How to Avoid a Voltage Drop on Rural Electrical Wiring Runs

Design the circuit with the shortest path possible between the electrical source and the end devices. The voltage drop in a circuit is increased as the length of the conductor is increased. Designing a circuit with the shortest possible cable run reduces voltage drop and saves significant investment required for conductor material.

Increase the conductor thickness, lower the gauge, to reduce resistance. Resistance is a naturally occurring process in conductor material. Resistance reduces voltage and converts the lost energy to heat. Increasing the thickness of the wire lowers resistance, and as a corollary, voltage drop, in a circuit.

Remove any unnecessary connectors between the electrical source and the end point of the conductor. For example, it is preferable to run one long length of conductor material as opposed to two smaller lengths that are spliced together. Connectors reduce voltage and provide points of weakness in the circuit.

Design the circuit with proper contact materials. For circuits that require very specific voltage levels, such as PCB circuits, gold and silver contacts should be employed over aluminum and copper --- these materials have higher conductivities and reduce voltage drop and resistance. Further, contacts made of gold resist corrosion, a source of lost voltage, more effectively.