Phantom Lighting - Tips from the Manufacturer
Original equipment manufactuer specializing in fine art lighting, art lights, picture lighting and cabinet, shelf and display illumination - See The Light, Not The Fixture!Sunday, September 10, 2006
Low voltage lighting transformers designed to operate Phantom light strips.
Selecting the right size a low voltage transformer for a low voltage lighting system can be a mystery for some electricians and homeowners.Just because you are installing a low voltage lighting system, it doesn't mean you can use low voltage wire! In fact, low voltage current operates at higher amperage levels than standard 120 volt lighting systems. The current is 10 times greater for a 12 volt system than for a 120 volt system with the same wattage. Consequently, you must use larger wire for 12 and 24 volt systems to minimize voltage drop and handle the increased amperage loads.
All Phantom Lighting System power transformers come equipped with secondary circuit breakers or fuse protection which is sized to the capacity of the transformer. This is done as a safety precaution to prevent overload or short circuits from melting the wires or damaging the transformer.
To determine Phantom transformers and wire requirements, calculate the total watts per foot divided by the secondary voltage (12 or 24) to obtain the amperage. (watts / voltage = amperage). The following details Phantom transformer part numbers, maximum wattages, and number of secondary fuses per transformer:
12 Volt Phantom Transformers:
MT102 - 100 watt transformer - (1) 10 amp fuse
MT152 - 150 watt transformer - (1) 15 amp fuse
MT252 - 250 watt transformer - (1) 25 amp fuse
MT502 - 500 watt transformer - (2) 25 amp fuses
MT752 - 750 watt transformer - (3) 25 amp fuses
MT1002 - 1000 watt transformer - (4) 25 amp fuse
24 Volt Phantom Transformers:
MT104 - 100 watt transformer - (1) 5 amp fuse
MT154 - 150 watt transformer - (1) 7 amp fuse
MT254 - 250 watt transformer - (1) 10 amp fuse
MT504 - 500 watt transformer - (1) 25 amp fuse
MT754 - 750 watt transformer - (2) 15 amp fuses
MT1004 - 1000 watt transformer - (2) 25 amp fuses
Wire Capacities Stranded Wire:
16 guage - 10 amps
14 guage - 15 amps
12 guage - 20 amps
10 guage - 30 amps
08 gauge - 40 amps
The experts at Phantom Lighting are more than happy to assist with your low voltage lighting design or load calculations. Wiring and power distribution is the most important component of any low voltage lighting project. Feel free to contact the pros at Phantom Lighting at 800-863-1184 or visit them online at www.phantomlighting.com. If you prefer, we have Lighting Agents and Lighting Representatives is just about every state.
Labels: Cabinet Lighting, Phantom Lighting Strip Lights
