ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Landscape lighting booster

Sparky, that 300W multi-tap trany in the link I posted is currently only $197.00 on sale and has 9 tap levels from 12V all the way up to 22V. It looks like the customer reviews for it are all positive, so that might be a pretty cheap alternative to explore before any major excavation and trenching.

What is the far end load (watts)?

Greg,

I dug out an old LV lighting book. There was a formula for landscape lighting that I used to use. it was:

Total Watts X Cable Length
--------------------------
Cable Constant

The above formula equals the voltage drop


Lets see if this comes out. The cable constant was depending on size of cable.
The different wires sizes. All copper UL listed for landscape lighting. i.e. #18 = 1380, #16= 220, #14=3500, #12=7500, and #10=11920

So a circuit 80 foot long with 6 lights of 25 watt each: 6 X 25 = 150 total watts X 80' run = 27000

So 27000 using #18 ga wire at 1380 = 19.56 voltage drop OR

27000 using #10 ga wire at 11920 = 2.265 voltage drop

All of these calcs. would be at 12 volt. You can also up the voltage a wee bit if needed.

I also should have added that back a few years 'RUUD' was just that, there was no 'Econolight' subsidiary! They had quality materials, sold direct to ECs.

KJay, thanks for the link. I didn't see it at first. I've done business with "Volt" before. I got some low voltage pathway lights from them. Was good quality, and a good price. I sent my customer another quote for replacing the transformer and installing some 30 watt LED flood lights (equivalent lumens to 150 watt. halogen). The existing flood lights they have, are either 50 watt. or 100 watt. halogen, I think.// Only problem I see though, is that that transformer only has 1 circuit. The transformer I will be replacing has 4 circuits

Rethunk my last post. If they call me, I can leave the existing transformer there with the other circuits in it, and just mount the new one beside it, and feed it from another breaker that is next to the transformers. There's 2 or 3 more spaces there:)

You could also run another 10 guage out there and make it a loop circuit. I know it requires digging but you wouldn't have to dig up or change any of the existing lighting, just hook on near or at the end of the existing run and choose any easy route back to the transformer. That's how we usually fix VD problems when we are called in after the lanscapers tried first.

Big B, unfortunately there is no easy route back to the transformer; 2 drive ways and 100ft. of trenching involved. Anyway, they haven't called me back yet. I think they are still pondering over the situation. Thanks anyway.