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mikecox1 · Mar 31, 2009, 09:39 AM

I have built an outdoor kitchen that has a pergola over it. I installed a low voltage transformer in that outdoor kitchen that I had planned to power four small hanging pendant lights that would hang from the pergola over the bar area of the kitchen (kind of like pendant lights that would hang over an indore kitchen island). Well it turns out that I can't seem to find any low voltage outdoor pendant lights that I like that are also remotely affordable. I have however found several line level lights that I liked that fit nicely into my desired price range.

My questions is, can I install a line level pendant light onto a low voltage (12 volt) power source if I change out the bulb in the light to a 12 volt bulb? All of the wiring in this setup would be low voltage wiring up to the fixture, which would then feed into the wiring within the fixture which would obviously be 120 wiring.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mikecox1 · Mar 31, 2009, 10:27 AM

Sorry, typos in my posts again. I meant to say "110 volt wiring", not 120. Darn the fat fingers,

KISS · Mar 31, 2009, 12:52 PM

The fixture wiring may have to be upgraded. It's best to use "fixture wre" if possible. The reson is the insulation breakdown of the low voltage wiring.

You will also have to change the socket.

If I read this correctly, you mayhave to install a transformer (they can operate in reverse) 12 V in 120 V out in a weatherproof enclosure.

Why don't you change the wiring and socket in the lamp and make the lamp 12 V?

mikecox1 · Mar 31, 2009, 12:58 PM

I though of that, but most of stems (the portion of the light between the junction box and the light itself) are too thin in diamater to accomidate the thicker 12-2 or 14-2 landscape wire.

mikecox1 · Mar 31, 2009, 01:59 PM

The transformer is a 12 volt transformer (I will be using 12 volt lights because I am no electrician and this kitchen is by my pool and I didn't want any line level voltage exposed where someone might get shocked. All of the line level voltage and converter are locked away inside the cabnets of my outdoor kitchen and thus not accessible by the little wet hands of my children and their friends.

KISS · Mar 31, 2009, 02:28 PM

Locked is one thing, but make sure there are no exposed connections.

You are required to have a GFCI for pool areas anyway.

mikecox1 · Mar 31, 2009, 02:32 PM

I have all that covered. The line level voltage was installed by the electrician that did all of the electrcal for the pool. He just installed an outlet inside the outdoor kitchen cabnet that I pluged the low voltage converted into. He did install a GFCI outlet.