Bad Maintenance

[sparkync]

Just thought I would share a little experience I just am getting through with. I am an electrical contractor and got the request from one of my customers to do quiet a bit of electrical "odds and in's" in their Orthopaedic facility. One of their request was to check and see why their sign lighting wasn't working. When I checked on it, I found it to be low voltage fixtures. Then I had the problem of finding the transformers. In the process of looking I found 36 other low voltage lights throughout the grounds. Well after finding the transformers, I verify voltage which was ok. I then proceed to check the bulbs. After authorization, I find that all the bulbs were bad. After changing the bulbs, I find out the timers in the "Vista" transformers are bad. After replacing the timers, I find out that approx. 12 lights still do not work. After other authorization, I find out that the "root growth" of the trees and hedges that the lights were lighting up had grown so much that the connections for the lights were intertwined with the roots. After much digging with a screwdriver ( spade or shovel was no option ) I find most of the wires that had been separated or pulled apart and reconnected them. After a grueling approx. 8 hrs. I finally either make all the connections or pull new wire to the ones that could not be found. After finally thinking I was getting through, I find the voltage on some to be so weak that the lights barely come on. The lights in question have been brought off of a "13 volt tap". Obviously this isn't enought since I seem to be getting only about 4.5 volts to some of them. Practically all the lights are a long way from the transformers, separatated by parking lot, and cement walkway. I am advising the customer that the only way I know to remedy the situation is to set new transformers with larger taps. I did find one that went all the way up to 24volts... I did learn something if I do a job this big on my own, is to wait till all the schrubbery has been planted and possibly even the mulch put down before laying my wires. It was a nightmare digging through the roots of these trees and schrubbery. This wiring obviously was put down when the building was built, which I am guessing was about 11 or 12 years ago at least.
I can see where a good maintenance program would have been good for this job.
Just thought I would share this with you and see what some of your professional opinions would be and how you would have bypassed this problem with your original wiring. Thanks for listening and for your input.