The following calculator will determine the wire length for the overall system. This includes the wire used from the driver, through all fixtures and returning back to the driver to complete the circuit. This tool is meant to provide an estimate only. To be safe, always over estimate the required wire length or use a thicker gauge of wire. Please contact our technical support team or your sales rep with any questions: telephone 604-708-1184.
The following steps will help you determine a wire length for a given wire gauge:
Determine if your driver is constant current or constant voltage. MP Lighting uses Constant Current or Constant Voltage drivers for all products.
Constant Current
- Determine if your driver has an output of 350mA or 700mA.
- Enter the appropriate output current of the driver.
- Determine the voltage of the circuit. This is calculated by multiplying the quantity of LED diodes by 3 volts.
- Select the appropriate wire gauge from the drop-down menu.
- The resulting length is the length for the entire run (driver, through all fixtures and back to the driver).
Example:
- 700mA x (6 LED’s x 3 Volts) @ 2% voltage drop @ 14AWG = 199.67 feet
- Or
- 700mA x 18 Volts @ 2% voltage drop @ 14AWG = 199.67 feet
Constant Voltage
- Determine if your driver has an output of 12V DC or 24V DC.
- Enter the appropriate output voltage of the driver.
- Determine the current/amperage of the circuit. This is calculated by multiplying the quantity of LED diodes by 350mA or 700mA. Consult the spec sheet of your MP Lighting fixture under “performance” to obtain this number.
- Select the appropriate wire gauge from the drop-down menu.
- The resulting length is the length for the entire run (driver, through all fixtures and back to the driver).
Example:
- 12V DC x (6 LED’s x 700mA) @ 2% voltage drop @ 14AWG = 22.18’
- Or
- 12V DC x 4200mA @ 2% voltage drop @ 14AWG = 22.18’
