Low Voltage Transfromer Question
 

I bought a hosue that has a low voltage outdoor lighitng in the
backyard. The wire connects to a Toro transformer that has an eye on
it to sense when it is dark and turn on the lights. There is a switch
on the transformer with the settings DD 4 6 and 8. Does anyone know
what those settings mean? Right now, it is set to 6 and when it gets
dark (or I put my hand over the eye) the lights initially blink on for
a second or two before they go out.
thanks!

DD would be dusk to dawn and the numbers are probably settings for how many
hours it should stay on after dusk



wrote in message
oups.com...
I bought a hosue that has a low voltage outdoor lighitng in the
backyard. The wire connects to a Toro transformer that has an eye on
it to sense when it is dark and turn on the lights. There is a switch
on the transformer with the settings DD 4 6 and 8. Does anyone know
what those settings mean? Right now, it is set to 6 and when it gets
dark (or I put my hand over the eye) the lights initially blink on for
a second or two before they go out.
thanks!

hmmm... I was hoping that the switch had something to do with voltage
and that's why it was shutting off; If that's not it, what would be
causing this behavior? It goes on for 2 seconds then off. If I unplug
it wait a minute and plug it back in, it again goes on for 2 seconds,
then off. Any idea?
thanks!

If this is during daylight, that would make sense. When you first apply
power to a photocell, (the thing that turns the lights on and off by sensing
light) it is in the closed or on position, it then senses light and turns
off.


wrote in message
oups.com...
hmmm... I was hoping that the switch had something to do with voltage
and that's why it was shutting off; If that's not it, what would be
causing this behavior? It goes on for 2 seconds then off. If I unplug
it wait a minute and plug it back in, it again goes on for 2 seconds,
then off. Any idea?
thanks!

No, it's at night, pitch black out...

According to :
No, it's at night, pitch black out...

You've left it alone for a full 24 hour cycle, and it doesn't come on
and stay on (according to the DD/2/4/8 setting) consistently on its own?

[I ask, because sometimes the electronics in these things will act
wierd if you try to "by hand" activate the sensor - time delays,
hysteresis etc.]

You may be seeing an overcurrent trip. Count up the number of fixtures,
and, after multiplying by the wattage levels of the lamp, is it less
than the rating of the transformer?

[Most LV bulbs/fixture/transformer "kits" use 4W bulbs, and can be upgraded
to 7W. High wattage units (10, 20 and even 50W) are available, but these
are usually pretty obvious (usually "pro grade" metal fixtures, sometimes
different bases, more serious enclosures to deal with heat etc).
Most "kit" transformers are around 60W.]

The other possibilities a

- short in the LV circuit. Try pulling all the bulbs (leaving one in)
and see if it still trips.
- defective transformer. The electronics in these things sometimes
fries.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

"Chris Lewis" wrote in message
...
According to :
No, it's at night, pitch black out...

You've left it alone for a full 24 hour cycle, and it doesn't come on
and stay on (according to the DD/2/4/8 setting) consistently on its own?

[I ask, because sometimes the electronics in these things will act
wierd if you try to "by hand" activate the sensor - time delays,
hysteresis etc.]

You may be seeing an overcurrent trip. Count up the number of fixtures,
and, after multiplying by the wattage levels of the lamp, is it less
than the rating of the transformer?

[Most LV bulbs/fixture/transformer "kits" use 4W bulbs, and can be
upgraded
to 7W. High wattage units (10, 20 and even 50W) are available, but these
are usually pretty obvious (usually "pro grade" metal fixtures, sometimes
different bases, more serious enclosures to deal with heat etc).
Most "kit" transformers are around 60W.]

The other possibilities a

- short in the LV circuit. Try pulling all the bulbs (leaving one in)
and see if it still trips.
- defective transformer. The electronics in these things sometimes
fries.
--
Chris Lewis,

In my experience, this problem is most likely caused by a short somewhere in
the 12v line. If you just have too many fixtures, the lights will probably
stay on for a longer time, unless you're WAY over. Suggest this: disconnect
the 12v line from the transformer and substitute a short length of line with
a single 12v light on it. If the light comes on and stays on, your problem
is in the existing length of 12v wiring. If you still have problems, you
have a problem internal to the transformer. (I'm assuming the unit you have
is one of those inexpensive kits that comes with lights and a transformer.
You can buy replacement transformers, with equal or greater wattage, for
relatively little money --). Replacing the buried cable doesn't have to be
expensive, but could be a PITA. Regards --

Thanks for the advice.
It would seem a short in the line is the most likely cuplrit as I am
leaving the lights connected for 24 hours and they still remain off,
plus while maybe 10 fixtures exist on the line, only 3 or so have
lightbulbs intact. I washoping to avoid a whole new installation since
the wire that has been run was built into some landscaping that came
after it but I may need to junk the whole thing...

According to :
Thanks for the advice.
It would seem a short in the line is the most likely cuplrit as I am
leaving the lights connected for 24 hours and they still remain off,
plus while maybe 10 fixtures exist on the line, only 3 or so have
lightbulbs intact. I washoping to avoid a whole new installation since
the wire that has been run was built into some landscaping that came
after it but I may need to junk the whole thing...

"Lightbulbs intact"? Oh...

Remove all the remains and clean/dry out the sockets, and try again.

If it still trips, try disconnecting the circuit from the transformer
and try the other person's suggestion (short length of wire and one
bulb). If it still trips, the transformer is bad.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.