DIYbanter - View Single Post - Landscape Lights Dimming Towards End of Circuit

Joseph Meehan

wrote:
Hi

I have recently installed 6 (35 Watt) landscape lights, on a 300 Watt
transformer.

It is 12 V AC, on about 50 meters of cable.

Light number 1 and 2 perform as expected.
Light number 2 is about 20 meter from the transformer.

Light number 3 - 6 is dim, but does not get progressively dimmer from
3 to 6.

Why would this be?

I am ruling out excessive voltage drop because light 3 and 6 is
glowing at the same brightness.

Could this be because of a short?

Thanks

It is voltage drop due to the length of the line. You could try adding
an additional line, using heavier conductors and bringing it directly to the
last fixture you currently have. Make sure you don't reverse polarity. :-)
I suggest that different lamps react differently to voltage drops.
Manufacturing differences and age can make some more sensitive than others.

You also may try moving the bulbs around and see if it follows the lamp
or the socket. There may also be problems with poor connections. As I
recall many of these use piercing wire type connections. They are subject
to high resistance connections and to possible corrosion. That could also
be an issue.

Good Luck

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit