Landscape lighting wire is the key to a well designed outdoor low voltage landscape lighting job.

I have a 120 Watt Transformer with 14 gauge wiring which uses 104 watts of lighting. I want to add more lights with an additional 100 watts of lighting. I have purchase a 300 watt transformer to add the new lighting. The transformer instructions state that I should use a minimum of 12 gauge wiring. While I can use 12 gauge wiring to run the new line, do I have to replace the existing 14 gauge with 12 gauge with the 300 watt transformer or can I run both the 14 and 12 gauge off the 300 watt transformer?

Yes! Here is why you should run new wiring. 205 watts/12 volts = 17.8 amps! 14/2 DIRECT BURIAL WIRE is only rated at 15 amps. 12/2 LANDSCAPE WIRE is rated at 20 amps. 10/2 DIRECT BURIAL WIRE is rated at 30 amps.

Yes, you can run several different wire sizes from groupings of lights back to the transformer as long as you size it correctly. This is called home run wiring and it is the best way to manage voltage issues. Check out our POWER CABLE CALCULATOR for more information.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

Labels: Direct Burial Cable, Landscape Wiring, Power Cable Calculator, Transformer Wattage

posted by xinger @ 5:16 PM