Cost benefits of Low Voltage vs Compact Flourscent Lights?

Question

I am planning ahead for next Christmas. I have about 15 spotlights on my decorations. I want to change, to save electricity. I already have the fixtures and power cords, I only set it up for a month. Can anyone tell me how much difference there would be between switching to flurorescent bulbs or using a low voltage system?

Answer 1

EXAMPLE: A 100W lv transformer will power 5-20W, 12V lamps, or 10-10W, equaling about 100W of illumination.

A 26W compact FL. will procuce about 100W of illumination.

LV lamps are incandesant

Answer 2

I truly have no real idea, other than what I read on the box I have in my hand at the moment. The 100 watt spiral fluroescent rated at 60 watt usage CLAIMS I can save $114 per year over a 100 watt incandescent.

I've changed over all my incandescents in various wattages, but I have no REAL desire or intent to monitor the meter or the bill over a year, though I will hope the claims are somewhat valid.

No real offense, and I didn't do all the research, or offer the detailed figures that previous answers have, but 1 month seems a ngeligible amount of time to notice more than a negligible amount in savings. Beyond that, if we assume you're talking about lighting decorations for less than 24 hours a day, it may be way less an issue than you need to stress over.

You also neglected to mention the Wattage of the SPOTS. OR their proximety to the decorations, OR how important it is to highlight something intended to burn power simply for decorative purposes anyway.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

The benefit of using low voltage lights is found in safety.
(!20V. can be very dangerous, 12V., not so much.)
I'm willing to bet that those fixtures and cords you have are not approved
for use exposed to the weather.
Compact fluorescent lamps might have trouble starting at low temperatures.
You will not be able to focus the fluorescents as you do the incandescents.
A safe, workable 120V. system is likely to cost you more in equipment than you
will save in energy over the time you'll use it.