Low voltage lighting overload?

My low voltage garden lighting transformer is rated for 150 Watts. What will happen if I put 160 Watts on the line? Will it blow the transformer? Breaker? Lights?

Public Comments

1. The manufacturers always recommend not to over power the line because it can cause a fire hazard. It might, so far i haven't had any problems like that., my ceiling fans and light fixtures have the same warning i usually go over the rate of maximum 50-watts per socket to 60-watts and from 25-watts up to 60-watts per socket and nothing has happen. Your light system is regulated with a low voltage transformer, not like household lighting, i think it safe to go up to 160 but i advise you not to exceed it over 160.
2. Watts is a unit of Power and Power can de derived from the math formula: P = I times E, where I is current and E is voltage. I'm assuming your transformer is putting out 12vdc (The E in the above formula), so that means if your transformer is rated for 150 watts(P) it can handle 12.5 amps (150 = 12.5 x 12). If you go to 160 watts, then the current has been increased to 13.3 amps. A .8 amp increase doesn't sound like much, but it could cause excess heat (read: fire hazzard) and possibly shorten the life of your transformer if it was not designed with a large tolerance. Never a good idea to go above manufacturer's specs when it comes to electricity.
3. I've blown one before! 200watter with 160 watts load but too much cable length (over long wires increase load). Didn't trip any house breaker or blow lights but the morning after final hookup the sides of the xformer were warped and no voltage.