hope someone here can help. when we bought our house there was already landscape lighting installed, we have tried (unsuccessfully) to get these to work but no luck any ideas about what to do?
tia

Most hardware stores sell a 120 volt circuit tester, you will need to start checking to see if power is getting to the lights. I would start at the light sensor. Take the back off the sensor and see if there is current going into the switch. If there is power going into the sensor, then you need to see if power is going out.

You can bypass the sensor by placing some electrical tape over the sensor, there by making the sensor think it is dark. It may take several minutes for the sensor to activate. Check for current again.

If you are not familar with electricity ask a friend or neighbor to assist you.

Welcome to the pool.

We will try these suggestions.....

Thanks for the welcome

Let me try to shed some LIGHT on this. OH, that hurt. Sorry and welcome to our house.

First, most landscape lighting is low voltage, 12 volts. Same as a car.

Somewhere near or in the house is a transformer the drops house hold 120 down to the 12 volts needed for these lights. Finding it may be your first problem. You may have to dig up the line and follow it. It will be on the end of that wire.

OK, let's say you found that and it is plugged in. Some times they are plugged in to an "Ground Fault" protector. It may as simple as resetting it.

These are controlled two ways, first by a timer or/and a light sensor. As night approaches, it gets dark and the lights turn on. If you have a timer model, as the preset time arrives, the lights turn on.

I have seen timers on the light sensors models, after they are on, at a preset time, like after midnight where you trying to save money, they will shut off. By the way, these light sensors are call "Photo Cells".

Now for your problem. Check for a fuse or circuit breaker on the unit it self. Next, low voltage has a hard time traveling distance and through joints and splices. Any corrosion will hamper the current flow. I am afraid this is where you will have to go to work. Assuming you have checked and are sure you have 12 volts, start checking as you would trying to find that bad light in a Christmas tree. If you are careful, 12 volts is really safe and should not cause you any problem. Just don’t short the two wires together as this will burn out you transformer unless it has a fuse or breaker protection

Good luck.