INSTALLATION GUIDE LOW VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER 300W 600W 900W 1200W ATTENTION: Please read and understand thoroughly this installation guide to ensure safe and efficient operation of this Power Module
1 Open shipping carton and carefully remove the transformer. Open the side flap inside the shipping carton and remove the mounting hardware and landscape wire connection hardware bags that are supplied with the unit. Inspect contents for any damage that may have been incurred during shipping. Our Bottom Plates feature double knock-outs for adapting to standard conduit sizes, as well as a 1 5 / 8 diameter access hole to allow for a larger, centrally located 1 1 / 2 conduit for a cleaner, more professional looking installation. WARNING (for conduit connected POWER UNIT) RISK OF SHOCK. Install power unit 5 feet 1.5m) or more from the pool or spa and 10 feet (3.05m) or more from a fountain. Where the power unit is installed within 10 feet (3.05m) of a pool or spa, connect unit to a GFCI protected branch circuit. EXAMPLE: Bottom Plate EXAMPLE: Bottom Plate Hardware Bag WARNING (for power supply cord connected POWER UNIT) RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. Install power unit 5 feet 1.5m) or more from the pool, spa or fountain. Where the power unit is installed (a) within 10 feet (3.0m) of a pool, spa, or fountain, connect power unit to a receptacle protected by a GFCI.
2 MOUNTING THE UNIT Mount the transformer to a solid surface using keyhole slots in the mounting bracket. (NOTE: The transformer must be mounted at least one foot above ground level.) Secure the transformer using the appropriate wall anchors for the wall surface used. (Wall mounting screws and anchors not supplied.) DETERMINE THE LOAD 3 Our multi-tap transformers are equipped with secondary circuit breakers that are connected to the COM. Each circuit can be loaded up to a recommended maximum of 250 watts to insure 20% buffer from capacity. A) Add up all fixtures wattage. Divide your total wattage into 250W max per circuit, with a maximum of 150W per run. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO EXCEED 150W PER RUN! B) Measure the approximate distance from the transformer to the first fixture on each run. Refer to Chart 1 to pick the correct tap for each run. You may use multiple taps or the same tap multiple times, depending on the runs collective total wattage (not to exceed 250W per tap.) NOTE: It is most accurate to start with the 12V tap and test for the voltage drop by using a voltometer at the fixture(s). The volts it has dropped below 12V help determine which tap to use. WATT 100-149 38 TAP 1 12V TAP 2 13V TAP 3 14V TAP 4 15V 12 10 60 12 76 10 120 12 113 10 180 12 151 10 240 150-199 25 40 50 80 76 120 101 160 200-249 19 30 38 60 57 90 76 120 250-300 n/a 24 n/a 48 n/a 72 n/a 96 CHART 1 (Distance in feet to first fixture)
CALCULATING VOLTAGE DROP FORMULA Total watts on Cable X length of run (in feet) / Cable size constant (from chart below) = Voltage Drop EXAMPLE: A 100 run with 150 watts on it using 12 wire will have: 150w x 100 ft / 7490 cable constant = 2 voltage drop. Accordingly the run should be connected to the 13 or 14 volt tap so that after it loses 2 volts, the fixtures will still receive between 11-12 volts for most optimal lighting. WARNING! Running halogen lamps under 10.5 volts reduce lamp life and result in dim, yellowish outputs. Voltages over 12 significantly reduce lamp life as a result of over volting. For example; 13 volts will cut lamp life by 50%, 14 volts will cut lamp life by 75%. 20000 18000 16000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 CONSTANT 16 12 10 8 Constant
What gauge cable do I need for home to run my Landscape Lighting System? Will you be using Halogen or LED fixtures? HALOGEN BOTH LED run more than 100 feet? run more than 100 feet? run more than 100 feet? NO YES NO YES NO YES run more than 200 feet? 12/2 Gauge cable should be sufficient for your needs run more than 200 feet? run more than 200 feet? NO YES NO YES NO YES 10/2 Gauge cable should be sufficient for your needs 8/2 Gauge cable should be sufficient for your needs IMPORTANT! Please note that we do not recommend any runs longer than 300 ft. for voltage lighting.
4 CONNECTING THE CABLES Loosen the screws that hold the bottom plate in place, and remove bottom plate. Run lighting cables through knockouts in Bottom Plate. Connect one of each side of the two-pronged cable to the COMs and low voltage taps labeled on the terminal blocks. NOTE: Cable is not polar. Make sure that all connecting screws are secure and tight. REMEMBER: MAXIMUM 300W PER CIRCUIT Turn off ALL the circuit breakers in the transformer unit. Plug the 120V line cord into a grounded 120V GCFL outlet. Turn on one breaker at a time to ensure that your low voltage cable runs are connected per TABLE 1, and to ensure that there are not any short circuits.
5 CHECKING LAMP VOLTAGES Check the voltage at each fixture using a Voltmeter, and make sure you have the proper voltage to the lamp. Voltage Level by Lamp Type: Halogen lamp installs should be between 11.0 and 12.0 volts LED lamp installs should be between 11.0 and 15.0 volts
CHECKING THE INPUT AMPS Your transformer is provided with a long loop in the optional photocell outlet -that you may utilize to measure the input current. Simply apply the clamp on the Amp Meter around the loop and measure the current. (See Chart 3) REMEMBER: DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM INPUT CURRENT! If input current exceeds the maximum rating, either remove fixtures or reduce lamp wattages in the fixtures until input current is sufficiently reduced. The transformer is marked with a label showing the maximum input current. PHOTOCELL JUMPER (EXAMPLE: 600W) 300W 600W 900W 1200W AMPS 2.5A 5.0A 7.5A 10.0A CHART 3 (Input Current)
15486 N. Nebraska Avenue Lutz, FL 33549 1-813-978-3700 www.voltlighting.com