November 13, 2023

Low-Voltage Lighting Wire Size Chart

Short on Time? Here’s The Article Summary

The article explains the importance of wire size in low-voltage lighting setups and provides a low-voltage lighting wire size chart to help select the correct wire gauge. It discusses how wire gauge affects current capacity and voltage drop, emphasizing the need for proper wire selection to ensure safety and efficiency. Low-voltage wires are thinner and have a protective sheath to prevent electric shocks. The article suggests using low-voltage wire sizes for lights that require lower voltage, such as outdoor or ambiance lighting. It highlights the difference between indoor and outdoor wire protection, recommending thicker sheathing for outdoor use due to exposure to elements.

For solar setups, including indoor and outdoor lighting, the article recommends using the correct wire gauge and protective sheathing. It also briefly mentions the need for appropriately sized battery cables in solar systems and provides links to wire size calculators for further assistance.

Introduction

Wire size can affect voltage and voltage drop, a concept we’ll explain below. We’ve put together this low-voltage lighting wire size chart to help you understand every aspect of choosing the correct wire for your indoor or outdoor solar lighting setup.

While you can use a low-voltage wire gauge calculator to help you along with general equations, a lighting wire size chart will give you more specific results.

If you’re struggling with choosing the right elements for your solar setup, we’re only a phone call away. We’re on a mission to make solar simple and accessible, and we’re here to help you.

Wire Gauges for Lighting
Wire Size Chart for Low Voltage Lighting
Why Use Low Voltage Wire Sizes for Lighting?
What Size Battery Cable Do I Need?

Wire Gauges for Lighting

The size or thickness of a wire is referred to as the wire gauge in the electronics world. The diameter of a wire determines how many electrons it can safely transport, and therefore the amount of current that can move through it.

Current is directly proportional to voltage. This tells us that the diameter of a wire, or the wire gauge, is also responsible for determining the amount of voltage that can move through the wire.

Low-voltage electronics can make use of a thin wire gauge with a very thin sheath coating it. This sheath stops the electric energy from exiting the wire before it’s meant to. In other words, it’s there to protect you.

If a wire has no protective sheath on it, there is the risk that anybody that touches it will get shocked. Low voltage wires can have a thin protective sheath because there’s a small amount of electricity moving through them, so the barrier between you and the wire doesn’t need to be very thick to do its job.

Have a look at our high-voltage cable size chart if you’re working with electronics and appliances that require thicker wires that can carry a higher voltage safely.

Wire Size Chart for Low Voltage Lighting

Here’s a chart indicating the voltage of wires at different wattages and lengths in feet. We hope this helps!

Watts	10	20	30	40	50

Feet	16	16	16	16	16
40	16	16	16	16	16
60	16	16	16	16	16
80	16	16	16	14	14
100	12	12	12	12	12
120	12	12	12	12	12
140	12	12	12	12	12
160	12	12	12	12	10
180	12	12	12	10	10

Why Use Low Voltage Wire Sizes for Lighting?

Low-voltage lights are usually used outdoors, but some people opt to have low-voltage lights on the inside of their houses too. These lights will be dimmer, which is what some people prefer. You should also look at a solar wire size calculator to know which wires you need to get depending on the strength of your lights.

It’s best to use low voltage wire sizes for lighting that requires a low voltage to operate properly. If you’re installing huge, bright lights in your house, then low-voltage wires aren’t for you.

If your lights are more for ambiance, low-voltage wire sizes will be perfect for you. The biggest difference between low-voltage wire and higher-voltage wire is the protective sheath around it. This is why it’s important to make sure you’re using the correct wire – somebody could get injured if you’re running a high voltage through a low voltage wire with a thin sheath.

Wondering if you need different wire gauges depending on whether your lighting is indoor or outdoor? We’ll explain below.

Solar Indoor Lighting

Long story short, you won’t need a different wire gauge for a light of the same voltage and current being used indoors or outdoors. Remember, wire gauge refers to the wire size, which influences how much current and voltage can move through it.

Something you should consider though is how protected your wires are. If your lights are indoors, your wires will be well-protected from the elements. This means you can use a wire that has a very thin protective layer – some low-voltage wires even have a painted layer.

This is sufficient for the inside of your house. Have a look at our wire gauge voltage chart if you want to understand wire gauges a little better, and decide if the wires you’re using for your inside lights are sufficient for the voltage required.

Solar Landscape Lighting

Landscape, or outdoor lighting, needs to be protected a bit more. These wires are often exposed to the elements, so a thing non-conductive paint layer won’t be sufficient to protect them.

Outdoor wires are prone to being nicked and knocked around, so it’s best to make sure these have a thick plastic sheath to protect them. This also prevents any shorts in the circuit from being exposed to the elements, protecting your light bulbs as well.

What Size Battery Cable Do I Need?

Your solar setup needs a battery to store the energy it traps from the sun’s rays. This is the energy that’s used to power your indoor and outdoor lighting. The LiFePO4 12V battery is a great option!

A battery is needed because you need to be able to access solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining. Your solar panels are connected to an inverter by wires, which contains a battery. The battery stores this energy and allows you to access it whenever you need to.

Your battery needs to be connected to adequately-sized cables. This allows it to pump the correct amount of power to your circuit, powering your appliances in a way that doesn’t damage them.

If you’re worried about what size battery cable you should be using, take a look at our battery cable sizing chart. You might also find our voltage and wire speed chart interesting. It’ll give you an in-depth understanding of the relationship between these two factors, and tell you everything you need to understand before choosing your wires.

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Article by

Cody Oehm

Cody is the Head of Marketing at Shop Solar, and joined the company in spring of 2022.

He has an entrepreneurial background and has been in the ecommerce industry since 2015. With 4 businesses under his belt and a drive to make a bigger impact, he decided to team up with Shop Solar on their mission to make solar simple and affordable. You can browse best seller's here.