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<< low voltage wire runs | Landscape Lighting Wire Gauge >>

Single Light

5/18/2005 9:22:16 PM
Craig Guiffre

5/18/2005 9:22:16 PM
First, I would like to compliment you for providing so much free advice! Second, here's my question. I want to light a single tree - Bradford pear, about 20 feet tall today - that's in a circle in the center of our driveway. The total run of wire is about 80 feet (that's the actual, not straightline, distance). If I get 1 50 watt uplight - well or spot? - what size transformer is appropriate? It would be great to think I can have extra capacity, but I also read you're supposed to use at least 60% of the transformer's capacity, so if I use a 50 watt bulb, I would only need an 80 watt (if there is such a thing) transformer, but then I have only a little extra capacity. I will be using 12/2 wire, so not too much voltage drop in 80 feet. In your own lighting kit with 6 20 watt lights you're only using 40% of the capacity?? Thanks!!

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re: Single Light

Posted: 5/18/2005 11:48:12 PM

EXPERT

5/18/2005 11:48:12 PM
Thanks for the kudo's!  I have a lot of fun answering all the great questions I get from people such as yourself.  Depending on the plant material around the base of the Pear Tree, I would use two 50-watt LOW VOLTAGE HALOGEN UP LIGHTS (EXN 38 degree lamps) for a balanced and dramatic display.  If it is lawn, I would go with GRADE LEVEL UP LIGHTS (50PAR36/WFL lamp).  As far as the TRANSFORMER, you should get the 150-watt ECONOMICAL POWER SUPPLY and use 12/2 DIRECT BURIAL CABLE under the driveway to feed the light.  You might run two cables (one for each light) just in case one fails you can always go to one cable.  Send us some digital pictures and we will add them to our OUTDOOR LIGHTING GALLERY.

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