LLC RI
12-19-2011, 08:21 PM
Hey Guys,
I went to a service job today. I had been to this guys house years ago. I think I gave him a quote to do some work, which he never had me do. Over the years, he would call me from time to time to get my advice, but still, no work.
Recently, he contacted me to make some repairs to his landscape lighting ( that I did NOT put in) - some damage which was storm related, and to check a transformer that he thought was burned out. I told him they usually don't burn out and instructed him to check his GFCI's if they were plugged in outside etc.
He assured me that he checked things and sent me pictures of the transformers on the job.
We went to his house today and the first thing I did was to check the transformer that wasn't working. The Unique transformer was plugged in on the side of the steps into an outlet that was not GFCI. Above it to the left, I saw a surface mount box with a GFCI on the porch and some conduit leading down. Bingo, there's the culprit. GFCI was tripped since the storm in August and he never checked it to reset it.
So now I get to the nitty gritty and see that it's a Unique transformer from way back. I had stopped using the Unique transformers because I remember the video that Bill Locklin sent or showed me that illustrated how dangerous a transformer like that was in that it had no secondary side circuit protection.
This transformer supplied what looked like an awful lot of lights. I got my glasses on and looked at the rating - 4.13 amps on the primary side/ MAX. This lead me to believe that it was a 500 watt transformer. When I amped the low voltage commons, I found some pretty high numbers. I then amped with my meter, the current flowing through the little plug line that goes into the timer - 8.3 amps!!!!
This unit was drawing more than twice the rated amount of juice and yet, the fuse ( as expected did not blow at all).
I showed the client and advised him that this is a dangerous situation. For one thing, the transformer is way overloaded and for another thing, there is no secondary side overcurrent protection.
I advised him that we add another transformer to split the load or better yet, eliminate the Unique transformer all together and put in something with the proper protection. He agreed but didn't want to do it now and seemed more concerned with any residual value that I would give him for the Unique transformer. I told him I was not interested in it.
This is an older transformer but I'm curious if Unique is still putting those out with no secondary circuit protection.
Has anyone had any issues similar to what I describe? Is there anything else I should do? I already told him it was dangerous and that should a line short, he might have a problem.
From what I gathered, his lighting was added over time. Thats why there are overloaded transformers and lines, not to mention, not a great design.
One more question, he has some plastic well lights with a rubberish bezel ring that the PAR 36 lamp fits in and they have a cheap looking grate that says ILLUMINATOR on it. Any ideas on who's unit that was, as he needs some replacement grates. Seems the PVC tube has notches that the grate snaps into and the tabs got broken off , thus the debris shields are gone.
George
I went to a service job today. I had been to this guys house years ago. I think I gave him a quote to do some work, which he never had me do. Over the years, he would call me from time to time to get my advice, but still, no work.
Recently, he contacted me to make some repairs to his landscape lighting ( that I did NOT put in) - some damage which was storm related, and to check a transformer that he thought was burned out. I told him they usually don't burn out and instructed him to check his GFCI's if they were plugged in outside etc.
He assured me that he checked things and sent me pictures of the transformers on the job.
We went to his house today and the first thing I did was to check the transformer that wasn't working. The Unique transformer was plugged in on the side of the steps into an outlet that was not GFCI. Above it to the left, I saw a surface mount box with a GFCI on the porch and some conduit leading down. Bingo, there's the culprit. GFCI was tripped since the storm in August and he never checked it to reset it.
So now I get to the nitty gritty and see that it's a Unique transformer from way back. I had stopped using the Unique transformers because I remember the video that Bill Locklin sent or showed me that illustrated how dangerous a transformer like that was in that it had no secondary side circuit protection.
This transformer supplied what looked like an awful lot of lights. I got my glasses on and looked at the rating - 4.13 amps on the primary side/ MAX. This lead me to believe that it was a 500 watt transformer. When I amped the low voltage commons, I found some pretty high numbers. I then amped with my meter, the current flowing through the little plug line that goes into the timer - 8.3 amps!!!!
This unit was drawing more than twice the rated amount of juice and yet, the fuse ( as expected did not blow at all).
I showed the client and advised him that this is a dangerous situation. For one thing, the transformer is way overloaded and for another thing, there is no secondary side overcurrent protection.
I advised him that we add another transformer to split the load or better yet, eliminate the Unique transformer all together and put in something with the proper protection. He agreed but didn't want to do it now and seemed more concerned with any residual value that I would give him for the Unique transformer. I told him I was not interested in it.
This is an older transformer but I'm curious if Unique is still putting those out with no secondary circuit protection.
Has anyone had any issues similar to what I describe? Is there anything else I should do? I already told him it was dangerous and that should a line short, he might have a problem.
From what I gathered, his lighting was added over time. Thats why there are overloaded transformers and lines, not to mention, not a great design.
One more question, he has some plastic well lights with a rubberish bezel ring that the PAR 36 lamp fits in and they have a cheap looking grate that says ILLUMINATOR on it. Any ideas on who's unit that was, as he needs some replacement grates. Seems the PVC tube has notches that the grate snaps into and the tabs got broken off , thus the debris shields are gone.
George