I have a Portfolio (Lowes brand) LV 120w transformer. It has a timer, automatic and fully on feature.

Connected to that that I have a series of Portfolio LV landscape lights. There are 9 LED at 4w each and 2 LED floods at 6.5w each.

The transformer I have had for a while, at least 5 years, maybe more. At the beginning of COVID, when I was home all day with no work to do I tackled many a project around the house. One of those was the landscape lighting. A few fixtures were broken, so I replaced them. And I added the 2 6.5w floods. I put everything on automatic and it all worked as it was supposed to for 5 months or so.

Then recently, with no changes being made by me, the lights started blinking. When the lights come on at dusk with the photo cell setting, or when I turn them on manually with the On feature, the lights will start blinking in a steady pattern of about 1 second on, 2-3 seconds off.

I checked the transformer manual and it says nothing about this. Since the pattern is perfectly steady and repeats over and over, I assume there has to be a meaning to it.

Why are my lights doing this?

(Update)

I called customer service, after 15 minutes on hold, and multiple recordings suggesting emailing them, I hung up and sent an email. 48 hours later with no response, I went to Lowes and bought a new transformer. I hooked it up last night and the lights fired up perfectly. When I got up this morning before the sun came up, they were still working just fine.

So, without any actual answers, I suppose something was wrong with the transformer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: holdem,

A buddy of mine had a similar experience with his photocell activated lights. Found out that he put them to close together. The light on one would interfere with the photocell of the other. As for your manual on/ off problem, have no idea.

If happening for all of them then test and check the master connection.
It could be a faulty transformer.
If happening on an individual then check and test that connection or replace that light.
I have had this happen but on an individual and reestablished the connection and all was well.
Also the photocell on the transformer can go bad.
This also happened to me and I had to replace but the symptom was that it would always stay on.

Could it be that the additional lights shine onto the photocell? My Christmas lights on a sensor did that one year and I found that some of the lights were too close to the sensor. The ligths would come on and quickly go off, then a short time later back on, and again off. The cycle was dependent on how long the sensor had to be dark to turn them back on, and how quickly it reacted to the light. These delays are designed into the sensor to avoid temporary events that would interfere with their operation (a shadow from a passing person or cloud).

Maybe there has been a slight realignment of one of the lights? Or possibly the ambient light has changed in a way to emphasize the lights.

flashguy

The previous responses sound reasonable.....I personally think it’s aliens

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
If happening for all of them then test and check the master connection.
It could be a faulty transformer.

Also the photocell on the transformer can go bad.
This also happened to me and I had to replace but the symptom was that it would always stay on.

It is all eleven lights, in unison. It did cross my mind that maybe the transformer was bad, but then I asked myself, "Why the heck does it work at all?"

I do not think it is the photocell, because it happens even in the "On" position. Not just the "A" setting, which turns on at dusk and off at dawn.

I suppose I'll try to find a customer support number tomorrow. And worst case, I'll buy a new transformer from Lowes to hook it up and try it.

Sounds like a thermal breaker due to the cyclic nature.

What is the make and model number of the system?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Sounds like a thermal breaker due to the cyclic nature.

I had the same thought.

flashguy

Oddly enough, my LED landscape lights did the same thing last night. They have been installed w/o issue for 2-3 years. They had been working fine during the Halloween decoration interval. I had to tape the sensor to make them stay on as the front porch lighting was too bright. They ran 7x24 with no issues. When i took down he decoration lighting and un-taped the sensor, the string would come on for a a "blink" and then off for several seconds constantly repeating. I replaced the transformer and after about 20-30 seconds, the issue re-occurred. I isolated 1/2 the string and the West side would run fine. As soon as i connected the East side, the issue presented again. I found a shorted extension cable (underground of course) and replaced that and all is good. I think there must be a protection circuit in the transformer that does the blinking thing for over-current.

Does your set have plug together connectors, or is it spliced? I would try breaking the string in 1/2 and see if the 1st 1/2 works and then add sections until the problem happens.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
The previous responses sound reasonable.....I personally think it’s aliens

or a Demigorgon

Do you hear this?
Tones

Sounds like a bad transformer. LEDs usually work off of DC, not A/C, since they worked for years the voltage type is probably not your problem. I'd go to Lowes and get a new trans, test it, if it's somehow not that, return it, if it solves it, problem solved.

Check the max on the transformer then add up all the draw by the lights, see if you are at or past the max use allowed.

I'd guess it's the photo or the transformer, can you remove the photo unit? Do that, if it keeps happening then probably the transformer.

Usually when they start blinking it is due to too high a load on the transformer or too long of a run for the wire length or too small gauge of wire.

How long is the run in total?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Sounds like a thermal breaker due to the cyclic nature.

What is the make and model number of the system?

It is this model from Lowes;
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Portf...tal-Timer/1000411955

quote:

Originally posted by gt2022:
Does your set have plug together connectors, or is it spliced?

It's all spliced. The light fixtures use the screw down clamps where the small points pierce the wire. The system is two wires spliced together (same screw down type), one long run of about 100ft, then a 50ft wire spliced to that one.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Check the max on the transformer then add up all the draw by the lights, see if you are at or past the max use allowed.

It's a 120W transformer and the total of the lights is about 50 watts, so I do not think that is the issue.

I have been traveling for business since Monday morning, so this is on my agenda to tackle when I am home Thursday morning.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
The previous responses sound reasonable.....I personally think it’s aliens

ET Phone home .... ?

I called customer service, after 15 minutes on hold, and multiple recordings suggesting emailing them, I hung up and sent an email. 48 hours later with no response, I went to Lowes and bought a new transformer. I hooked it up last night and the lights fired up perfectly. When I got up this morning before the sun came up, they were still working just fine.

So, without any actual answers, I suppose something was wrong with the transformer.