What is one way to reduce voltage drop in a circuit?

Increasing the size of the branch circuit conductors is a highly effective method for reducing voltage drop in a circuit. Voltage drop occurs when the electrical resistance of the conductors generates a loss of voltage as electricity flows through them. This drop can be influenced by several factors, including the length of the conductor, the amount of current flowing, and the resistance of the material.

When conductors are made larger, they have a lower resistance. This reduced resistance means that for the same amount of current flowing through the circuit, there will be less voltage lost to the resistance of the wire. Therefore, by using larger conductors, the voltage at the load remains closer to the source voltage, ensuring more efficient operation of electrical devices.

While increasing the load or decreasing the voltage might seem like alternative strategies, they do not effectively address the issue of voltage drop in the same way. Decreasing the size of the branch circuit conductors will actually increase resistance and exacerbate voltage drop, which negates electrical efficiency and can lead to equipment malfunction. Thus, the best approach to mitigate voltage drop is indeed to increase conductor size.