Low voltage to control lights?? - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

midwesterner · 08-15-2012, 08:47 PM

I looked at a shop today 80x100 they used 12v to control the t5 lights. I've never done this and I'm wondering how reliable it would be long term with the switches being that far apart

anyone have any experience with this??

ohiosparky99 · 08-15-2012, 09:22 PM

We do this quite a lot and have good luck with the relays, very simple to hook up and we haven't had many callbacks, we put all the relays in a box near the contractors usually

midwesterner · 08-17-2012, 08:42 PM

thanks for the reply sparky. is there a certain brand you stick with? aslo do you just run t-stat wire between the switches

ohiosparky99 · 08-17-2012, 09:42 PM

Here's one similar to what we have used, normally our supply house stocks hubbell, but this is very similar

ohiosparky99 · 08-17-2012, 09:44 PM

Also can do the same thing with a ice cube relay

ohiosparky99 · 08-17-2012, 09:56 PM

Here's a wiring diagram to show exactly how simple they are

midwesterner · 08-18-2012, 04:00 PM

so if i have 3 switch locations, i don't tie the swithes together like standard 3 way switches. I would run 3 wires ( power in and 2 switch legs 1 for ''on'' coil and 1 for ''off'' coil) to each switch location. then splice them all to the relay. Is that correct??

ohiosparky99 · 08-19-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwesterner

so if i have 3 switch locations, i don't tie the swithes together like standard 3 way switches. I would run 3 wires ( power in and 2 switch legs 1 for ''on'' coil and 1 for ''off'' coil) to each switch location. then splice them all to the relay. Is that correct??

You could do it that way, or daisy chain the switches, we also use momentary switches, no need for voltage on the relay all the time since its a latching relay, just needs a pulse

Bbsound · 08-19-2012, 03:21 PM

we use them at some country clubs, etc where they have indoor court lighting, remote ballasts and multiple switching locations.

Yes you could use an ice cube, but you need to build a control box, have a latching circuit etc.
with these relays you pop them into a 3/4' KO and have your high(er) voltage inside a regular j box and your low voltage is outside the box.