Have you ever experienced problems with your landscape lights? It can be very frustrating after you’ve spent so much time and money investing in a high-quality landscape lighting design. It’s especially frustrating when you’re not sure what’s wrong with your lights or why they are not working properly. Here, Georgia Lightscapes discusses some of the common reasons why some or all of your landscape’s lights may not be working. Check it out and be sure to call us today to have one of our professional technicians come and assess your lighting system.
Problems To Consider:
Connection Issues
If only a few of your landscape lights aren’t working, it may be a connection issue. This is a common issue when homeowners do a landscape lighting project themselves. In most instances, if your lighting connections consist of copper crimps, silicon caps, or heat shrink, then the connections shouldn’t be the problem. If connections are sliding together and are pricking the wire, then the connections should be replaced. Prick connections often loosen, allowing moisture to come into contact with the copper wire, thereby causing corrosion and ruining the connections.
Voltage Issues
If your lights are dimmer than they should be, then it may be an issue with your voltage. Inspect the light to identify the voltage. If the voltage is less than 10 on any halogen bulbs, then the bulbs won’t fire properly. Halogen bulbs should be between 11 – 12 volts. If you’re using LEDs, then it should be between 9 – 15 volts.
Burned Out Bulbs
A common issue to have is that your bulbs are old and need to be replaced. If one of your lights isn’t illuminating, it could be because the bulb is burned out. Consider upgrading to an LED light since they will last much longer.
Socket Problems
If some of your lights aren’t working but your connections are fine, it may be because the seals on your socket have been compromised, causing the socket to fail. Be sure to take proper safety steps when testing your sockets. If you are new to this, it is recommended to call a licensed electrician to test your sockets.
Tripped or Short Circuit
If a big section of your landscape lights isn’t working, then check the transformer as a circuit may have been tripped. If it keeps tripping, then you may have a faulty wire.
When none of your lights are working, it may be the result of a short circuit. A good troubleshooting answer is to try resetting the breaker. Next, check the GFCI outlet and reset that. If your outlets are working, then check the voltage and amperage of your transformer. If you’re not receiving power, the transformer may be the bigger issue.
Non-Waterproof Connections
Water and electricity do not mix well. If you’re not using waterproof connections, it could cause your lighting to become dim or not work at all. Be sure to have a waterproof system when you install landscape lights.
Don’t Overdo It
If you have too many lights on a single run, the optimal illumination you are going for will not be achieved. In most instances, homeowners should be able to increase the brightness by removing one of the lights since this will increase the voltage to the other landscape lights on the run.
How To Find A Short?
You can find shorts in outdoor lighting by looking for wires that are cut, broken, frayed, improperly connected or stretched by roots or rocks. Additionally, look for bad, wet, corroded, or damaged sockets. These are all common issues for a short. Once you find the cause of your lighting problems, be sure to call a professional lighting company like Georgia Lightscapes.
These are just some of the reasons why your landscape lighting may not be working properly. However, to get a proper diagnosis and to make sure that the problem is properly fixed, make sure to call Georgia Lightscapes today. Georgia Lightscapes is a start to finish lighting installation company that provides outdoor lighting for Metro Atlanta and most of Georgia. Our complete outdoor lighting services include design, installation, and superior service to help you in every way we can. We want to build a long-term relationship with you while providing you with excellent outdoor lighting to give you every opportunity to make memories outside with your family and friends – regardless of the hour! Reach out to us with any questions you may have about this process.