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Customer reviews for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Supply electricity to your landscape lighting system with this DIY-friendly Malibu Low Voltage Outdoor 200-Watt Digital Transformer. This power pack transformer also functions to reduce the standard 200-volt household current to a safer 12 VAC. A built-in
Overall rating:
(44 reviews) 44
Rating breakdown 44 reviews
5 stars
11
4 stars
3
3 stars
3
2 stars
1
1 star
26
15 out of 41(37%)reviewers recommend this product.
Customer reviews for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Review 1 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Listen to the Reviews!
,PostedJuly 8, 2012
NSands
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:3 months
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I should have read the reviews before buying this...my old Malibu (with the rotary timer and pins) never gave me a lick of trouble...until a hail storm did a number on it. I bought this unit to replace it. At first, I was like some of the five-star reviewers - loved it! First, it fit perfectly onto the old mounting screws which made me very happy that I didn't have to drill into brick (and the reason for replacing with the same brand), second - the dusk/dawn sensor and digital read-out are vast improvements over fumbling with pins, and finally, the magnetic door to seal everything away from the elements (like hail) is awesome. However, that's where the love ends. After just three months of flawless on-at-dusk/off-at-set-number-of-hours timing, the circuit breaker decided to go haywire. At first I thought it was the South Texas heat, but then I read all of these reviews. I go out and hit the breaker, lights come on, within 30 minutes (time varies) they're off again. I'm off to buy another brand. Yes, it's under warranty...but A) who saves receipts for purchases under $100? B) is it worth the hassle to call their 800 number, get a return authorization, box it up, wait, etc.? Nope.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+15points
15out of 15found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Only one on-off period
,PostedMay 27, 2012
MikeM
My last 200W Malibu had the old, familiar plastic clock face with movable pegs for setting the on-off periods. It came with two sets of pegs so you could have the lights come on in the evening, go off at midnight or so, then back on for a while in the early morning hours. The new digital version has lots of options, but only allows one on-off period. To accomplish what I am used to, I'll have to install a timer between the power and the transformer. Don't product developers ever use their own products? I've had good luck with Malibu transformers, but I could have done without the digital clock (that you can hardly read in the daylight) and wish they would not have eliminated the additional time period.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
only works for short period of time
,PostedJuly 17, 2012
Dissatisfied
Age:35 to 44
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:3 months
Appearance
1
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I don't know why I went back for the 3rd one to replace the ones that didn't work prior. It worked great for about 1 month, then it wouldn't turn off. Then I got another one & the breaker keeps tripping; same for the next one.
I should have stopped then, but off to buy another brand & hope for the best.
I should have stopped then, but off to buy another brand & hope for the best.
Pros: Easy to Assemble, Looks Great
Cons: poor performance
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+10points
10out of 10found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
low quality
,PostedJuly 14, 2012
yardslave
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I wished I had read the reviews before buying the second unit after I had trouble with the first. I have the SAME problem with the circuit breaker tripping. I spent about a day troubleshooting the problem and all along it was the weak breaker the Chinese put in this. I am going all US whenever possible, regardless of cost. It is either getting value at a price or frustrating junk from China.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Poor quality control
,PostedAugust 1, 2012
dissapointedbuyer
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I own a lighting business and purchase these often. About 1 in 5 of these is defective. No power (dead), no clock, time will not set, etc.
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+8points
8out of 8found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
unit died within 90 days of installation
,PostedApril 14, 2013
exhonker6
Age:65 or over
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:3 months
Appearance
2
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
3
/
5
Unit experienced a brief power outage and never can back on line, despite repeated attempts to reset circuit breaker. Read the rest of the reviews if you don't believe mine. It's junk!
Cons: faulty circuit breaker
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Excellent Set Of Options For When Lights Are On vs Off
,PostedApril 12, 2013
Anonymous
from Murfreesboro, TN, USA
Age:65 or over
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:Professional
Length of ownership:1 month
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
5
/
5
Value
5
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
Love this product. Second one I have purchased. Well made and has a significant number of options for when the lights will be on vs off. Easy to install.
Pros: Well Made, Lots of Features, Looks Great, Good Size & Weight
Cons: none
Yes, I recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Same old story
,PostedApril 11, 2013
Farmstead
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:6 months
Tripped breaker, again and again and again........... Don't do it. Stay away, it's not worth the aggravation.
Pros: Easy to Assemble, Lots of Features, Looks Great, Good Size & Weight, Nice Design
Cons: doesn't work, doesn't work for more than 30 minutes
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
junk
,PostedApril 7, 2013
joseph
Age:35 to 44
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
this transformer lasted one hour. it will be going back to the store in the morning. i will have to go to lowes to get a different brand.
Cons: junk
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Horrible product!! Should be pulled from the stores!!! Tripped sensors after five minutes!!
,PostedMarch 9, 2013
Floridachick
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:1 week
Appearance
4
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
2
/
5
Ease of installation
3
/
5
Do not buy!!!! Installed and excited when they came on only to have the sensor trip after five minutes. The transformer sensor!!
Cons: poor performance
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Only brand available
,PostedDecember 4, 2012
Memyhome
Age:35 to 44
Gender:Female
Home improvement profile:Professional
Length of ownership:1 year or longer
Appearance
3
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
3
/
5
They are expensive, especially when you have to replace them every 6 months (give or take a fewmonths). They loose their programming, then the buttons do not work to reset. If you use the solar detector, it will turn itself off when it detects the lights are on, then after 5 min. or so it turns back on as it notes that it is once dark again (this goes on and off all night). The switches to go manual also fail after a short time and the reset button also fails. The only way to turn it off and on is to plug and unplug (if it still works).I've had to replace 4 units, but my old manual peg dial ones still work( they are about 10 years old), but they are no longer available.
