Portico Outdoor LED Driver 12-Volt Transformer

This is the power adaptor portion of the Armacost Portico Outdoor Lighting System. There are 4 parts total. This portion supplies the power via an electrical outlet. The transformer is 12 volts & it simply plus into the wire harness the other end/plug end goes right into an electrical outlet. Device converts power accordingly, no settings needed. We used this to install lighting inside our Pool Cabana for night swims & it has been a definite game changer for aesthetics, mood & vibe. We need to order many more.

I have used other Armacost products—tapes, channels, power supplies and controllers--and have found them to be dependable. I quickly learned that their LED lighting is actually a system made up of three elements: a power supply/driver, a controller, and the light(s). It is possible to eliminate the controller and plug the lights directly into the power supply, but you will not be able to adjust the brightness of the lights or remotely turn them ON/OFF. Armacost has designed a system named “Portico” that is aimed at powering small spotlights that can be inserted into decks, steps and even concrete. The components can be used indoors or outdoors. • The power supply can be plugged directly into an outdoor receptacle that has a cover that can be closed over the device. The main body of the power supply is 2-5/8” tall X 1-3/4” wide so it takes up two receptacle spots. It projects from the face of the outlet 1-5/8” and the connector sticks down 1”. The cover should be large enough to close over the power supply with only the wiring coming out of the cover. The power supply draws 5 amps maximum at 120 volts with an output of 2 amps at 24 volts DC. The power supply comes with a waterproof connector attached to a two-conductor cable over 6-feet long with a male connector on the end to connect to the controller (or direct to a light string). The power supply plug is non-polarized. • The controller is really small at 1-1/4” long X ½” wide and ¼” thick. It is in the middle of a cable 24” long. The cable has a waterproof female connector in the input side and a male connector on the output end that connects to the light component{s}. The controller can handle up to 5 amps at 24 volts DC. Although a controller is not essential, it comes with remote control with ON-OFF and dimming buttons. The remote is 1-3/8” wide X 4-3/4” long and 3/8” thick; it weighs only 1.1 ounces including the CR2032 coin battery. The remote does not appear to be waterproof. • The light options and number that can be powered by the Portico system are interesting. They are offered in diameters of 5/8”, 1-3/16” and 2-3/8” diameters. I went with the smallest size which goes into a 9/16” hole. The hole needs to be at least 1” deep so the flange will sit flush with the surface. The small light has three ss spring prongs to secure the light in the hole. The light has one LED chip which draws very little power--.04 watts to produce 7 lumens—which makes it suitable for wayfinding but not area lighting. By comparison, the largest Portico light offered produces 120 lumens. The light has 20” input and output cables which allows lights to be daisy-chained together in parallel. In fact, 54 of the 5/8” lights can be powered with the power supply. All the lights have a 120-degree beam angle. The lights are white at 3000K. The only thing missing is a waterproof female cap for the last light in a string. • I found that with only one light connected, the controller cannot dim to zero. I estimate that it got down to 20%. With four lights connected, the result was the same. • The products are made in China and come with a limiter 3-year warranty.

This is my review of the Armacost Lighting Portico Outdoor LED Driver 12-Volt Transformer. This LED driver is designed for outdoor use and produces a constant 12.2 DC volts. I also load tested the Armacost driver and I was able to get 2.1 amps output. The connector has rubber O-ring seal that will prevent water intrusion. The body is small and should fit inside most outdoor boxes with covers. The driver comes with a 48" cable. The Armacost LED driver comes with a 3-year warranty and contact information on the instruction sheet. This driver is designed to pair with the Portico line of outdoor lights. However, you can power different brands of 12v DC LED outdoor lights with minor modifications. (NOTE: Only do this if you are confident and knowledgeable with working around electricity) This is a good LED driver and I highly recommend it.

I got this light setup a few weeks ago. I was able to set it up myself. I set it up outside on the deck. It was not very bright for my application. I couldn't really think of a good place to use it at my house. It might be a better install where low levels of light are needed. It has a dimmer control. It will need to be installed by a professional if you do not have the knowledge. Shock can be done if not installed right.

For use with an outdoor rated outlet. This 12 volt 2 amp power supply will take you a long way with LED lighting. Rated for outdoor use this unit comes with screw on connectors for a rain tight fit. Use in combination with RibbonFlex lighting strip to illuminate any outdoor project. Simple easy to install and will drive most any outdoor lighting project.

This lighting kit from Armacost is really easy to set up. You can only run a certain amount of lights per transformer, so read the directions to see if you need more power for what you want to have. I like the water tight connectors. They have a very snug fit and then you have a threaded connector to hold it tight. It comes with a pretty decent amount of cord, and you can order extensions if you need a longer run. The 5/8 or 15mm light provides about an eight to ten foot circle of light. Gets pretty dim at the outside edge. The lights are dimmable, and there are a bunch of settings you can use. I like the color of the light, very easy on the eyes. The remote is easy to use.