| Gate | Pass condition | Reason to stop |
|---|---|---|
| Load evidence | Every fixture has an exact model and documented VA or required sizing value | A load value is missing or inferred |
| Capacity | Total documented load plus stated reserve is within the selected transformer's limit | Fixture count is being used as a shortcut |
| Voltage | At least one output tap is inside every fixture's documented operating range | Capacity matches but voltage does not |
| System fit | Controls, enclosure, run allocation, environment, and cable plan meet current instructions | A model-level interface is unverified |
Add apparent power when the manufacturer supplies it
For the Kichler system represented in this catalog, the manufacturer instructs planners to add fixture VA and keep total VA at or below transformer wattage. VA and watts are not automatically interchangeable, so Cart Decisions does not invent a VA value when a fixture page lists only watts.
Record the exact model and load for every fixture. Multiply each documented VA value by quantity, then sum the circuit. A product without verified load data remains a manual-review item.
Add reserve for changes, not as a substitute for design
A reserve provides space for modest additions and avoids selecting a transformer exactly at the calculated total. It does not correct an incompatible voltage range, unsupported control, overloaded individual run, or excessive voltage drop.
The planner defaults to 20% because it is a clear planning assumption, not because one margin is universally required. Manufacturer limits and project requirements govern the final selection.
Worked planning example: if eight exact fixtures are each documented at 5 VA, their scheduled load is 40 VA. Applying a stated 20% planning reserve produces 48 VA. That arithmetic can screen capacity, but it does not select a transformer until taps, controls, enclosure, individual runs, and voltage drop are also checked.
Check the output taps against every fixture
A capacity number alone cannot prove a match. The selected transformer needs an output tap that falls inside every fixture's documented operating range. The current catalog matcher therefore checks system identity, fixture voltage range, transformer tap, and capacity before showing a candidate.
Finish with voltage-drop and run-level review
Cable length, conductor size, load placement, branching, connection quality, and tap selection affect delivered voltage. Split the plan into actual home runs and validate the farthest and most heavily loaded locations. Measure the installed system where the manufacturer directs before concealment or burial.
FAQ
Why does the product matcher use VA instead of listed watts?
Because the represented manufacturer publishes VA for eligible fixtures and instructs planners to compare total fixture VA with transformer wattage. The tool follows that documented method.
Does a matching transformer result approve the installation?
No. It is a capacity-and-voltage screen for documented catalog products. Cable, controls, taps, environment, code, and site conditions still require project-specific review.
Sources and evidence
Links support factual statements; they do not turn manufacturer claims into independent measurements.
- Kichler — choosing the right transformer Accessed 2026-10-29
- Kichler — calculating project load size Accessed 2026-10-29
- Kichler Summer 2026 transformer table Accessed 2026-10-29