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#1
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Malibu Transformer Question
I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the
on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve |
#2
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Malibu Transformer Question
Steve B wrote:
I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve Mine did just about the same thing. Upon opening, it was built very cheap. I tightened the transformer laminations the best I could, however, they were not designed to be tightened. I dribbled some shellac into the laminations and it made the hum tolerable. I think I also beat on it with a hammer to tighten it as much as possible. I've heard of people dribbling glue, etc. to try to solve transformer humming. |
#3
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Malibu Transformer Question
"Art Todesco" wrote in message et... Steve B wrote: I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve Mine did just about the same thing. Upon opening, it was built very cheap. I tightened the transformer laminations the best I could, however, they were not designed to be tightened. I dribbled some shellac into the laminations and it made the hum tolerable. I think I also beat on it with a hammer to tighten it as much as possible. I've heard of people dribbling glue, etc. to try to solve transformer humming. Geez, now I'm really scratching the twins. Upon testing with a tester, I don't get anything. When I hook up a test wire and run it to a spare lamp, the lamp lights. Apparently, the transformer is still good. I can see no user serviceable fuses or resets. I'm going to pull the cover and look inside, but at least I don't have to go buy another one. Steve |
#4
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Malibu Transformer Question
wrote what kind of "tester"? Is it for AC? Something looking for DC will probably not see anything on AC Good Craftsman AC/DC multitester. Steve |
#5
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Malibu Transformer Question
"Steve B" wrote in message ... wrote what kind of "tester"? Is it for AC? Something looking for DC will probably not see anything on AC Good Craftsman AC/DC multitester. Test it on an ac outlet. Might not be working. |
#6
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Malibu Transformer Question
Steve B wrote:
Geez, now I'm really scratching the twins. Upon testing with a tester, I don't get anything. When I hook up a test wire and run it to a spare lamp, the lamp lights. Apparently, the transformer is still good. I can see no user serviceable fuses or resets. I'm going to pull the cover and look inside, but at least I don't have to go buy another one. Probably needs a load to do its thing. |
#7
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Malibu Transformer Question
On Mar 15, 3:36 pm, "Steve B" wrote:
"Art Todesco" wrote in message et... Steve B wrote: I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve Mine did just about the same thing. Upon opening, it was built very cheap. I tightened the transformer laminations the best I could, however, they were not designed to be tightened. I dribbled some shellac into the laminations and it made the hum tolerable. I think I also beat on it with a hammer to tighten it as much as possible. I've heard of people dribbling glue, etc. to try to solve transformer humming. Geez, now I'm really scratching the twins. Upon testing with a tester, I don't get anything. When I hook up a test wire and run it to a spare lamp, the lamp lights. Apparently, the transformer is still good. I can see no user serviceable fuses or resets. I'm going to pull the cover and look inside, but at least I don't have to go buy another one. Steve- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - All that you are hearing is the timer contacts closing and the transformer kicking in. I have had the same model as you for 4 or 5 years, what you are experiencing is normal. The transformer hum usually lessens once it settles in and is barely noticable after that, but yeah, when it kicks in one can hear it some distance away. |
#8
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Malibu Transformer Question
On 15 Mar 2007 14:21:50 -0700, "volts500" wrote:
- Show quoted text - All that you are hearing is the timer contacts closing and the transformer kicking in. I have had the same model as you for 4 or 5 years, what you are experiencing is normal. The transformer hum usually lessens once it settles in and is barely noticable after that, You may be thinking of basketball. but yeah, when it kicks in one can hear it some distance away. |
#9
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Malibu Transformer Question
On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:39:32 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote: I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. But if this thing is a transformer, isn't its output supposed to be AC. That the tester will test DC doesnt' mean it is ok on AC. Each setting usually has its own resistor, and even the switch contact could conceivably be broken. Not that I think this has happened, but.. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve |
#10
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Malibu Transformer Question
On Mar 15, 6:11 pm, mm wrote:
But if this thing is a transformer, isn't its output supposed to be AC. Yes, the output of that model transformer is approx. 12 volts AC. As you said, if he uses the DC scale on his meter it's going to read zero volts. |
#11
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Malibu Transformer Question
"volts500" wrote in message oups.com... On Mar 15, 6:11 pm, mm wrote: But if this thing is a transformer, isn't its output supposed to be AC. Yes, the output of that model transformer is approx. 12 volts AC. As you said, if he uses the DC scale on his meter it's going to read zero volts. Bingo. The label says 110 in, 12v out, but doesn't say AC or DC. When I just put it on the AC scale, it was 12.0 volts. I saw the automotive style bulbs used on some of the lights, and ass-u-med that it was DC. You learn something every day. Steve |
#12
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Malibu Transformer Question
Steve B wrote:
I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve This is a switching power supply, which requires a load to show an output w/ a conventional VOM. A scope is needed to see what's really going on with these. Rob |
#13
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Malibu Transformer Question
trainfan1 wrote:
Steve B wrote: I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve This is a switching power supply, which requires a load to show an output w/ a conventional VOM. A scope is needed to see what's really going on with these. Rob I may be wrong, and frequently are, but I don't think any Malibu light power units use a switching power supply. They usually, as has been stated, run simply on the AC output of an old fashioned transformer. But, with that said, I have seen 12 volt "transformers" for indoor low voltage lighting, which do use switching power supplies. So, anything is possible. The advantage of the switching power supply is a reduction in size and weight. |
#14
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Malibu Transformer Question
Art Todesco wrote:
trainfan1 wrote: Steve B wrote: I got a Malibu 600 watt transformer. Model ML600TW. When I rotate the on/off knob, it makes the sound of smacking the outer housing with a stick. A loud audible clank. Then it hums. When I apply the tester to the bottom connectors, I can't get it to read anything. Double checked tester with various voltage alkaline batteries on DC, and they tested fine, so tester is good. Is this transformer fried? Is the humming normal? Is that clanking noise normal? Steve This is a switching power supply, which requires a load to show an output w/ a conventional VOM. A scope is needed to see what's really going on with these. Rob I may be wrong, and frequently are, but I don't think any Malibu light power units use a switching power supply. They usually, as has been stated, run simply on the AC output of an old fashioned transformer. But, with that said, I have seen 12 volt "transformers" for indoor low voltage lighting, which do use switching power supplies. So, anything is possible. The advantage of the switching power supply is a reduction in size and weight. That 600 watt transformer, at 12 volts output(600 VA or 45-55 amps), would be 50+ lbs. if it were NOT a switching power supply. Rob |
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