 12 volt systems...
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2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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11-08-2012, 12:05 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: cutler bay
Posts: 15,141
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A/C or dc ?
I thought most low volt systems are dc dimmer is just a rheostat [a variable resistor] why a timer should not work with a resistor ? one is a on/off switch the other a resistor |
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11-08-2012, 12:50 PM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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My Malibu lights are 12v AC. I would imagine DC would have too much line loss with long runs, AC the electrons just flip back and forth in place, DC the electrons flow the entire length of the wire. At least that is how I understand it.
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Hugh |
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11-08-2012, 01:30 PM
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Location: So. Cal.
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Looks like it was 12V AC. I just don't understand why the dimmer (rheostat) won't even register a change in ohms as I slide the dimmer?
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David 1972 911T/S MFI Survivor |
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11-08-2012, 01:45 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
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Put a VOM on the wires and check voltage input, then output, and finally see if it changes at all when you turn the dimmer. Could be that the dimmer is T/U.
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2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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11-08-2012, 02:41 PM
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G'day!
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Hey David....sorry I couldn't tell from your posts but have you tried a conventional light dimmer switch to control the 120 voltage going into the transformer?
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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11-08-2012, 04:43 PM
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1964 Porsche 356 C Sunroof coupe
1972 Porsche 914 2.0 fuel injected
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa
Work vehicle
