Reasons Outdoor Lighting Fails

Outdoor lighting highlights the beauty of your home in the darkest of nights. Lighting creates curb appeal and offers security. Our outdoor lighting connects us to the rest of the community. But, when outdoor lights have a problem, solutions are at hand. Remember! The simplest explanation is often the most likely one. Try the most straightforward solutions first. Here are some of the most common outdoor lighting fails:

For purposes of this article, we assume you paid your electric bill.

Bulbs

Outdoor lighting has never been more economical or safe. When outdoor bulbs burn out, the wise homeowner should consider LED replacement bulbs, especially for those lights which are in places that are hard to access or which burn consistently. (We’re looking at you, Mr. Porch Light!

Another possibility is that the bulb is improperly set into the socket, or the plug has failed.

Regardless of what the homeowner decides, they’re easy to change yourself. If a homeowner honestly doesn’t want to do it, or if it isn’t ‘just the bulb,’ we can get those outdoor bulbs working again or recommend repair if they’re failing too fast as the result of improper wiring or installation. 

Short in a set

Many issues can cause bad connections. Some of them include dry rot, rodent damage, overly vigorous landscape maintenance, moisture, and other factors. Any of these situations can leave one or a set of outdoor lights in the dark. Start by checking the circuit breaker for that section. You’d be surprised how often one of these will trip. We can troubleshoot and repair those lines so your home will be aglow again. 

All dark or dim

If all of your landscape lights are out, the best way to troubleshoot is to start at the very beginning: the power source. Check the socket to see if it’s still functional. GFCI’s can trip for a multitude of reasons, all of which will leave your lighting system dark. Try the socket with another item to see if it’s working. If it’s a broken outlet, give us a call.

• Check the transformer to make sure it’s on. Then check each circuit breaker. If breakers are tripped, halfway between off and on, or have an indicator light that shows they’re not working, reset them.

• The photocell or timer could also be faulty. Bypass both to see if the lights work without it. If they do work, it’s the photocell or timer.

Other possibilities

Recalculate the wattage to ensure you’re not exceeding the transformers’ wattage

watts = amps x volts

Check your net voltage drop here.

If you’re still in the dark after checking these possible solutions, let us help! Don’t let electrical problems make your outdoor lighting fail just when you need it most. 

If you need a fast, affordable electrician for your home or business, call RSB Electrical at 480-485-4284.