Cons: as above
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 12 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
I am 66 years old and nstalled this myself and had no problems.
,PostedFebruary 6, 2013
Sophie
Age:65 or over
Gender:Female
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:1 year or longer
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
5
/
5
Value
5
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I really like this power pak for lighting. It is easy to install and I have not had a problem since I started using it. Would recommend it to any one who is thinking of installing landscape lighting.
Pros: Easy to Assemble, Looks Great, Good Size & Weight, Nice Design, works efficiently
Yes, I recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 13 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
no way
,PostedJuly 24, 2012
Laurie
Age:55 to 64
Gender:Female
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Appearance
4
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
4
/
5
This product was easy to hook up and test. The problem is it only worked for two nights. No idea why. I tried contacting the email address on the website and it came back undeliverable. Haven't tried the phone help yet.
Pros: Looks Great, Nice Design
Cons: just quits working and no backup.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Excellent Product
,PostedSeptember 18, 2010
This product is quality constructed and feels very heavy duty. The door has a magnetic latch and rubber seal around it. The timer displays in bright red numbers and is very easy to program. The photocell included plugs into the bottom with a 3ft (approx) cord so you can place it away from the transformer in a spot that gets a more accurate day/night reading. You can set it to turn on with the photocell, and run for 4,6,8 hours, or day to night, or timed. I only wish i could find another 300w to replace my other transformer.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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+7points
8out of 9found this review helpful.
Review 15 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
" CHINA"
,PostedOctober 17, 2012
sal43
Age:55 to 64
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:Professional
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
looks great, but. after 6 months. the light it contols. Wont turn off. even with photo cell removed, & switch placed in off position.Called mailibu. phone # techincal problems no answer. :(
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Not a quality product does not last more than a year if your lucky.
,PostedJanuary 4, 2013
JGray
Age:65 or over
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:1 year or longer
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
Very disappointed in this unit. It worked fine for about a year & half. Now it turns on & then offf, on and off. I won't buy another Malibu Product again.
Pros: Lots of Features, Nice Design
Cons: will last maybe a year if your lucky
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 17 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Lasted 1 month
,PostedAugust 10, 2012
Marty
Appearance
4
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
3
/
5
Read the reviews... Bought mine on 6/22 and it quit working last week (end of July). From day one it would turn on, off, and on again within about 10 seconds using the dusk auto setting. Then it just stopped working. Took it back and Home Depot replaced it, but they need to find an alternate brand until Malibu gets their act together. Like others have stated, i have 2 other units that have operated just great for YEARS!!! The new stuff is junk.
Pros: Easy to Assemble, Nice Design
Cons: quit working after a month, quirky from day one
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 18 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Home Depot should pull these from the shelves...
,PostedDecember 3, 2012
Chris
Age:35 to 44
Gender:Male
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:3 months
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
1
/
5
Value
1
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
I shipped three of these to Costa Rica and I was thrilled to get everything hooked up. My outdoor areas looked spectacular with all the uplight. Unfortunately, my first visit back I found one transformer dead. I just sent my wife back over with one in her suitcase as a replacement. Besides customs thinking she was smuggling a bomb she arrived to find a second transformer dead. Very disappointing...
Cons: defective
No, I do not recommend this product.
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 19 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Has Alot of Features
,PostedAugust 20, 2012
Linda
Age:55 to 64
Gender:Female
Home improvement profile:DIYer
Length of ownership:1 year or longer
Appearance
5
/
5
Quality
5
/
5
Value
5
/
5
Ease of installation
5
/
5
Dial has On & Off, Auto red LED clock display Timer, mont with photo eye & test timer, AM/PM turns on at dusk and turns off when set for 4-6-8-10 hours. Template for screw nail holes transformer must be hang against wall on the screws, cable is attached under box, connect plug to a GFCI outdoor Receptacle. Read the well written detailed instructions before connecting. Features are shown and written on outside of box. If you don’t understand then ask someone who has used and set it up. Any adult can install Low-Voltage lights but you must apply the correct set-up and every detail for a great out come or it won’t work. If this is too complex then have an experienced electrician with exterior outdoor landscape lighting install. Any low-voltage light can be added to the cable but you must not exceed the wattage of the power pack. Add up all bulb wattages for a maximum of 200 watts. Use a larger 12 gage cable for maximum light output, allow for extra cable for additional lights and don’t wrap cable around the transformer. Don’t use for submersible lights or pumps. Malibu has a customer service number for replacement parts and customer questions noted in back page of instructions, keep copy of your receipt with instructions. Malibu has a Buyers Planning Guide on line as a PDF file, Energy Guide and Installation Guide. Highly Recommend.
Pros: Functional, Lots of Features, Nice Design
Cons: must read instructions
Yes, I recommend this product.
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+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 20 for Low Voltage 200-Watt Digital Transformer
Overall rating
Third one and the timer shorted out within a month.
,PostedJuly 9, 2011
I was hopeful one with more wattage would work better than the last two,,,no luck this one the timer stopped working after a month like the first two I purchased.
No, I do not recommend this product.
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+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.