FEATURES AND CONTROLS 2 MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS 2 TRANSFORMER SIZING 2 LOW VOLTAGE CABLE LENGTH 2 12 VOLT CABLE LAYOUT OPTIONS 3 CABLE CONNECTION DETAIL 3 OUTPUT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH 3 MULTI-TAP INSTALLATION 3 REMOTE PHOTOCELL CONTROL FUNCTIONS FOR RP MODULE 4 TC-112 TIMER SETTING PROCEDURE 4 DTC-150 DIGITAL TIMER SETTING PROCEDURE 4 TIMER REMOVAL AND. Vista Outdoor Lighting is a top choice among professional landscapers across. Vista Outdoor Lighting - ES-150 - ES Series 150 Watt Transformer - Yard Outlet.
Hello, My transformer keeps tripping its internal breaker when my lights come on. This transformer worked well for about 4 years. Now whenever the lights come on they will stay on for a little while than the transformer will trip it's circuit breaker. I have checked the connection of the lighting wire to the transformer and it's in excellent condition. I have looked for a break in the wire where the wire isn't buried and can't see anything. If I turn the transformer on AND have my lights unplugged from the transformer it will not trip the internal circuit breaker. I do not want to dig up all my buried wire.
Can this be an issue with the transformer going bad? It only does this under load and it's not immediate. Last night it happened after about 10 minutes. The night before, after about 2 hours.
The night before that after about 30 minutes. Any idea on how to pinpoint if it is the transformer? Tim is on the right track.
I will add this. Seems to me if it was a short or wires crossing together it would trip the breaker right after putting power to it. But as you stated its been random. You somehow have more resistance now either from wire or lamp load than you did when system was running properly.Have any higher wattage lamps been added or any wiring changed? Could any of the connections have allowed water to wick into any of the wire causing corrosion?
Do you have just one home run wire to the transformer or more? Start by disabling some of the fixtures or runs to narrow the problem down.
Tim is on the right track. I will add this. Seems to me if it was a short or wires crossing together it would trip the breaker right after putting power to it. But as you stated its been random. You somehow have more resistance now either from wire or lamp load than you did when system was running properly.Have any higher wattage lamps been added or any wiring changed? Could any of the connections have allowed water to wick into any of the wire causing corrosion?
Do you have just one home run wire to the transformer or more? Start by disabling some of the fixtures or runs to narrow the problem down. What kind of lamps in the fixtures? Some lamps are more prone to socket failure. Namely, single contact bayonet.
Sometimes, the mica disc softens and the center contact pin comes in contact with the shell. This phenomenon can occur as heat builds up. If, as suspected by others, you have these fixtures connected to the main cable via pierce pin 'quick connectors', I'd recommend that you rewire each fixture. At the point when you are doing that, use a meter and check each fixture for a bad socket, by removing the bulb and testing for resistance/continuity. With no lamp, there should be no continuity. What you describe as an overload could also be a bad connection. You say you only have one wire coming to the transformer, but do you have a main splice nearby that connects multiple runs?
Also, what kind of transformer? I have had issues over the years with the white toggle style magnetic breaker that would be in any transformer made by MDL. This would include older ones from hadco, coppermoon, and others.
In my experience, I have found that the yellow crimp connectors on the back of the breaker, would loosen over time and heat, and cause arcing. This would result also in a randomly tripping breaker. Let us know what you find. I have a Malibu 200 watt transformer that was doing the same thing.
When you reset the circuit breaker, the lights would stay on for about 5 minutes and trip the breaker. I checked the bulbs, wire, and connections thinking that the hard winter might have cause a break. Everything was good. I disconnected the power, took the transformer off the wall, and disconnected the wire from its leads. There are 6 small Phillips head screws (3 on each side) that hold the plastic front cover to the metal frame.
After you remove them, the front cover will separate from the frame. Be careful of the small wires connected to the front switches. The circuit breaker has two spade connectors attached at the back. A plastic nut holds on the outside holds the circuit breaker in place.
Take that off, and the circuit breaker will slide out easily. I found an exact match for the circuit breaker at my local Ace Hardware store where it is called a 'Thermal Circuit Breaker.' It only cost $8. Put the new circuit breaker back in place with the new plastic nut. Reattach the spade connectors.
(Note the circuit breaker has each connection labeled as line and load. The load is the shorter wire that goes to the connection for the lights. The line is the longer wire that comes from the transformer coil.) Reattach the front cover with the 6 screws. Reconnect the lighting wire to the terminals.
Remount the transformer, and plug in the unit to the outlet. Everything works great again.