FAQ - Transformers

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• Can I mount the power pack inside an outbound laundry room as opposed to on an outside wall.

  The labels on Malibu power packs and the instructions state that these low voltage landscape lighting units are for OUTDOOR USE ONLY.  Malibu Lighting cannot recommend or condone installing power packs indoors.  Running the wires through walls is subject to local building codes.

• Can I put my power pack in the basement or garage to hide it?

  No. Per UL1838, the Malibu power packs are rated for outdoor use only. Running low voltage wiring through a wall falls under local housing codes.

• Can I put my power pack on the ground or on a brick?

  No. Per UL1838, the Malibu power packs must be mounted on a wall with the bottom at least 12 inches from the ground. The unit is not sealed.

• I do not have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet outdoors. Can I use a regular outlet?

  No. Per UL1838, the outlet must be GFCI. If not, the user must replace the outlet themselves or have an electrician do it. Also the outlet must be covered with an in-use weatherproof cover (sold separately at The Home Depot).

• Can I use an extension cord to reach the power pack?

  No. Per UL1838, extension cords should not be used.

• My lights are coming on too late (or they are coming on too early). Why?

  The red and black trippers on the power pack timers must be moved as the length of day changes with the season. Also, any loss of power will stop the timer. The time of day may need to be updated.

   

  

• My lights are too bright. Can I add a dimmer?

  No. Putting a 120V dimmer on the primary side of the power pack (plug into the outlet) will cause the timer motor to slow down. The time of day will change and the lights will not come on or go off at the correct times.

• How do I turn on the power pack when doing the installation so the lights come on when connecting to the cable?

  It depends on the power pack. Timer power packs have a post near the timer dial that can be turned to make the power pack go on and off manually. Photo eye pack packs have a mode “ON” that turns the power pack on regardless whether it is light or dark.

• My power back turns on for a while, goes off, then comes back on, etc. Why?

  The power pack is getting too hot and the thermal protection built into the transformer is cycling. The sum of the bulb watts is too close or higher than the rating on the power pack. The solution is to get a larger wattage power pack, take some lights off the cable, or change fixture bulbs to a lower wattage.

• The 100W 8100-9100-01 (ML100THB) with photo eye turns on when it is still daylight. Will the sensitivity adjustment help?

  Not likely. Positioning the power pack under a deck, behind foliage, or on the southeast side of a house may give the power pack’s built in photo eye the light level of dusk earlier than actual dusk. Reposition the power pack in a more open, brighter area.

• The 100W 8100-9100-01 (ML100THB) photo eye power pack does not work when I plug it in and it is dark.

  Most photo eye power packs a have time delay from 30 seconds to three minutes from when darkness is detected to when the lights are turned on. This is to prevent lightning, car headlights, etc. from turning off the lights. You must wait for the delay to ensure the power pack is working correctly.

• My lights are not bright enough using a 300W power pack. Can I purchase a 600W or 900W power pack to increase the power?

  No. UL1838 limits each circuit to 300W. So, a 600W power pack has two independent 300 Watt circuits. A 900W power pack has three 300 Watt circuits. Each circuit will not perform any better than a single 300W circuit in the 300W power pack.

• Control Diagram for the 45 Watt (8100-9045-01), 120 Watt (8100-9120-01) and 200 Watt (8100-0200-01) Iron Core Transformers.