12v twin-core garden lighting cable

[Kev_UK]

I have a set of 6 garden spotlights that I want to put down the garden to illuminate around the fish pond area, the problem is the kit only comes with 10m of cable. Does anyone know where I can buy 12v flat twin-core cable (or an extension).. It's like speaker wire (I can give exact number of it if needed). I searched on google and had no luck with any stockist. It's the type that the lights pierce into with a spike to make the connection.

[Philtaz]

B&Q, Homebase, Wilko's etc should all sell it. In fact I was in Wilkinsons the other day buying 3 core cable and I saw twin core there.

[Kev_UK]

Thanks Philtaz, I did look on B&Q's website and they didn't sell it, but Wilko's may do so, or Wickes.

[kwd1954]

I had the same problem in reverse in other words I bought two sets and put more lights round the pond on one shorter cable. Unfortunately didn't realise that the transformer supplied is only rated for the amount of lights supplied with the kit. The lights only worked with the correct number of lights connected. If you do get a longer cable, don't try and fit more lights to it as it may not work.

[Kev_UK]

Hi kwd1954. I read the info and I'm not fitting extra lights, and going by what electricians tell me at work a longer cable will not cause any problems, not unless it's something like 100m long which would cause a voltage drop.

[New Forester]

No reason why you can't use thicker wire -- in fact, that will help avoid too much voltage drop. Standard lighting "twin & earth" (T&E) cable would do (just don't use the earth wire). Better still, twin-cored lighting flex, which is available in various colours (note the difference between cable and flex -- cable is thick copper wire which does not stand repeated movement, but flex is bundles of many thin wires which are, how can I put this, more flexible). Speaker wire is easy to get, but is ridiculously expensive, because hi-fi buffs believe that having super-pure copper makes a difference to how electricity flows. You can always use thicker wire, but of course never use thinner wire than the application demands -- good way to start a fire.