Condition

Possible Causes

Notes

None of the lights will operate.

· No power to the transformer.

o      Plug was pulled out of outlet

o        GFI tripped

o        Circuit breaker tripped

· Timer has incorrect time or trips not set properly.

· Timer is broken.

· Transformer breaker is tripped.

· Transformer is burned out.
 

A digital voltmeter is useful for checking to make sure that there is 120 volts at the GFI outlet. If not, check the GFI and breaker and reset if necessary. If any breaker or GFI continues to trip, call an electrician to correct the problem before trying to operate the lighting again. Also do not attempt to repair a bad transformer. Replace it.

None of the lights operate and the transformer is operating properly.

· Bad connection of the supply cable to the transformer output terminals.

· The supply cable has been cut between the transformer and the first fixture on the circuit.
 

Make sure all connections are tight and that all strands of the cable are in the connector or terminal.

The transformer breaker or fuse trips when the system is switched on.

· Too many fixtures on the circuits.

· There is a short in the system.

If the load (number of watts) is too high, you may be able to solve the problem by replacing some of the lamps with lower wattage models or eliminating some fixtures. Other wise you will have to split the circuit and add another transformer.

Shorts are often frustrating to find. Use the continuity function on your volt meter and methodically check each segment of the circuit.
 

Some lights work, some do not.

· Break or bad connection in service cable

· Older system: lamps burned out.

· New system: connectors used to join the fixture wire to the service cable not installed properly.

If you have a record of how the circuit is run, breaks in the circuit can be found fairly quickly. The problem is almost always between the last light that works and the first light that doesn’t. Either the cable has been cut or the connection to one of the two fixtures is bad.
 

Single fixture does not work.

· Lamp is burned out.

· Connector has worked loose or is corroded.

Keep spare lamps on hand. Properly installed connectors will go for many years without a problem.
 

Some fixtures seem to be dimmer than others.

· Circuit is too long causing excessive voltage drop.

· Corrosion in connector or lamp holder.

Voltage drop problems do not develop; they are there from the start. See voltage drop section for solutions.