Wiring & Voltage Drop

Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop (Landscape Lighting)

If fixtures near the transformer look great but lights at the end of the run are dim, this is usually voltage drop — not “bad bulbs.”

Consistent brightness Less flicker Cleaner wiring Serviceable fixes

What causes voltage drop

Re-balance: split the system into multiple runs so no single run is overloaded.
Upgrade wire gauge: in many outdoor layouts, heavier-gauge wire is a fast path to consistent brightness.
Reduce resistance: rebuild corroded connections with waterproof splice discipline.
Use multi-taps appropriately: for longer runs, select taps to compensate for drop (not to “overdrive” fixtures).

The goal is consistent voltage distribution and fewer failure points.

Daisy chain: simple, but more prone to end-of-line dimming on longer runs.
T-method: feeds closer to the middle to reduce total drop.
Hub method: centralized distribution that can reduce field splices and improve uniformity.

Related: See transformer + multi-tap basics and waterproof splices.

We confirm fit and compatibility during service and can supply or install owner-supplied hardware.

Voltage drop facts
Industry	Landscape lighting
Concept	Wire gauge + voltage drop
Common symptom	Bright near transformer, dim at the end
Typical fix paths	Re-balance runs, increase wire gauge, reduce load per run, use multi-tap correctly
Service note	We measure voltage under load and tune the wiring so the system looks consistent at night.

We can locate drop points, rebuild splices, and re-balance the system for consistent results.