Converting from 120 v lights to 12V lights

[macdenewf]

Hi.

I have a couple of dead Jandy Watercolor LEDS and when looking for options to change them out i was speaking to a guy who suggested that i should consider making the change to 12V LEDs. I've decided that while having has 120v on the pool lights for years has been safe - it cant hurt to convert to the 12v for extra safety.

I have a Jandy Aqualink controller.
At the moment - the pool lights are connected on one relay, the spa light is connected on another relay.

120v is fed from my GFCI to each relay and from the 1st relay - 120v is fed to the 2 pool lights, and from the other relay 120v is fed to my Spa light
I haven't pulled the relay off yet but im assuming its the standard 3 HP 24v dry contact..the 6581 relay

Couple of things i want to verify - if anyone is familiar with doing this.

I have the lights and transformer on order. 2 12V Jandy Pool Lights 1 Jandy Spa light
The pool guy recommended a J&J Halco transformer TR-300-PP rated to 300 Watts.
My question is more around the relays for the lights and if i need more than 1 transformer

As these are dry contacts - im assuming that i can use the existing relay for each light and instead of connecting the input of the relay to 120v - that i would simply connect it to the 12v coming form the transformer.

The wiring would then look like;
120v power from the GFCI to the transformer
- 12v from the transformer back to each relay
from relay 1...power both 12v pool lights
from relay 2..power the spa light.

The lights don't draw any more power than the 120v but there is higher current at lower voltages and i don't know if there is a specific 12v relay im supposed to use
that is rated for higher current


Alternatively...i could send 120V GFCI power to the relay.
- from the relay 120v would go to the transformer
- then from the transformer - the 12v would go to the lights.
In this scenario - the transformer wouldn't be powered all of the time but i'd need 2 transformers ( one for the pool lights, one for the spa light)
it does take away my concern however about using the relay with 12v across the relay as this way feeds 120v to the relay.

The other question is the transformer. The guy inly suggested i needed one ( at the same time i was ordering 3 lights) but i really never asked if i needed more.
I cant really tell for the manual how many watts each of these draw. I did find this however..

A separate 12-Volt AC Transformer is required on all 12-Volt Models. For Jandy WaterColors Light use a 150-watt multi-tap 12-volt system per light.
NOTE For optimum performance Jandy recommends to use one transformer per 12-volt light.
So...do i take a chance and run 2 lights off a single 300w transformer and the spa light off a separate transformer?

Fun Fun

Oh and im upgrading to an iAqualink at the same time with an IQ 30-RS

Appreciate any thoughts
Cheers
Mac

 

[Jimrahbe]

it does take away my concern however about using the relay with 12v as the relay would still have 24v.

mac,

What does that mean..

Each light, or set of lights, that you want to individually control need a relay and a transformer.

Let's assume that is fine if both pool lights come on at the same time and are the same color. If that is true, then you need one relay and one transformer. And you'd need another relay and transformer for your spa light.

Alternatively...i could send 120V GFCI power to the relay.
- from the relay 120v would go to the transformer
- then from the transformer - the 12v would go to the lights.

That is how it is supposed to be wired!!

he wiring would then look like;
120v power from the GFCI to the transformer
- 12v from the transformer back to each relay
from relay 1...power both 12v pool lights
from relay 2..power the spa light.

This is absolutely wrong way to do it!!


Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[macdenewf]

thanks.
I fat fingered part of that message.
If I wire it the 2nd way I meant it takes away the issue with running 12v to the relay as it would be 120 across the relay …then down to the transformer. And to your point. I was able to find the wiring diagram and confirms your instructions.
I honestly don’t care though if the pool lights and the spa lights come on at the same time or are different colors. I’ve never really run them separately in the 10 years I’ve had the pool. But I also don’t want to overload the transformer either. While I didn’t find the wattage , the manual calls out 4 amps at 22 volts. So assume a nominal 50 watts. If I were to put 3 50 watt lights on a 300 watt transformer I’m thinking I should be fine.

Oh. And oddly enough. There is a 120v light wiring diagram and a 12v light diagram. The diagram for the 12v system doesn’t show the 120 v being fed to the relay coming from the GFCI like the 120v lights.

Thanks for your reply.
Regards
Mac

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mike,

You don't "need" a GFCI if there is a transformer between the 120 volts and the 12 volts going to the lights.

You can use one if you want...

Jim R.

 

[macdenewf]

Mike,

You don't "need" a GFCI if there is a transformer between the 120 volts and the 12 volts going to the lights.

You can use one if you want...

Jim R.

I’m part way complete. I have the transformers installed. I am using the power from the GFCI to the relay then to the transformer.
I don’t have the lights installed yet however.

Every time I try and power on the transformer the GFCi trips. I know the wiring diagram doesn’t include the GFCI so I’m wondering if GFCIs just don’t like transformers.
And one more odd thing. The input current on the label of the transformer was 120 amps. That sounds unreasonable high. What am I missing ?

Thanks.
Mac.

 

[Jimrahbe]

See if this helps..

px300-wiring.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Aug 18, 2018

If you are using a GFCI breaker, the neutral goes back to the GFCI breaker neutral and not the panel neutral.

Jim R.

 

[macdenewf]

See if this helps..

px300-wiring.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Aug 18, 2018

If you are using a GFCI breaker, the neutral goes back to the GFCI breaker neutral and not the panel neutral.

Jim R.

Well.
Good news bad news scenario.
1. ima dumbass...the wiring diagram was on the back of the cover plate. And i had it wired correctly
2. just have to figure why its tripping the GFCI.
This transformer is opposite to the intermetic.
The high voltage is the 2 wire (primary), the low voltage ( secondary ) is the multi wire....which is the way i have it wired.

From what ive read, the GFCI doesnt protect the secondary regardless. and form different posts - looks like 12v pool lights do not require the use of a GFCI.
Perhaps that why the Jandy wiring diagram doesn't show the primary of the transform being connected to a GFCI. I;ll have to pick up a separate 15 amp breaker to wire the transformer to a dedicated breaker and see if i get the proper output voltages.


Thanks
Mac

 

[SuperDupe]

Hey @macdenewf ,

I'm do this exact thing. Replacing my two pool and one spa Jandy 120v lights with 12v J&J lights.

I've already got some good advice in another thread; I'm just curious what you ended up doing? I'm also going to try the one 300 watt transformer and run the 12v leads from the transformer to the built-in Jandy relays. I was initially looking at buying three 100 watt transformers, but I couldn't see the logic in doing it that way... I'm just curious about what you ended up doing how it is working out.

I also read in a another thread with 12v, the voltage will drop over longer distances... Did you use the 13v or 14v output or just stick to the 12v?

 

[macdenewf]

Hey @macdenewf ,

I'm do this exact thing. Replacing my two pool and one spa Jandy 120v lights with 12v J&J lights.

I've already got some good advice in another thread; I'm just curious what you ended up doing? I'm also going to try the one 300 watt transformer and run the 12v leads from the transformer to the built-in Jandy relays. I was initially looking at buying three 100 watt transformers, but I couldn't see the logic in doing it that way... I'm just curious about what you ended up doing how it is working out.

I also read in a another thread with 12v, the voltage will drop over longer distances... Did you use the 13v or 14v output or just stick to the 12v?

good question. I honestly cant recall. I know that the last light i haven't changed is starting to act up. when i replace it - i'll have a look at which wire i connected to see how i hooked it up