What size wire for landscape lighting?
Summary
Determining the right wire size for landscape lighting depends on factors like voltage, wattage, and distance. Some forum users use 14 AWG wire for landscape lights with a 12V system, while others suggest that with the rise of LED landscape lighting, a smaller 16 AWG wire can be sufficient. For longer runs or higher wattage, 12 AWG or 10 AWG might be necessary to prevent voltage drop. Ultimately, the selection depends on the specific requirements of your lighting setup.
What our forum users are saying:
- "wire size is 14awg for landscape lights. 12v system run off a 300w multi tap transformer...I need to hook up 3 50watt spot and 1 20 watt spot. these lights are on a 40ft run. any help would be great thanks." -- daddyt, DIYChatroom
- "thanks for the help. I checked label, output is 12v/ac and at trans it is11.9v/ac with my meter. so i am thinking it might be wire size and 60 ft of 14awg. should i go with 10awg or is 12awg enough. would hate to buy and waste $$$$." -- daddyt, DIYChatroom
- "You can go with the smallest - 16 awg wire they got. As landscape lighting goes LED, the wattages, and therefore wire size, have drastically declined." -- LawnGuyLandSparky, DIYChatroom
Post Mentions
- With no load on the wire the voltage at the end should be the same as the source, the wire could be a 20 gauge and a mile long. Resistance (load ) is needed to drop the voltage. What are you using for a meter? Something elese is happening, is the wire grounded somewhere ?
- wire size is 14awg for landscape lights. 12v system run off a 300w multi tap transformer.the run from trans to end of cable with no lights hooked up at all is 58ft the voltage reading is 10.2volts. trans tap is at 15v. why so low a voltage and end off run without a light hooked up yet???? I need...
- If you are reading 15 volts at the transformer tap with your meter and 10.2 volts at the end of the wire with no load using the same meter, you are leaking current somewhere between the two points.
- thanks for the help. I checked label, output is 12v/ac and at trans it is11.9v/ac with my meter. so i am thinking it might be wire size and 60 ft of 14awg. should i go with 10awg or is 12awg enough. would hate to buy and waste $$$$.
- I am attempting to repair my old outdoor lighting and discovered that the wire in the ground has three (3) wires it looks like a 10 gauge outdoor wire. I purchased 12/2 outdoor wire; ran some lights with a new transform and everything worked. I discovered that the old wire that runs under my...
- You can go with the smallest - 16 awg wire they got. As landscape lighting goes LED, the wattages, and therefore wire size, have drastically declined.
- Landscape lighting ranges from HD cheapies to very expensive all brass and copper fixtures. All depends upon budget. There is also LED now and that can be part of the equation too. How do you want to control it? Distance dictates wire size to a degree. I don't use the cheapie home depot...
- IDE like to hear from some landscaping company's from ct what do you do when a customer wants you to install landscape lighting what is your plan of action what do you do do you hire and electrician and charge the customer for it or is there more options Posted via Mobile Device
- do you guys install by hand or with a special tool.we do business in the capital region of ottawa ,canada.So landscape lighting is not very popular.we are trying to do more lighting every year.
- Hey guys when it comes to wiring the lights and the transformers do you mess with the 120 volt side or do you call an electrician for the customer ? Posted via Mobile Device
Related Threads
- wire size is 14awg for landscape lights. 12v system run off a 300w multi tap transformer.the run from trans to end of cable with no lights hooked up at all is 58ft the voltage reading is 10.2volts. trans tap is at 15v. why so low a voltage and end off run without a light hooked up yet???? I need...
- what is the best way/tools to install wire in ground for landscape lighting.
- What do you guys use for low voltage landscape lighting? I have a client with a rock garden so I am looking for something low voltage that I can bury the cables a few inches below the rocks. The client wants to replace the sad solar spike lights that never last. Ideally I would like to stub out...
- I have a 200watt(I believe) transformer. I want to add some more lights to my yard. I found an 8 pack of 5w, 500 lumen spot lights on Amazon I'm thinking of buying. I plan to run a loop to the east and south side of my house to place at least 4, if not 6 of these lights on and then I'll do...
- I am attempting to repair my old outdoor lighting and discovered that the wire in the ground has three (3) wires it looks like a 10 gauge outdoor wire. I purchased 12/2 outdoor wire; ran some lights with a new transform and everything worked. I discovered that the old wire that runs under my...
- Hey guys when it comes to wiring the lights and the transformers do you mess with the 120 volt side or do you call an electrician for the customer ? Posted via Mobile Device
