We have the 120W transformer with 4 low wattage lights connected to the 12V output. The first transformer lasted about 3 years. On the new replacement one, the low voltage wire gets very hot for the first 2 inches but then the rest of the wire is not warm at all. It seems like the heat is conducting out of the box through the terminal connectors, since the back of the box is hot too and there's a definite burning smell. The last box had this issue but not nearly this severe.

I suspected a short somewhere and I disconnected the lights. Even with 1 light connected the wire gets very warm. I read that these units, being cheap as they are, run hot and that's why they are supposed to be mounted outdoors. But this seems ridiculous. The low voltage wire is all above ground and intact. Any ideas?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Does it make a "ching-chong-ching" sound as it heats up?

Friends don't let friends buy Home Desperate branded appliances.

Verify the connections are clean of all corrosion as it will create that kind of wire heat.

X2.

Everything they sell is junk.

Nope. Just smells like a toxic landfill.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I've had a HD Malibu light system in and working for about 10 years with no problems. I think the plastic fixtures are junk, but the metal ones are OK. Calculate the electrical load, and give yourself a safety factor.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I have a 300 watt system and haven't had any problems with it. I feel the same way about Home Depot stuff, but seem to go back there again and again anyhow. Shame on me!

I woud not buy kitchen appliances or anything like that at a HD. Other, small stuff though I usually end up there because it's just easy.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I treat HD a lot like I treat HF. I buy stuff that I plan to operate at 50% of what they claim for it.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

If you have a lighter gauge wire and then splice in a heavier gauge youll get the problem your having.You can get a heavier gauge wire to run the whole setup ,they sell 2 choices I believe ,the heavier being for longer runs and more lights.I like the setup ,I got mine for $35 , 200ft of wire ,2 transformers ,50 lights ,I love a bargain. The only trouble I had was getting the connectors apart after a long stay outside ,some corrision but once the teeth were set into a section of line it worked perfectly.

It's a very simple setup. 1 cable which seems to have pretty thick copper conductors, and 4 <20W lights. The cable used to be longer and I trimmed it down to 60ft or so, thinking the coiled up excess was part of the problem. It's just 1 more new thing that doesn't work. I guess its going back to the store.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

No different than any other big box store in the USA. They all sell nothing but Chinese junk.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Exactly! That's a good way to put it. I believe that the big box stores have enough buying power to have manufacturers produce their own, unique sku's with specs that don't match the seemingly identical products that you find at the specialty retailers. I'm thinking I actually read that somewhere reliable years ago. That allows the bb retailers to (1) sell something for less than the specialty guy, and (2) makes it impossible for you to cost-compare, if you bother to look that closely.

Also, the specialty retailer usually has someone on hand who is knowledgeable about the product, whereas the bb store does not have that added overhead of salaries for someone who even knows where in the store the product is located, let alone what it does or how it works . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles