Troubleshooting a landscape transformer

Step 1. Is there 120V power at the outlet it's connect to?  Plug something in that can confirm it is a powered plug, testing with voltage meter is preferred.

i.      GFI tripped?(Press the rest button) 

 Note: Outside electrical circuits often have 1 GFCI located outside that protectes the other outside circuits. If the outlet your transformer is plugged into is not a GFCI, then take a quick walk around the house and property to locate the GFCI and then reset it. (90% of the time this is the issue, and remember GFCI's should be replaced every 10 years for safety).

ii.      Circuit breaker in panel could have tripped?

Step 2. Check the mini circuit breaker inside the landscape transformer(Locations and reset handle colour may be different than show).

Note: to test this simply toggle the white handle of the breaker on and off. Make sure the timer(if present) is in the on position and the photocell(if present) is by-passed by covering the sensor portion properly. Test power at 12V side on the lugs with a volt meter.

Step 3. If the mini circuit breaker keeps tripping to the off position

i.      If breaker trips slowly(2 - 30 seconds); calculate the transformer load (80% max load of wattage of transformer, so add up the wattage of all light bulbs connected to the unit).

ii.      If breaker trips fast; ensure there are no breaks in the wire(typically from doing digging in the garden after some time of it running), this entails running you hand along every wire to make there are no nicks or cuts in the wire that could cause a short circuit. Note: Look for places that may have had work done recently in the yard.

Step 4. Visually inspect low voltage wires and lugs inside and outside of the landscape transformer

i.      Ensure there are no signs of overheating or short circuits inside the unit

ii.      Ensure solid connections in lugs

iii.      If only some lights are working: Check connection where the last light worked. Check wire from last running light to first not working light.  There will be a break or cut on the wire from work being done in the yard. If these are all good, check connections in future, lamp socket and connectors in stem or base.