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2 low voltage transformers on 1 circuit?

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2 low voltage transformers on 1 circuit? dchou4u@hotmail.com 05-03-2008
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Posted by dchou4u@hotmail.com on May 3, 2008, 2:34 am
I got a 600W Malibu low voltage transformer powering my landscape
lights. But some of the lights further from the transformer are not as
bright. I only have a single 12 gauge wire with all the lights
attached on it.

Can I attach another 300W transformer at the far end of the wire so
that the lights there will be brighter?

I cannot really run another wire from the 600W transformer, since much
of the wire run under concrete pathways and also my driveway.

Thanks

Posted by Paul Franklin on May 3, 2008, 6:24 am
On Fri, 2 May 2008 23:34:53 -0700 (PDT), "dchou4u@hotmail.com"

>I got a 600W Malibu low voltage transformer powering my landscape
>lights. But some of the lights further from the transformer are not as
>bright. I only have a single 12 gauge wire with all the lights
>attached on it.
>
>Can I attach another 300W transformer at the far end of the wire so
>that the lights there will be brighter?
>
>I cannot really run another wire from the 600W transformer, since much
>of the wire run under concrete pathways and also my driveway.
>
>Thanks

Cut the existing wire in between two lights, so 1/2 of the lights
remain attached to the 600 watt transformer. Properly seal the cut
ends so they don't touch and are protected from moisture. You could
use 4 sealed direct burial wire nuts, for example. Then connect the
new transformer to the far end to power the other 1/2 of the lights.
Size the new transformer properly to handle the lights it is powering.
It may not be 300 watts, as all the lights may not be the same
wattage. Make sure you use heavy enough wire, and if you have a long
run from the transformer (say 50 feet or more) get a transformer with
taps so you can start with a slightly higher voltage to compensate for
loss in the long wire. The better low voltage transformers have
several taps for this purpose.

You can do this without cutting the wire if you get the phasing
correct, but if you separate into two groups, you eliminate any chance
of confusion now and in the future.

HTH,

Paul F.

Posted by dchou4u@hotmail.com on May 3, 2008, 3:43 pm
The total wattage of all the lights combined is about 380W. I think
the contractor stringed them all on a single 12-2 wire. So the ones
furthest away from the transformer is pretty dim. The ones closest to
the transformer are pretty bright.

The total length of the cable is about 100'.

You mentioned that I may be able to attach another transformer at the
far end of the run, but I just need to make sure I connect the
positive polarity side of the wire to the positive side of the new
transformer, and ditto for the negative side. But there was another
person who mentioned that I should not do this.

I do have a spare 300W transformer that I can use on the far end, but
I just like to make sure it would not cause a fire hazard by having 2
transformers powering the same circuit.

Posted by RBM on May 3, 2008, 3:58 pm

> The total wattage of all the lights combined is about 380W. I think
> the contractor stringed them all on a single 12-2 wire. So the ones
> furthest away from the transformer is pretty dim. The ones closest to
> the transformer are pretty bright.
>
> The total length of the cable is about 100'.
>
> You mentioned that I may be able to attach another transformer at the
> far end of the run, but I just need to make sure I connect the
> positive polarity side of the wire to the positive side of the new
> transformer, and ditto for the negative side. But there was another
> person who mentioned that I should not do this.
>
> I do have a spare 300W transformer that I can use on the far end, but
> I just like to make sure it would not cause a fire hazard by having 2
> transformers powering the same circuit.

You have 380 watts on a 600 watt transformer. You don't need another
transformer, you need to increase the conductor size feeding the lights or
split the lights between two separate cables, both coming from the same
transformer. You cannot connect a second transformer to the low voltage side
of the existing transformer, if that's what you had in mind. Tough as it may
be, you need to run another cable and split the circuit



Posted by James on May 3, 2008, 4:06 pm
What was said below is very true, but isn't it possible that it would be
much less work by adding a booster transformer at or near the far-end ?

James

--------------------------------

You have 380 watts on a 600 watt transformer. You don't need another
transformer, you need to increase the conductor size feeding the lights or
split the lights between two separate cables, both coming from the same
transformer. You cannot connect a second transformer to the low voltage side
of the existing transformer, if that's what you had in mind. Tough as it may
be, you need to run another cable and split the circuit




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