💡 Advice Needed: Wiring 12V Outdoor Garden Lighting — 29 Lights, Long Runs.
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Hey all..... looking for some advice from experienced electricians or landscape lighting pros.
I’m setting up a 12V low-voltage outdoor lighting system in my backyard and would love some input on the best approach. Here's the setup:
Lighting Plan:
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12 lights (MR16 housings) along a fence line that's 20m total
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17 lights (MR16 housings) along a garden bed that’s 36m total
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The outdoor power outlet (where the transformer will go) is:
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~13m from the first light on the fence line
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~18m from the first light on the garden bed
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So the total cable length:
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Fence line: ~30m from outlet to last light
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Garden bed: ~54m from outlet to last light
Each light will be using a 5W MR16 bulbs (so total load is about 145W if all run on one transformer).
Questions:
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Should I use 1 transformer to power both runs, or would 2 transformers+ be better?
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What’s the best cable gauge to use to keep voltage drop minimal along long runs? Direct Burial? Including connections? T Bar? Junctions?
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Any other suggestions!!??
Appreciate any suggestions or recommendations from people who’ve done long runs like this before!
Thanks in advance 🙏
**EDIT 1:**
Added a visual plan — apologies for the rough paint markings.
img link: https://ibb.co/Y4bThDwK
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Yellow line = garden bed, approximately 36m in total
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Green line = fence line, around 10m long, but noted as 20m since lights are on both sides of the fence (represented in pink)
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Red dot = the only outdoor power socket on the house
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A direct run from the power socket to the start of the fence line (green) is about 13m
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A direct run from the power socket to the start of the garden bed (yellow) is around 6–8m
**EDIT 2:**
Happy to go 24V set up for this as it's a long run.
Just need some advise on connectors and what gauge wire would be suitable to get for it.
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