Landscape Lighting Transformer - OK To Mount In Garage??

[Ken Smith]

I am finishing up some recent landscaping work in my front yard and
preparing
to install 12VDC landscape lighting. As part of this, I am looking for a
location
to mount the 300 watt stepdown transformer where it does not stick out
like
a sore thumb and is not readily accessible to my young son.

I have found a location high on the garage wall where I can easily get
power
to it and it will get unobstructed airflow past it. The UL ratings for
the model
(Intermatic (Malibu) ML200) I have indicate that it is rated for outdoor
install
only.

Has anyone on this list mounted one of these transformers inside and had
an
issue? I don't want to burn my place down, but I cannot see what issues
mounting
it inside will cause - provided that I mount it such that it gets plenty
of airflow and
I issolate it from directly contacting a combustible surface. I was
thinking of
mounting it with a piece of ceramic tile or some other good insulator to
keep
it spaced out from the wall where mounted.

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!!

Regards,

Ken

snek@DONT_SPAM_ME.cisco.com

[Tim Fischer]

Now this I don't understand. It really says outdoor use *only*? I'm not
sure how a transformer screwed onto exterior wood siding on a hot July day
is any better than one screwed to sheetrock in the garage...

-Tim

"Ken Smith" <sn...@cisco.com> wrote in message
news:3DAC736F...@cisco.com...

[Ken Smith]

...I know...I called the manufacturer of the transformer and was told,
without accepting any sort of potential liability, that it should not make
any difference provided that envoronmental conditions (cool, dry location,
good, unrestricted airflow...etc) were replicated - then there is no reason
why it couldn't be mounted indoors.

Taking every thermal-related precaution I can forsee - I have built a custom
mounting plate where the metal casing of the trasformer only contacts a
piece of ceramic tile for heat issolation. The ceramic tile is attached to a
plywood plate, which will be mouted high on the wall where nothing can
obstruct airflow. Call this an excessive measure - better safe then sorry!

Anyone see anything wrong with what I plan to do??

Best Regards,

Ken

[rich]

Also schrieb sn...@cisco.com:

>
>Has anyone on this list mounted one of these transformers inside and had
>an issue?

Quite the contrary. I have mine mounted in my basement. A couple pieces
of below-grade conduit out to a buried box in the garden, from whence issues
the various and sundry 12V supply lines. It's mounted to a 2X4 that's nailed
to the basement wall. No problemo at all.

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