This Technical Manual certainly fits that criteria. It is the complete collection of data and equipment compiled by Nightscaping® over our illustrious 40 plus year history. And, more importantly, it is your guide to success in the low voltage outdoor lighting industry.
I remembered today why I hate Nightscaping. But I had a big job and the customer was on a budget. The lighting was a very small part of the job so I went with a cheap transformer (vs. The Unique one I would have normally used) just to save money. Today, we finished the job and I hooked up the transformer.
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But the damm thing is confusing as hell. And the instructions are worthless. So I need some help. I finally figured out what everything did but I still can't get the lights to turn on with the timer. The only way I can get them to come on is using the toggle switch. The timer has little white toggle switches along the perimeter.
As far as I can tell, there are no other switches anywhere, even though the crappy instructions talk about some red switches. So apparently, these white toggle switches get moved out and one turns it on, the second turns it off. Problem is, they don't work. When I turn the main toggle on/off switch off, the lights don't come on. Even when I rotate the timer to the time when they should turn on, nothing happens. I feel it click and it definitely FEELS like a normal timer.
I mean, it's moving a mechanism inside. But no lights come on. When I get to the 'off' time, I feel it moving something as well. But again, nothing happens.
The only way I can get the lights to work is to use the toggle button. I should have gone with a better brand. But I figured a brand new one would at least freakin' work!!! No wonder these jerks are going out of business!!!! Anyone know what I am doing wrong?
Or is the damm timer just broke? I remembered today why I hate Nightscaping. But I had a big job and the customer was on a budget. The lighting was a very small part of the job so I went with a cheap transformer (vs. The Unique one I would have normally used) just to save money. Today, we finished the job and I hooked up the transformer.
But the damm thing is confusing as hell. And the instructions are worthless. So I need some help. I finally figured out what everything did but I still can't get the lights to turn on with the timer. The only way I can get them to come on is using the toggle switch. The timer has little white toggle switches along the perimeter.
![]()
As far as I can tell, there are no other switches anywhere, even though the crappy instructions talk about some red switches. So apparently, these white toggle switches get moved out and one turns it on, the second turns it off.
Problem is, they don't work. When I turn the main toggle on/off switch off, the lights don't come on. Even when I rotate the timer to the time when they should turn on, nothing happens. I feel it click and it definitely FEELS like a normal timer.
I mean, it's moving a mechanism inside. But no lights come on.
When I get to the 'off' time, I feel it moving something as well. But again, nothing happens. The only way I can get the lights to work is to use the toggle button. I should have gone with a better brand. But I figured a brand new one would at least freakin' work!!!
No wonder these jerks are going out of business!!!! Anyone know what I am doing wrong? Or is the damm timer just broke? Click to expand. Calm down Jim, it sounds like a problem with the timer or your hook up in the 120 v compartment.
It's been more than a few yrs that I've wired a Nightscaping one up but unless something has changed (and maybe it has) you should have 4 wires coming off the timer and 5 terminals inside the 120V trans compartment. It also sounds like you are describing a grasslin analog time switch. Some models are made so when you push the white trippers towards the outer edges of clock the timer comes on and vice versa. Nightscaping used to use the Grasslin one that was different than what other manu's were using so you have to read the instructions to see where the trippers must be for the duration on time. The arrow line up is self explanatory for the current time. Just make sure of the am/pm.
Unplug the transformer. As for your hookup- terminal 1 inside 120v compartment from top to bottom on trans- connect 1 black wire from timer to terminal 1. Red wire from timer to terminal 2, other black wire to terminal 3 and white wire from timer to terminal 4.
Terminal 5 not used. Then make sure your silver toggle switch is in the off position. You don't mention a photo cell.
If you have one the wiring is a bit different. This should work. Let us know how it goes. Calm down Jim, it sounds like a problem with the timer or your hook up in the 120 v compartment. It's been more than a few yrs that I've wired a Nightscaping one up but unless something has changed (and maybe it has) you should have 4 wires coming off the timer and 5 terminals inside the 120V trans compartment.
It also sounds like you are describing a grasslin analog time switch. Some models are made so when you push the white trippers towards the outer edges of clock the timer comes on and vice versa. Nightscaping used to use the Grasslin one that was different than what other manu's were using so you have to read the instructions to see where the trippers must be for the duration on time. The arrow line up is self explanatory for the current time.
Just make sure of the am/pm. Unplug the transformer. As for your hookup- terminal 1 inside 120v compartment from top to bottom on trans- connect 1 black wire from timer to terminal 1. Red wire from timer to terminal 2, other black wire to terminal 3 and white wire from timer to terminal 4. Terminal 5 not used. Then make sure your silver toggle switch is in the off position. You don't mention a photo cell.
If you have one the wiring is a bit different. This should work. Let us know how it goes. But you might consider that the INSTRUCTIONS SUCK! They refer to a totally different variety of timer. One where you pull ONE switch out for your start time and then ANOTHER switch out for the end time, which is how every timer I've ever used works.
So yah, I guess I am an idiot for believing the instructions. Or maybe I am stupid for believing that a company should install instructions that would match the unit the instructions are going to.
Or maybe I am a dolt for expecting this timer to be like every other analog timer on the market. Your soooo right.
I should have known that this timer worked in a totally different way than than what the instructions said, I should have known the instructions they enclosed weren't actually for the timer in front of me, and I should have known this timer was different than every other analog timer I've ever seen. How stupid of me.
I'll try to keep that in mind next time. Thanks for the help! If you hadn't have said anything, I never would have realized where I went wrong. But now I realize how inept I really am. Thanks for that. Your advice and encouragement was invaluable in helping me solve this riddle.
For future reference, here are the instructions for the Grasslin Analog Timer that Nightscaping has been using for some time now. (available online to anyone, easily searched in seconds via google) Not sure how Jim might have been provided with the old intermatic instructions, and that is a shame he had to spend so much time figuring this out. Things like that are never fun. (I have found that a wireless card in my notebook comp. Is invaluable for solving problems like this on site. Blackberry's and IPhones work too of course.
If that is not a viable solution for you, well, most clients do have internet access these days.).
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