ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Puck Lighting????

I would like to install Puck 12 volt lighting but what she has is 1 transformer and 5 lights and a 3 light. She bought 5 sets. She would like 15 on the tops and 15 on the botom with 2 dimmer switches. Is there a system with 1 transformer and additional lights.? Or can I wire it with what she has? What can I do? Thanks Jay

You did not say if they are 10 or 20w puck lights and how many watts the transformers are. I would bet the transformer in the kit is maxed out using the pucks that came with it.

You could use all those little transformers but it would need a few duplexes and makes a bit of a rats nest. Those little electronic transformers don't seem to have a long life when used frequently.

If I was forced to install puck lights with a gun to my head I would use a larger magnetic unit. Then you need to find a place for it. If you have 15 pucks on a switch and they are 20w then you would need min a 300w (each switch).

Don't forget special $$ dimmers are made for low voltage lighting.

Look back not long ago Dave was talking about these.

I would recomend not using what the customer has. I would go with under halogen under cabinet fixtures, track 12, or something similar.

Tom

Don't do it. They are junk and will be nothing but a headache as you are probably exeperiencing right now, before you have even installed one.

I would stay away from the dimmer. The puck lighs I use are 20 watt. The single trans can handle 3 and the trans fits into a single gang box. Good luck.

IMO you can throw the pucks away now or later. Trac 12 is good, but 1" thick, so it needs custom carpentry to cover. I hear good things about 120 volt rope light for above cabinet lighting, but I'm wondering if it would work below the cabinet. It's thinner than the Track 12. Anyone try 120 volt rope under a cabinet?

Dave

I have 120v rope under my kitchen cabinets and toe kicks in the bathroom. They are plugged into a switched receptacle. One problem is the premade cordsets all have 6' cords. You will be hiding most of it or blow the U/L listing by cutting off the molded plug, installing one at the right length. From a warranty standpoint, expect to lose a segment every now and then. That "25,000 hours" must be when the last segment in the string burns out.

I believe that the rating on the bulbs means that half of them die by 25,000 hours.

Dave

The boys are right about puck lights.
I did a nice install w/ rope lights
3 glass cabnits started on the side ran the rope from the top w/ a switched outlet down the inside thru the bottom under to the next one. black taped the top so no light bleed looked very nice

also ran one in thetoe kick space of a very large island
w/ hardwood floors looked great at night

Puc lights are great for commercial installation. It insures many return trips for service.

PUCKS SUCK.
OUR INSPECTION AGENCY WONT EVEN LIST THEM ON THE CERTIFICATES. TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE. GO WITH LIGHT BARS, MINI CANS, OR ROAP.