Malibu Intermatic Inc. ML121RT  Low Voltage 121-Watt Power Pack with Timer Logo
Posted on Feb 01, 2013
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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I have (7) 20W bulbs on a newly wired line running on a brand new 200W Malibu transformer, worked fine for 2 days and now it's tripping the reset button - Any suggestions ??

1 Answer

Gene Haynes

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  • Malibu Master 5,391 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 02, 2013
Gene Haynes
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Joined: May 07, 2012
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1) Copy following link for malibu power pack tips for longer transformer life:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html

2) Two plug choices on each outlet, Plug power pack into other outlet on receptacle.
Inspect for damage on outdoor outlet.
Replace outdoor outlet, and do not use quick connects. Connect wire directly to screws on side of device.
Replace GFCI outlet.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

5 Related Answers

protek480

Craig Butler

  • 1730 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 26, 2009

SOURCE: Malibu ml200rt internal wiring schematics

If you have a meter you can test for 12 volts AC on the output of the transformer. They go to terminals
A & B

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/craig_3fa289bf857b1a3c

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Rob Sinbad

  • 709 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 10, 2009

SOURCE: I just bought a new Malibu Landscape Lighting 200

working with those outdoors transformer I have ran into couple would short the unit out by installing it wrong or exposing to lots of waters/moister. Again, it could also be a factory fault unit, some products will only last only few days before it blow out. It happen and most of those unit have 5 years warranty on them. I would take it back and get another and if it happens again than you may not installing it correctly or installing too close exposing to lots of moister and may short the unit out. I don't recommend trying to fix it still having warranty on them, get a replacement and start over. good luck and i hope that help some

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on Oct 07, 2010

SOURCE: Hello! I have a Malibu transformer

Malibu website
>knowledge base search is located top right corner of website
> I serched knowledge-base for 'lights not working' >>> came back with thin results
> Evidently Malibu doesn't have knowledge of lights not working

Here's simple test: Leave unit plugged in. Remove wires from unit. Use On-off dial to turn ON system. Use wire to scratch across terminals where wires connect >> do you see any sparking that would indicate voltage is present? if voltage is present, your lights may be burned out from last night's power surge ... or those pesky contacts that connect light to the main wire need to be re-done. More info on burned out lights below

another clue: is malibu box warm when you touch it? Transformers get warm because 120V continually runs through a coil ... and the magnetic field from the first coil creates lower voltage in another coil. Same as your phone charger. Transformer runs 24-7. The timer does not turn off the transformer, it just switches off the main wire going to lights

If transformer is warm, it says that power is available. That would narrow problem down to timer mechanism. You might try turning malibu upside down for a couple days in dry environment and see if that revives the unit.

If transformer does not feel warm, then transformer is probably burned out. Electrical devices go bad, especially when exposed to weather.

Malibu manual has some troubleshooting steps located below step 8.

-You checked electric supply.
-Turn on-off dial to ON to see if override works

-Troubleshooting mentions power conditions/ voltage conditions ... which I assume would include power surge ... it doesn't say specifically that this causes transformer failure .. but it points to bulb failure.
-Troubleshooting mentions burned out lights ... I think they are saying that once a light burns out, that voltage is increased to other lights and burns them out too


Transformers don't have a reset button.
16771ba.jpg

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on Oct 09, 2010

SOURCE: I just purchased Malibu ML 600 TW transformer, and

Malibu website
Malibu manuals

The power pack has a humming sound >> put your ear close
Plug in a hair dryer on same plug to see if you have power
Check the GFI tripper in bathroom and kitchen
Plug power pack directly into receptacle (no extension cord)
It is hard to believe you got every light wrong >> the light connections are pretty fail-proof today

1) You can test the transformer by rotating manual override counterclockwise >> that's the on-off switch
2) You can test transformer by seeing if clock dial rotates with passing time > the clock must rotate
3) You can check if wires have power > disconnect wires > use another wire to scratch across both terminals to see if there is a spark

4) Did you put the red-and-black tripper pins on the dial? Red = ON Black = OFF

5) I think you forgot to set the time of day correctly
- put in tripper pins.
- rotate center dial clockwise to present time
- now, rotate dial two more full rotations and come back to present time

If the dial will not rotate or transformer does not have power, then the transformer is defective.

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on May 27, 2011

SOURCE: Malibu ML88T low voltage transformer w/ black

Open following for Power Pack troubleshoot checklist and warranty information and other tips to keep power pack working longer:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html

Upvote the help.
And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on timer or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

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Related Questions:

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1answer

We have a Malibu 300 low wattage transformer for 13- 20 watt landscape lights.

Try connecting a lamp (correct voltage, etc) directly to the transformer. Most likely, the wire from the transformer to your lights is broken... The reset button can't reset anything, if there's nothing wrong there.
1helpful
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TDC low voltage transformer model DA 150 12 W reset button trips

There is a short circuit.
Copy following link to identify possible problem and download manual
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

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Malibu transformer 120w 1-8100-9120-01 transformer has no power and LCD is dark. Power plug was verified to be working. Unit is new, installed, configured and came back to see if lights came on during...

