Many of the fixtures on the market have the standard “pinch” connectors to make installing your landscape lights quick and easy. There is no mess, like you may get, when using waterproof pre-filled silicone connectors. There is however; a downside.

After a couple years, dirt may get between the two parts and push the connectors apart. If that happens, your fixture will lose its connection and will not power up. There are a couple things you can do.

Troubleshooting Landscape Lighting System: First, if you are in this situation, simply pull-up the connection, pull them apart, clean them (just scrape away the dirt) and reconnect. In the photos below, I show you a little trick that you can use when installing with these types of connectors.

#1 Open  #2 Squeeze together #3 Use pliers to bend the ends

In photo #2 I use my pliers to squeeze the connectors together so metal pincher(s) make good contact with the wire (not in photo) and in photo #3 i bend down the ends of the connectors. This will keep the connection tight and will prevent dirt from pushing the connections apart. If you leave them straight (like photo 2) you run the risk of the dirt eventually pushing them apart.

If doing this does not appeal to you, I would suggest cutting off the pinch connectors (if your fixture has them) and using waterproof connectors instead.

Happy Installation….

LaGina

Loves Butterflies

Tags: landscape light connectors, waterproof connectors