If you're looking for the answer to what daisy chain lighting is, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we examine what it is, how it works, its benefits, and where you can use it. Whether you’re setting up lights in your new kitchen extension, in your garage, or lighting up a patio, it’s a simple way to save time and money.
It’s an ideal choice for larger areas as it can be linked to a single lighting control, such as a dimmer switch, to bring your lighting design ideas to life. Read on to determine if it’s the right choice for your next home improvement project.
Eric Davis has worked as a self-employed electrician for over 15 years. Having worked on both domestic and commercial projects. Eric also provides expert advice on electricals on behalf of MyJobQuote.co.uk.
What is Daisy Chain Lighting - a quick definition
Eric Davis, Electrical expert for MyJobQuote, offers a quick and simple summary: “Daisy chain lighting is where you connect up a series of lights on a single circuit, effectively linking them together in a chain.” A light is connected to a main light, which is then connected to the next light in the chain, and so on, to create a chain. All the lights in the chain are controlled by a single switch or dimmer.
Try these for daisy chain lighting
This 10-peice set of brushed metal bezel LED downlights comes with flicker-free technology and can be rotated to point where the light is needed. Designed for 70-80mm ceiling holes.
This consumer unit allows the installer to split the consumers power needs across two RCD's such as lighting and socket circuits. Comes with a pre-wired Surge Protection Unit.
A brushed silver designer dimmer switch that features a push-on/off button and rotary dimming. Compatible with LED, CFL, halogen and fluorescent lamps.
Why and where daisy chain lighting is used
Daisy chain lighting is usually employed in specific situations; here, Davis explains why and where, “The main reason for daisy-chaining lights is to simplify an installation and reduce the amount of wiring needed.” This, in turn, speeds up the installation process and can help cut costs.
Daisy chain lighting is often used for recessed ceiling lights and is commonly found in outdoor lighting where a single power source is available. Davis states, “Linking your lighting in a chain can enable you to consistently illuminate a large area. It can also offer greater flexibility, allowing you to connect additional bulbs and extend lighting when necessary.”
However, he offers a note of caution: “However, if you’re daisy-chaining lighting from one power source, you need to make sure you’re not overloading the circuit, as this is a fire risk.”
How many lights can you daisy chain?
There isn’t a fixed number of LED lights you can add to a circuit, as Davis explains, “The number of LED lights you can daisy chain depends on the wattage of the lights and the capacity of your circuit.”
He adds, “Whenever you’re thinking of wiring lights in a daisy chain, you need to calculate the total wattage of the lights and check the capacity of the circuit they’ll be on to ensure there’s no risk of overloads. For safety reasons, you’ll also need an up-to-date consumer unit with an RCD fitted.”
To calculate, first note the wattage of your lights. An LED will typically be anywhere between 5W-15W. As a general guideline, a 5W LED is equivalent to a 50W incandescent bulb. Next, note the amperage of the circuit you are using. This will commonly be 15 amps (approximately 1500W). Check your consumer unit; the circuit breaker should have a label stating the amperage.
For safety reasons, it is recommended to use only 80% of the load. This will easily allow 10-20 LEDs. If you're unsure and want to ensure your wiring meets the latest standards, Davis advises, “To make sure your wiring is safe and meets the latest standard for electrical installations, it’s best to ask a qualified electrician to undertake the work you want done.” He adds, “They may suggest a better alternative to daisy-chaining, such as wiring your lights in parallel.”
The downsides of daisy chain lighting
Daisy chain lighting is a quick and cost-effective way to introduce extended lighting, but it does have a few downsides, as Davis shares, “A key disadvantage to daisy-chaining is that if the first light in the chain breaks, the other lights won’t work."
He continues, “Daisy-chaining does give you consistent lighting, but it doesn’t give you the same versatility as having each light on a separate circuit. You can’t choose to have some lights on and some off, or to have some of them dimmed.”
Not all lights can be daisy-chained, as Davis shares, “Only certain types of lights can be safely daisy-chained”. He adds, “For example, some outdoor string lighting is designed with special connectors to allow you to link each bulb in series and to tailor the size of your chain. There are also specially designed LED batten lights and low-power lights that you can daisy chain.”
FAQ
Can daisy chain lighting be an electrical hazard?
Daisy chain lighting can be hazardous if not installed correctly. For example, if you have too many lights on a circuit, Davis shares, “If you have too many lights on a circuit, it’s most likely that your circuit breaker will trip, cutting the power to your lights.” He adds, “However, there’s also a real danger of wires overheating and catching fire."
The simple solution is to call in an electrician and get any wiring checked. This will make sure it's safe and up to the latest standard.
If you’re looking for new lighting ideas indoors and outdoors make sure to check our our guides on the latest lighting trends, stylish living room ideas and landscape lighting techniques for some smart and clever ideas.
