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When it comes to garden lighting, there are two main players in the low-voltage game: 12V and 24V. Both are safe, both will light up your garden, but if you want things brighter, neater, and just plain better, 24V takes the crown.
Think of it like the difference between a pushbike and an e-bike: both get you there, but one does it with a whole lot less effort.
Why 24V Beats 12V (Every Time)
Say Goodbye To Dull Corners
Ever noticed lights at the far end of the garden looking a little sleepy?
That’s voltage drop. The longer the cable, the more the power fades away. With 24V, your lights stay lively and consistent right across the yard.
More Distance, Less Drama
Bigger garden? No worries. 24V lets you run longer cable lengths without the lights giving up halfway. It’s like giving your lighting system longer legsEfficiency That Pays Off
Higher voltage = lower current = less wasted energy. Translation: your lights stay brighter and more efficient.
So What Cable Thickness Do I Need?
Here’s where it gets interesting: cable thickness matters!
Think of it like drinking a thick shake. A skinny straw (thin cable) makes it hard work. A fat straw (thick cable) makes it easy.
- 4mm Cable (1.84mm²) → Great for short runs with a handful of fittings of fittings. Ie. up to 100W over 50m
- 5mm Cable (2.90mm²) → The crowd-pleaser! Handles medium runs like a champ. I.e. up to 150W over 100m
- 6mm Cable (4.59mm²) → For the big leagues, long distances and plenty of lights. Ie. Up to 200W over 150m
Bottom line: thicker cable means less voltage drop, so your lights don’t fade before the party’s over.
At Allera, most of our garden lighting fixtures will work on both 12V and 24V. That flexibility means we’ve got you covered. The guide above is a conservative estimate based on our fittings, but every garden is different. The number of lights, the distance you’re running, and the wattage all play a part. If you’re unsure, just give our team a shout and we’re always here to help you get it right.
Not All Cable Is Created Equal
Here’s the inside scoop:
- Pure copper is the gold standard. It’s efficient, resists corrosion, and keeps your lights glowing bright.
- Copper-clad aluminium (CCA) might be cheaper, but it breaks down faster and causes bigger voltage drops. Definitely not garden-friendly in the long run.
And the way the copper is put together matters too:
- For garden lighting, you want lots of tiny copper strands twisted together. This makes the cable flexible (easy to snake under pavers or around bends) and reduces voltage drop.
- Our 6mm cable packs 57 strands per wire!!
- 240V cable is a no go for garden lighting. It doesn’t have the quantity of stands and isn’t ready to get dirty. For inside lighting we can sometimes get away with it with smaller loads but be aware the voltage drop will be much higher.
Finally, there’s the outer armour:
Our cable is twin-sheathed for double protection against the elements, and it comes with red and black inner cores so there’s zero guesswork about which side is positive.
Garden lighting doesn’t need to be complicated.
Just powered smart and cabled right.
Let’s light up your outdoors the way it was meant to be: bright, reliable, and a little bit magical!
