I am trying to decide between a Pentair Intellibrites 12v pool light with transformer vs. the 120v pool light. Code for my area requires 12v only for commercial pools. Are 12v lights safer?
Yes, 12 VDC will be much safer.samantha said:I am trying to decide between a Pentair Intellibrites 12v pool light with transformer vs. the 120v pool light. Code for my area requires 12v only for commercial pools. Are 12v lights safer?
stev32k said:Exposure to 120 VAC can kill a person. Exposure to 12VDC will barely give a tingle.
Kias said:A twelve volt light will typically, but again not always, save you on your electric bill, but it needs a transformer, and if DC, a rectifier somewhere. The 115vac light doesn't need a transformer.
Sorry, that was the assumption used (in my little world) that the 12v light was a lower ouput bulb, cause in my little world that is usually always the case.JohnT said:The only reason a 12V light might use less electricity is because it uses a lower output bulb. Equal light would consume equal power, and the 12V would use more than the 120V with the losses in the transformer and in the wiring due to the higher current.
...and I stand corrected! Thanks John for making me look this up. It appears that the $250,000 that you spent on me to get trained was wrong on this subject. Or maybe I was half asleep in class, or if it was Tuesday, only half awake. I could've sworn the prof said DC lights last longer. Then again he may have been talking about some type of light other than your tungsten standard. Who knows... It was 20 some years ago!JohnT said:As to bulb life, DC is usually very slightly shorter due to filament migration being unidirectional, however it is not practically different.
Yes, 12 VDC will be much safer.