Many companies install low voltage lighting systems, so what sets Aquasense apart from the competition? As you read through this document on installation techniques it outlines what materials we use to construct our systems and why we use them. Additionally how we construct our systems, and what the reasons are for our techniques. Through knowledge gained by 20 plus years of experience we have worked to create the highest quality lighting systems at very competitive prices. On long wire runs we use a vibratory plow to install wiring conduit. This means your system is installed to a higher standard, but in some cases at a lower cost.

1. The poly conduit we use provides excellent protection for the wiring. I know of no other low voltage lighting installer that uses conduit.
2. Pulling conduits causes’ minimal surface damage keeping landscapes in much better shape then traditional trenching.
3. The wiring is permanently contained in the conduit about 6” deep.
4. Repairs if needed can be done without retrenching.
5. Pulling conduit reduces labor enabling us to provide the highest quality lighting systems at very competitive prices.

What also sets us apart from the competition is licensing. In 2000 the state Labor Industry Department required all out door lighting contractors to become licensed and bonded as specialty electrical contractors. The licensing process was very difficult and only handful of contractors ever passed all the tests and became licensed, Aquasense is one of the very few that is.

The main advantage is cost, because low voltage wiring can be installed legally at 6” inches deep the labor savings over 120 volt wiring is significant. 120 volt wiring legally needs to be installed 18” deep which essentially more then doubles the labor cost of an installation. In addition to 120 volt installation labor being more then double low voltage labor, 120 volt electricians hourly labor rates are on average 50% to 100% higher then ours. One reason their labor rates our so much higher is because their liability is so much greater. With all the rain we have around here 120 volt outdoor wiring is way more dangerous then low voltage wiring, advantage low voltage. Finally low voltage lighting systems use less voltage then 120 volt systems saving energy and reducing operating costs of your system, again advantage low voltage.

Transformers: For the transformer we use a commercial grade Vista transformer with built-in photo cell and timer, Vista comes with a life time warranty. The advantages of using a commercial grade transformer over a Home Depot or Lowe’s transformer are: #1) they can be set to come on automatically at dusk and then turn off at a set time in the evening. Additionally they can come back on early in the morning and turn off at dawn. The Home Depot and Lowe’s models come on at dusk and then go off at set duration of time from the time they come on, which means they turn off at different times all year long. #2) Commercial transformers can come with multiple voltage taps, which allows the power to be delivered to fixtures at optimum voltage levels of between 10.8 and 12 volts, which extends halogen bulb life considerably. Low voltage lighting is different from high voltage lighting in that there is considerable voltage loss through the wiring. Without getting technical, voltage is to electricity as pressure is to water. So low voltage lighting is kind of like low pressure lighting. The maximum distance from a transformer that low voltage lighting will work is about 300 feet depending on the wire size. Home Depot lighting fixtures primarily use incandescent light bulbs which give off a dull cheap looking yellow light, in contrast, most professionally installed systems utilize halogen bulbs which supply a bright white colored light. Unlike halogen bulbs, incandescent light bulbs actually last longer on voltages lower then 10.8 volts and therefore a single tap 12 volt transformer from Home Depot works fine with the cheap fixtures. Consequently, a commercial transformer is a must with any lighting system using halogen light bulbs with runs that are over 50’ feet in length. A multi tap transformer has starting voltages of 12,13, 14, and 15 volts which allows us to place fixtures near the transformer on the 12 volt tap and fixtures say 150 feet away on a 14 volt tap. The results are similar voltages to the fixtures which increases bulb life.

Fixtures: We recommend Vista fixtures, because they are very well made, and very well priced. The manufacture warranties the cast aluminum fixtures for three years and I have been using them for about 10 years now and had almost no problems. The pricing in the proposal is based on fixtures that I recommend, prices for different fixtures or colors can easily be substituted and recalculated. To view the whole line of lighting go to www.vistapro.com and go to the 12 volt section. Although we recommend Vista fixtures we have access to many other brands including.

Fixture Footings: On path or driveway light fixtures, we highly recommend using a pre-cast concrete footing, which helps anchor the fixtures straight up. In addition to keeping the fixture standing straight, they are also less likely to snap off after taking a hard hit at the base. This is because the footing is pre-cast instead of being poured directly into the ground. We also recommend footings on accent fixtures in commercial or high traffic areas, the footing reduces they need to re-direct the accent fixture to its target plus it reduces the likelihood some will walk off with the fixtures. All vista fixtures come with a eight inch ground spike.

Connectors: All fixtures are attached to wiring with waterproof wire nuts and all splices are made with shrink-wrap professional grade waterproof connectors. For an additional fee of $7.50 per fixture you can upgrade all wire nuts to shrink-wrap. While waterproof wire nuts work well and are installed on 90% of all systems, they tend to leak after a few years and eventually water seeps down the wiring which results in corrosion. As the wiring corrodes the flow of electricity is slowly decreased causing lights to burn dimmer. The corrosion can also eventually lead to shorts. Upgrading all wire nut connectors to shrink wrap connectors, which never leak when installed properly, greatly increases the life span of the wiring. As a result we extend our warranty from 1 year to 2 years for parts and labor (excluding light bulbs) if you upgrade to shrink wrap connectors.

Wiring: Aside from using multi tap transformers, another way we increase bulb life is by wiring to fixtures in T formations. If low voltage lighting fixtures with halogen bulbs are merely attached to 1 wire in a straight run, the bulbs in the first couple fixtures will burn very bright and have very short life spans. Additionally, the bulbs at the end of the run will burn very dim and also have very short life spans. It is common for straight line wiring to burn out the 1st light on the run and then sequentially blow the rest in order. T formation wiring distributes the voltage more evenly to the fixtures again increasing bulb life. Shrink-wrap professional grade waterproof connectors are always installed at all wiring tees.

Guarantee: We offer a 2-year parts and labor guarantee on system defects in addition to the manufacturer’s guarantees. Light bulbs are considered maintenance items and not covered by the warranty. We are bonded and licensed as a specialty electrical contractor.