I don't have repair for defect timer, except return to Home Depot and exchange for another.
Try unplugging timer to see if will reset. There is no specific reset button on timer.
Test outlet with circuit analyzer to confirm there are no electrical problems.

The label shows advisories: Don't use extension cord, unplug unit when working on bulbs, and plug unit into GFCI protected outlet to protect from surge and short.

Other advisories not shown: Unplug power pack if breaker trips or if power goes out. Wait until power is on before plugging back in. First bulb should be 10 feet from unit. Do not wrap extra cord around power pack. Match bulb wattage and power pack wattage: 200 watt power pack should have 200 watts and not more or less. Replace bulbs as soon as they burn out.
These advisories should not affect initial operation of timer, but are things that shorten life of power packs,

Open following links for resources:
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Malibu-8100-9045-01-large.jpg
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html#dawn-dusk
0helpful
1answer

I put in a new 200 w Malibu LV. It worked one day, then only one light would work. The next day it worked again on all lights then it went back to lighting only one. I'm using a combination of 12 LV...

I don't have repair for defective transformer.
The transformer puts power on the wire. Buy multimeter and check voltage across the terminals.
If wires are loose, or bulbs are not connected to wire, or bulbs burned out, or if wattage of bulbs is mis-matched with transformer wattage, then lights might not work as expected.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html
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1answer

I bought a Malibu 300W low voltage landscape transformer to replace a 200W unit that stopped working. It worked for 1 week, then stopped .. the reset **** doen't work. The LED works, I do see a...

I don't know if it burned out, but something is not right.
Malibu products come with 1-5 year warranty.
New product that stopped working should be exchanged for full replacement at place of purchase, except possibly the auction sites.
New Malibu product should work for many years.
Be sure to match bulb voltage with transformer voltage to avoid possible problems.
Mismatched bulb and transformer wattage should not affect a timer in short period such as 1 week.
Another thing to check is outlet polarity. Use circuit analyzer from home center to check outlet.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Malibu-power-pack-stopped-working.html
1helpful
1answer

I have a Malibu ML300RTW transformer with a 50 ft. length of 16 guage cable supporting (4) 20w lights. Can I splice on another 100' of cable and add 4 more 20w lights or is there a cable length limitation?

Usually 50 - 75 ft. is as far as you want to go, especially with 16 gauge wire. What happens is the lights get dimmer as the length of the run increases. If you don't mind the lights getting noticeably dimmer, go ahead and add the other 4 lights. Using a heavier (12 gauge) wire will help a lot. You'll want the 12 ga. to start at the transformer, preferably running the whole length. Also, using a smaller watt bulb will help.

If you have a 120 volt outlet near the approximate middle of the new (total 150 ft.) run, you could relocate the transformer to that location and have two 75 ft. runs in 2 directions.
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I have six 20w bulbs in an 120 system. They used to all work, but now #1, two works, 3,4,5,6 also don't work. I have checked the bulbs and connections to main wire seem fine. Do I have too many on...

There is a break in the main wire between the 2nd and 3rd lights. Has anyone been digging or working in the yard lately?
While the transformer is fully loaded, six 20 watt bulbs won't overload it.
0helpful
1answer

300W transformer shuts off after 1-3 hrs (231w: OK w 181 watts)

The following might apply to your situation, or not.
Malibu recommends matching wattage of bulbs to wattage of power pack.
In your case, you have 181 watts on 300 Watt power pack.
Based on other folks questions to fixya, this condition can burn out the power pack.
Has your power pack overheated and been damaged?
I don't know, but it might be a good suspect.
http://www.malibulights.com/guides_support/low_voltage_planning_guide/select_your_power_pack

For more information on Intermatic/Malibu power packs showing troubleshoot steps, replacement trippers, useful links, warranties and tips:
http://www.fixya.com/support/r8391011-power_pack_not_working
0helpful
1answer

Transformer problem

Malibu power pack has to match total watts of bulbs

15 bulbs each 20 watt = 300 Watt power pack
10 bulbs each 20 watt = 200 Watt power pack
3helpful
2answers

Malibu Lighting Breaker Switch

There are two possible problems you could be facing (excluding the transformer going bad) If you have replaced light bulbs with higher wattage ones, you could be drawing too much current through the transformer. (It is common for MR-16 style lightbulbs to be 20w in landscape lights, but 50w for inside lights, and the local hardware store usually only carries the 50w replacement lamps) Each transformer has a specific amount of "watts" it can supply (anywhere from 100w to 1000w) If you exceed the supply wattage of the transformer, the breaker inside the transformer will trip. The quick and easy way to test this is to take a few of the lightbulbs out and see if the breaker will hold.
If you are positive that the total lamp wattage does not exceed the rating of the transformer the second possible problem (but less likely) is that you have a lamp socket or wire connection that is full of water. This water between the two conductors draws current just like a light bulb and can cause an overcurrent fault. This is usually more common if it starts to trip right after a heavy rain when the ground gets saturated with water.

Good Luck!
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