New low voltage garden light set not working

The key points of this query are specified as

Difine said:

I extended my new garden lights using a low voltage cable connector. The "original" was with 7 lights and the "new" is with 3 lights. The 3 (new) lights work and the 7 (original) won't work, even when I remove the extended wire. All connections and bulbs are good. What have I done wrong since I can't even get the (original)7 light to work solo?

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It seems that the OP is saying that the new set of lights - attached to the supply at the end of a previously existing set of lights - is now working BUT, the previously existing set of lights, along the supply to the new lights, is now NOT working !
(Presumably, there has been no change in the connection of the "original" set-up to the supply.)

While the OP states "bulbs are good", the foregoing seems to be completely inexplicable to me - UNLESS somewhere in the set-up process a relatively high voltage has been applied to the "original" 7 lights and they have "blown". I can only suggest that one or more of these original 7 lamps be tested, to see if they are actually still operative, before proceeding any further.

Can you check the bulbs and sockets with a Volt/OHM meter? Are the original 7 bulbs in series or parallel?

What is rating of the transformer powering all this?

George6488 said:

What is rating of the transformer powering all this?

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The OP stated "Output max 48 W, 12 V AC" - so it should be possible to run 12 - 4 W bulbs.

So I fiddled with reinstalling each light to the wire and finally got several working. I have two other identical sets and never had this much trouble. So I should be able to get them all going somehow. So my remaining question is:

Is it okay to extend the existing set which uses 12/2 gauge with a 16/2 gauge wire? i.e. Mix the gauges?

Is it okay to extend the existing set which uses 12/2 gauge with a 16/2 gauge wire? i.e. Mix the gauges?

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It's not normally recommended, and can cause voltage drop problems particularly with longer extensions.

However, with your small system and the limited wattage, you should be fine.