[justgardens]

I am selecting lighting for a job where I have 3 Kousa Dogwoods and 3 Canadian Hemlocks in another area about 200' away that i want to light up from the front. Is 50 watt overkill or would 35 watt be alright?

[Bill Schwab]

How are you intending to light the trees Julie? And how many lights?

I would run 8-2 wire from your transformer into a 10-2 lateral run which would connect the lights. Carefully calculate the load and voltage drop for those wires sizes over the length you are making the run. You might be best off by using a 20 watt up light under every tree rather than one in the center for all.

So, pass on some more in fo and we can get more inspifec!

[jwholden]

Julie,

It doesn't matter.

A bullet can be used with a 35 or 50 watt light. Make sure you've got them in the right spot and adjust the wattage and spread of the bulb after installation. A hemlock will suck up more light than a kousa.

I have noticed that uplighting works much better on trees with a more open branch pattern (such as a high branched kousa) where an evergreen tends to suck up light and would be best hit from the front.

Don't be afraid to get your hands on a demo kit and give it a shot. Again, just to get an idea of where to put the lights, don't sweat the details until you install the job.

[PSUscaper]

I was thinking 2 30 watt bullets under each...........its a far distance away, so a little more light may be needed, but with the 2 bullets you get a nice spread that looks good from different locations.

[justgardens]

The view of the planting is a good 100' away from the closest spectator. I was thinking of up lighting on the Kousas and spot from the front on the Hemlocks. I have a 600 watt transformer with 200' of heavy gauge wire. I will have 3 ornamental type lights between the 6 spots. I have 20 watts on mine at home and they look fine but is much closer viewing too. I will listen to all suggestions and let you know how it turns out. Do I adjust spread by mere placement to create the flood effect? I have two others who do this for me and I want to learn it myself. I know I will know the look when I see it. It may take some playing with this at night to get it right.

[PSUscaper]

with 8 gauge wire and a 200 ft run(which is a long way to go), your gonna be maxing that 600 watt transformer with only 6 - 50 watt lamps.........not much flexibility. A bigger transformer is going to be needed if you want to add anything else.

By the way, what is the max lamp wattage on a 8 gauge wire? I know a 10-2 wire should be around 140 watts or less, so was wondering if that 8 gauge will even work with 300watts.

May be better off running two 10-2 wires (the cost will be about the same as 8-2 is double the cost of 10-2) to those lights.

Either way.......and hate to say it but it is often the case........you already limited yourself to your design by buying a transformer. I don't know why, but people always buy a transformer first and then design their system......let this be a lesson.

My overall design would be this.....

2 35 watt bullits on each tree......a total of 12 bullits.

run out 3- #10-2 wires to 4 bullits each.

Depending on the 'ornamental lights you are going to use, you are going to need a seperate run of 10-2 wire to run those(at least one or more depending on the number and watts) and for a transformer, I'd start with a 900 watt and maybe a 1200 if you are going to place ornamental lights.

[jwholden]

My first (only) lighting job I started out with a 900 watt transformer and by lunch time realized I needed a bigger transformer. Luckily I had reps from the company helping me and the exchange was no big deal.

Penn hit it on the money, and I would say don't be afraid to add some extra capacity for the future. Just in case.

[justgardens]

Guess I'd better trade in the 600 watt for a bigger boy! Thanks for the help.

[GLAN]

The most extensive lighting job I have done has been my own home. I run 4 circuits in the back and 2 in the front. 6 - 300watt transformers.

Evergreens have to be lit from the front.

Deciduous from underneath.

I have 2 - 20watt spots under a Weeping Katsura. I can realy use a third. Under a Dogwood I have a 50 and up into a maple a 50..........the affect is nice......... all the rest is lanterns and bullets, and other spots for highlighting.

The over all light distribution looks uniform..........nothing appears brighter than the other. The 50's get diffused into the tree and it appears to be the same light from the 15 watt lanterns