A well-designed landscape lighting system can transform your yard into the crowning jewel of your home. However, your lighting system requires care and maintenance to function correctly.
If one of your fixtures is not working, the first thing to try is replacing its light bulb. But if that doesn’t fix the problem, it may be time to consider upgrading to a new fixture. Connect with Landscape Lighting Repair Orlando for reliable help.
As the most visible aspect of a landscape lighting system, lighting fixtures are vulnerable to many factors that can impact how well they work. Fixtures that are rusty or corroded may require a full replacement to restore them to a new condition.
Low voltage landscape lights are exposed to moisture and sun exposure daily, so they need to be able to withstand a lot of things. Unfortunately, this can be challenging for some types of low voltage light fixtures. This is especially true if the fixtures are not made of materials like copper or brass that can naturally resist rust and corrosion. Regardless, high quality lighting fixtures should last for years without any visible signs of wear or damage, so it is important to regularly check the fixtures to make sure they are still functioning properly.
The connections between a wire and a fixture are also susceptible to water and other elements. The best way to prevent this from occurring is by using waterproof connections that are designed for landscape lighting applications. These connectors will not only keep water out of the splices, but they will also help prevent short circuits within a lighting system.
It is also important to regularly check the connections on a light fixture and replace them as needed. This will help to ensure that the fixture is receiving the correct amount of power and is not overheating. It is also a good idea to periodically test the transformer connections with a voltmeter to ensure that they are all tight and secure. If a transformer has loose connections, it can cause the wires to get hot and eventually melt the connection, leading to a short in the system.
Finally, the bulbs in a landscape lighting fixture can sometimes break due to a variety of reasons. The most common reason is if the bulbs aren’t the right kind or have been installed incorrectly. This can be easily fixed by a professional that will be able to replace the bulb with the correct type and ensure that it is installed correctly.
Wiring
Sometimes the problem with your landscape lighting system is not a broken fixture, but faulty wiring or connections. This can happen when the system is installed with low-quality products or after time, as the connections decay due to weather exposure and normal use.
The wires that power your landscape lighting system are buried underground and have to contend with elements like rain, snow, ice, and other harsh weather. As a result, the copper wires can become damaged and lose their ability to conduct electricity. The result is that your lights will not work or may flicker. In some cases, this can even cause a short in the electrical wiring, which can be dangerous and costly to repair.
Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to troubleshoot your outdoor lighting system. The first thing you should do is to make sure that the power is turned off at the transformer. You can do this by unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker at the fuse box. Once you have done this, you can begin your examination of the different components of your landscape lighting system.
Start with the most obvious and easiest issue to repair: a dead light bulb or blown fuse. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you can move on to more serious concerns, such as a faulty socket or wires that have corroded over time.
Before you try any of these steps, be sure to turn off the power to your landscape lighting system at the transformer or fuse box. This is a great habit to get into and will save you some potential frustration down the line.
If your lights are flickering or not working, you can test the voltage of each fixture with a digital voltmeter to ensure they are receiving the proper amount of power from the transformer. Having a good quality meter will help you diagnose problems quickly and correctly. If the voltmeter reads low or is not reading at all, you have a bad connection and the wires will need to be replaced.
Timer
The final piece of a great landscape lighting system is the timer, which allows you to control when your lights turn on and off. This can be adjusted based on your personal preference and what kind of effect you are looking for, such as setting the lights to come on a little later in the evening so that they don’t interfere with your family’s sleep schedule. It is a good idea to have an extra timer in case the one that came with your system is faulty, or you decide to upgrade your lights and need to replace the old ones with new ones.
As with any electrical project it is important to shut off the power either by unplugging the transformer or turning off the power at the fuse box before starting your repairs.
Switches
Landscape lighting adds beauty to your home after dark, making it more welcoming for guests and deterring criminal activity. However, lighting can quickly run into problems if you don’t maintain it properly or have an inexperienced installer do the work. A professional CAST-trained installer will provide better results than a homeowner who undertakes the project himself or herself. In fact, even experienced homeowners should leave the installation of a complex outdoor lighting system to the professionals.
Most modern landscape lighting uses low voltage power, stepped down from your home’s 120 volt electrical system by a transformer. This eliminates the need to run risky wires underground and in the open, as well as the potential for shock and fire. A well-designed system is able to produce a variety of effects, from subtle washes of light across walls and plants to dramatic spotlighting of trees and architectural features.
Many of the same things that can affect your home’s main electrical system can also cause landscape lighting to fail, including improper or inadequate wiring and the use of substandard materials. Insufficient insulation or a loose wire can allow water to seep into the cables, which can cause them to overheat and break. Inadequate or corroded connectors can also make it difficult to connect or disconnect lights. The best way to prevent these problems is to inspect your landscape lighting regularly and maintain it proactively.
If you notice that your lights aren’t working, check the receptacle where the transformer is plugged in to ensure it has power. You can also use a voltmeter to verify the transformer is providing a consistent, safe voltage to all of your lights. If you’re having a problem with a single fixture, check its bulb to see if it is burned out or damaged. If it’s the bulb, you can replace it with a replacement.
If your lights are flickering, check the connections on the transformer and the light assembly to make sure they are not loose or corroded. Many do-it-yourself kits use wire piercing connections, which are quick and easy to install but don’t offer the weather resistance of heat shrink connectors. A professional will use all-brass, heat-shrink connections to improve the longevity of your lighting system.