"Alan" wrote
"James" wrote:

I have used 12 volt landscape lights for about seven years. During this
time, I have used various light fixtures from Home Depot and Lowe's. Some
seem pretty low quality, some appear pretty decent at first. But, they
all leak after a few years.

I have also tried more "upscale" lights from a lighting dealer, costing
in the range of $90 per fixture. They also leak after a few years. I
see NO difference in quality of the "upscale" fixtures at $90 than what I
buy at the big box stores at $15 each. No difference whatsoever.
(Generally speaking, I am a believer in the saying that you get what you
pay for. This does not appear to be the case with low voltage landscape
lights).

Do any of you have experience with the long term use of low voltage
landscape lights, and have you found decent fixtures with good seals, so
that they don't leak after a few years ? If so, what brand/ store /
etc would you suggest that I try ??

Have you considered LED (light emitting diode) lights? Google "white LED
Lights". Incandescent lights only only produce 5-10% light the remainder
being
heat and it is the latter that causes fixture failure. With leds there
need not be
any such fixtures. If you can live with red lights, red LEDs are even
cheaper.


I think it depends on how much light one needs and for what purpose. I've
not seen any low voltage garden lamps that give off much light and they
certainly don't throw light any appreciable distance, they're typically used
for minimally illuminating walkways. I also used low voltage lamps but I
didn't like that they needed wiring and they also leaked. For six years now
I've been using solar lights, they emit enough light to illuminate walkways.
Even on cloudy days they recharge enough so that they give off light well
past the wee hours when no one should be walking about anyway. The only
time solar lamps won't recharge is when snow accumulates on the solar
panels, but then the snow itself reflects more than adequate light for
walking about, and it's a simple matter to brush snow off the panels. For
security lighting neither low voltage or solar lighting is sufficient, for
that one should have hard wired flood/spot lights with motion detectors.
I've been using the same solar lamps for more than six years now, they still
operate good as new and the lamp's appearance is as good as new. And
eventually when the rechargeable battery pack fails it can easily be
replaced, and for like $6. And there are now solar lamps that do emit
enough light to illuminate relatively large areas and/or throw light a
distance sufficient for a flag atop a pole. I'm sold on solar lighting, I
would never again consider low voltage lights. I've already decided to buy
a set of solar lights for my outdoor Christmas tree... no more 150'
extention cord.