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www.PegasusAssociates.com
www.PegasusAssociates.com
800.392.4818 INSTALLATION TIPS for the XENON LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT STRIP
Electrician: It is advisable that you use a qualified electrician who is familiar with the electric code in your
area and who has experience with installing low voltage lighting systems.
Light Strip: The Light Strip cable is rated for 30 amps of current but should never be used for more than
25 amps.
Additional Wiring: If additional wiring is needed between the end of the Light Strip and the transformer,
then that wire should be rated for 30 amps of current and should never be used for more than 25 amps. The
wiring used on the primary side of the transformer (120-volt side) may be typical household Romex wire.
Mounting Channel: The Mounting Channel should always be used if the Light Strip is being installed against
wood or plastic.
Electrical Connections: Wire nuts should not be used at any point on the low voltage side of the trans-
former (the secondary side). Only Terminal Blocks should be used and the screws in the Terminal Blocks
should be very tight and secure; if they are not, arcing could produce excessive heat and possibly become a
fire hazard.
Location of Electronic Transformers: If an AC electronic transformer is used, it should be located no
more than 10 feet from the Light Strip. If a DC electronic transformer is used, it may be located as much as
50 feet away from the Light Strip.
Location of Magnetic Transformer: If a toroidal magnetic transformer is used, it may be located as much
as 50 feet away from the Light Strip.
Transformer Wattages: No 12-volt electronic transformer is rated for more than 300 watts, no 12-volt
magnetic transformer can supply more than 300 watts to a given circuit, and no 24-volt magnetic transform-
er can supply more than 600 watts to a given circuit. This is why a 600-watt, 12-volt magnetic transformer is
made up of TWO separate 300-watt circuits, a 900-watt, 12-volt magnetic transformer is made up of THREE
separate 300-watt circuits, and a 1200-watt, 12-volt magnetic transformer is made up of FOUR separate
300-watt circuits. Likewise, a 600-watt, 24-volt magnetic transformer is made up of ONE 600-watt circuit, a
900-watt, 24-volt magnetic transformer is made up of TWO separate 450-watt circuits, and a 1200-watt, 24-
volt magnetic transformer is made up of TWO separate 600-watt circuits. Why is there any limitation to the
wattage for a given circuit? There are these limitations because the amperage in a low voltage circuit should
NEVER exceed 25 amps. (See Calculations below.)
Lighting System Wattages: For both electronic transformers and toroidal magnetic transformers the total
lighting system wattage may equal the wattage of the transformer. Thus, a 300-watt, 12-volt electronic
transformer can be used to power as much as 300 watts of lighting load and a 600-watt, 24-volt toroidal
magnetic transformer can be used to power as much as 600 watts of lighting load.
Number of Circuits: If a Light Strip has a large total wattage of say 460 watts (46 10-watt festoon lamps)
and is using a 12-volt magnetic transformer, then the Light Strip must be separated into TWO circuits (230
watts each) each of which is powered by one of the 300-watt circuits in the 600-watt, 12-volt magnetic
transformer. If a Light Strip has a large total wattage of say 1000 watts and is using a 24-volt magnetic
transformer, then the Light Strip must be separated into TWO circuits (500 watts each) each of which is
powered by one of the 600-watt circuits in the 1200-watt, 24-volt magnetic transformer.
Light Bulbs: If you are powering the Light Strip with 12 volts, then the light bulbs should be rated for 12
volts. If you are powering the Light Strip with 24 volts, then the light bulbs should be rated for 24 volts.
Using a 12-volt light bulb with a 24-volt transformer will burn the light bulb out immediately and possibly
become a fire hazard.
Calculations: Wattage = Voltage x Amperage
On the low voltage side of the transformer:

The amperage in a 12-volt circuit with 300 watts is 25 amps (300 watts/12 volts)

The amperage in a 24-volt circuit with 600 watts is 25 amps (600 watts/24 volts)
On the line voltage side of the transformer:

The amperage in a 120-volt circuit with 300 watts is 2.5 amps (300 watts/120 volts)

The amperage in a 120-volt circuit with 600 watts is 5 amps (600 watts/120 volts)