Landscape Lighting Wire Size Chart
Transformers generally range from 150 to 900 watt capacity.
Landscape lighting wire size chart. This cerro 500 ft. Any system under 200 watts will be fine using 16 gauge wire. Another way to counteract a high voltage drop is change to a thicker wire such as 10 guage. Watts wire run length constant voltage drop.
Wire size wattage of lights and length of run. Over 200 watts you should use a 12 gauge sized wire. The wire comes in different sizes such as 8 10 12 14 16 and 18. Wire is sized by the american wire gauge awg system.
Voltage drop equation for landscape lighting. Smaller wire sizes are usually more economical and larger wire sizes are stronger though the smaller ones will also reduce the distance of power being provided to your lights in the ground and may need a conduit to stay safe from dreaded landscaper cuts to your lighting connections. It can also be used in security applications. Once your landscape lighting design is complete you can figure out what size of low voltage transformer you need.
Were as a 120 volt line voltage wire is a single strand wire. If you need more voltage drop than you are getting you may change to a thinner wire such as 14 gauge but a thinner wire supports less wattage. Use this voltage drop equation to figure out how many volts your wire will lose over a distance. Our low voltage landscape lighting calculator will allow you to enter this information to determine the maximum distance from the transformer to the lights.
The maximum wire run distance from the transformer to the lights will depend on several factors. Wire gauge refers the physical size of the wire rated with a numerical designation that runs opposite to the diameter of the conductors in other words the smaller the wire gauge number the larger the wire diameter. Here is a chart to determine the maximum wattage allowed for each buried wire. Black 12 2 landscape wire is designed for landscape and outdoor accent lighting applications.
Most low voltage landscape lighting wire comes in two different sizes. Common wires for landscape lighting are 10 12 14 or 16 gauge wires. We recommend 12 gauge or 10 gauge wire for long distances. Common sizes include 14 12 10 8 6 and 2 gauge wire.
Black 12 2 landscape wire this cerro 500 ft. Low voltage landscape wiring or electrical cable comes in several numerical gauges or sizes. Landscape lighting wire low voltage landscape lighting wire or landscape lighting cable as it is often referred as is made of multi strands of copper wire that are bound together. A lower number means thicker wire and greater capacity to carry the power current for longer distances.
The pvc jacket resists damage from uv exposure for durability and the wire is suitable for direct burying. 12 and 16 gauge.