Wire · Main run · Direct burial
Landscape Wire — 12 / 14 / 16 AWG
Wire only: 100 ft in a center-pull box or 250 ft on a spool. Connectors not included — our lights ship with their own.
Which gauge
Thicker wire for longer runs and bigger loads. 16 for a short run of path lights, 14 for the typical yard, 12 for a long driveway or a run of spotlights and well lights.
The longest run each gauge carries before the far light drops below 12 V, with the zone on the 14 V tap and the lights spread along the run:
| LOAD ON THE RUN | 16 AWG | 14 AWG | 12 AWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 W · 10 path lights | 195 ft | 310 ft | 490 ft |
| 60 W · 20 path lights | 95 ft | 155 ft | 245 ft |
| 100 W | 55 ft | 90 ft | 145 ft |
| 160 W · a full 200 W transformer | 35 ft | 55 ft | 90 ft |
Calculated from the resistance of stranded copper, not measured on our fixtures. Lights bunched at the far end: use half the length. A transformer with a 12 V tap only: use half the length.
Two runs from the transformer beat one long one. Each zone terminal takes its own wire.
Copper conductor ends.
14 AWG · 100 ft box shown.
12 AWG · 250 ft spool shown.
Where this wire goes
Use it here
| Main run from the transformer | One wire per zone, out past the last light. |
| Tap line to a bed | A branch off the main with a connector, to a group of lights. |
| Extending a run | Same gauge as the main; splice with a connector, buried. |
| Replacing old wire | Anything rated for direct burial at 12 V comes out; this goes in the same trench. |
Not this wire
| 120 V | Never. This is 150 V rated jacket on a 12 V circuit. |
| Inside a wall | It is landscape wire, not building wire. |
| Where code wants a conduit | Check local rules; direct burial is the default for under 30 V. |
| Fixture leads | The lights come with their own 20 AWG leads. |
Putting it in
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lay the wire along the run, past the last light. Leave a loop of slack at each light. |
| 2 | Connect the lights — connectors pierce the jacket; nothing to strip. |
| 3 | Power up and walk the run before anything is buried. |
| 4 | Trench 6 in, bury, tamp. Mark where it crosses the lawn. |
Ribbed side
Pull box or spool
Specifications
| Conductors | Two, stranded pure copper — 65 strands of 0.254 mm in the 12 AWG* |
| Jacket | SPT-2 PVC, black, VW-1 flame rated |
| Rated voltage | 150 V — for circuits of 30 V and under |
| Burial | Direct burial rated |
| Outside size | 12/2 3.7 × 7.4 mm · 14/2 3.45 × 6.9 mm · 16/2 3.05 × 6.1 mm |
| Certification | UL listed* |
More specifications
| Surge | 1500 V withstand* |
| Jacket temperature | −20 to 121 °C (−4 to 250 °F) |
| Polarity | One conductor ribbed |
| Packaging | 100 ft in a center-pull box · 250 ft on a spool |
| Model | XC-10012 · XC-10014 · XC-10016 |
* Manufacturer-stated; the test report is on file and is not published on this page.
What the numbers mean
Questions people ask
12, 14 or 16?
Is it really pure copper?
Does it need a conduit?
Which side is positive?
Will it run other brands' fixtures?
Are connectors included?
What is the warranty?
Can I return it?
In the box
| Wire | 100 ft in a center-pull box, or 250 ft on a spool |
If a part is missing
Email the part name and a photo; the replacement ships from the same U.S. warehouse. Contact us
Fulfilment, not warranty — the two are answered separately.
Every number here comes from our own SKUs or the manufacturer's test report. The ones we have not measured are not here.

