Total Wattage
16W
Transformer
60VA
Monthly Cost
$0.37
Low-level ground lighting along walkways
Typical Path Lights: 1.5–4W LED
Spacing: 6–8 ft apart
Total length from transformer to last fixture
Average nightly run time (6–10 hrs typical)
Based on $0.13/kWh, 6 hrs/night
Inputs
Result
Total watts = 8 × 2W = 16W. Transformer need = 16 × 1.25 = 20VA, rounded to 60VA standard size. Voltage drop = (2 × 75 × 16) / (6,530 × 11.9) = 0.03V = 0.26%, well under 10%.
Inputs
Result
Total watts = 12 × 5W = 60W. Transformer need = 60 × 1.25 = 75VA → 100VA standard. Wire: 150 ft needs 10 AWG. VD = (2 × 150 × 60) / (10,380 × 11.9) = 0.15V = 1.2%.
Inputs
Result
Total watts = 6 × 10W = 60W. Transformer = 60 × 1.25 = 75VA → 100VA. Wire: 200 ft needs 10 AWG. VD = (2 × 200 × 60) / (10,380 × 11.9) = 0.19V = 1.6%. Monthly = 0.06 kW × 10 hr × 30 = 18 kWh × $0.13 = $2.34.
Add up the total wattage of all fixtures and multiply by 1.25 for 25% overhead. Eight 2W path lights = 16W, so you need a 20VA transformer minimum. Standard sizes are 60, 100, 150, 200, 300, and 600VA. Always round up to the next standard size.
For 12V low-voltage systems: use 12 AWG for runs up to 100 ft, 10 AWG for 100–200 ft, and 8 AWG for 200–300 ft. The goal is to keep voltage drop under 10% so lights at the end of the run do not dim noticeably.
| Wire Gauge | Max Distance | Cost/ft | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AWG | 100 ft | $0.30/ft | Short runs, few fixtures |
| 10 AWG | 200 ft | $0.50/ft | Medium runs, standard layout |
| 8 AWG | 300 ft | $0.80/ft | Long runs, many fixtures |
Voltage drop = (2 × distance × total watts) / (wire area × 11.9). For a 75 ft run of 12 AWG carrying 16W: VD = (2 × 75 × 16) / (6,530 × 11.9) = 0.031V or 0.26% — well under the 10% maximum.
LED landscape lighting is very inexpensive to operate. Eight 2W path lights running 6 hours per night use 0.288 kWh/day or about 8.6 kWh/month, costing just $1.12/month at $0.13/kWh. Even large systems with 20+ fixtures rarely exceed $5/month.
| System | Total Watts | Hrs/Night | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 path lights | 16W | 6 hrs | $1.12 |
| 12 accent + 6 path | 72W | 6 hrs | $3.37 |
| 20 mixed fixtures | 80W | 8 hrs | $4.99 |
| 30 fixtures (large) | 120W | 8 hrs | $7.49 |
For path lighting, space fixtures 6–8 feet apart along walkways. For accent/uplighting, plan one fixture per tree or feature. For flood lighting, space 15–20 feet apart. A typical front yard uses 8–12 fixtures; a full property uses 20–40.
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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