plastic stakes

[sparkync]

I recently read an article about the danger of using plastic stakes for the low voltage lighting. Their viewpoint was that if the transformer were struck by lightning and damaged, that it was possible that 120 volts could be transferred to the 12 volt lines, and if the stakes for the lights were plastic, there would not be a "ground contact" to trip the breaker or fuse. What is your opinion on this? Thanks...

[Paul]

Well I can tell you from first hand experience that if lightning hits the transformer it will kill it!! I had it happen to me this year. Lightning hit a fixture in a tree. It blew the end off of the fixture, traveled down the wire to the transformer (which was mounted just below the tree) and took it out completely. It froze the timer and photo control into the unit and also blew out the GFCI outlet.

I don't think the plastic stakes would be much of an issue. The transformers are grounded at the outlet.

[sparkync]

Paul with all due respects, it was on the site that you have under your name that I saw this article. It was titled " The Shocking Truth". I don't see it on there now though. Maybe I'm mistaken. Thanks anyway. I am an electrical contractor and do not do landscaping all the time, and it had me a little worried, because I just got through doing a job with the plastic stakes. I guess anything is possible under the right conditions and even though the stake might be aluminum or whatever, it doesn't necessarily mean it's got a good "ground" just because the stake is 6 or 7" in the ground. As an electrical contractor, we have to drive (2) 8ft. ground rods, 6 ft. apart to satisfy the inspectors here on the "electrical service" of a building. Of course if we could verify the resistance by a high dollar piece of equipment, they would only make us drive (1) 8ft. ground rod. Thanks for the input. It's puts my mind to rest a little more.

[LowVoltPro]

Paul with all due respects, it was on the site that you have under your name that I saw this article. It was titled " The Shocking Truth". I don't see it on there now though. Maybe I'm mistaken. Thanks anyway. I am an electrical contractor and do not do landscaping all the time, and it had me a little worried, because I just got through doing a job with the plastic stakes. I guess anything is possible under the right conditions and even though the stake might be aluminum or whatever, it doesn't necessarily mean it's got a good "ground" just because the stake is 6 or 7" in the ground. As an electrical contractor, we have to drive (2) 8ft. ground rods, 6 ft. apart to satisfy the inspectors here on the "electrical service" of a building. Of course if we could verify the resistance by a high dollar piece of equipment, they would only make us drive (1) 8ft. ground rod. Thanks for the input. It's puts my mind to rest a little more.


Sorry but the web adress below Paul's name is not the same as nightscaping. This thing they made on the shocking truth could happen but there are a ton of other things that could happen before this such as you gettting in a car accident or a tree falling on your head. Do not let this sway you from using plastic. I think ol' Bill enjoys being the only one preaching something and not that saftey is something that should be compramised but this situation is a bit far fetched in my opinion.

[sparkync]

LowVoltPro, thanks for clarifying that. I guess I'm a little too cautious. I tend to agree with you. In the "extremes" anything "might" happen. Thanks again, Steve