Thanks for all the responses. I am going to try and diagnosis it this weekend. Some of you asked how I can smell the wire burning - there is a section that comes off the transformer before it goes underground. This section of the wire is hot to the touch. I am assuming that the smell comes from here, but it could come from a light unit. I didn't spend much time trying to figure it out before I unplugged it.
The transformer unit is model BPL-300W-12V -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T94BP6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Ok, just spent a bit of time researching this transformer.
As mentioned transformers do get "warm" and even "hot" at times and because of the heating they may tend to give off a "smell". You will also hear a buzzing or humming noise from most depending on the size.
There is very little information on the net about this specific transformer sold by "Best Pro Lighting". Mainly all I get is the listing from Amazon and if you look at the specs it really does not tell you much at all about the electrical specs. The height, width, depth dimensions are way out of line - really 500"? This comes from site: Find Lighting Supply -
HERE and the dimensions of the transformer are listed as
WIDTH500''HEIGHT1050''LENGTH500''and again showing the only picture I have been able to find on the net for this transformer.
Other sites here and there I read a lot of "broken English". Although the picture ( meaning the only picture anywhere I could find of the until at all) does in fact have the "UL" stated on it; but unfortunately that does not mean it has been tested and approved by UL. Any company can print "UL" on their product. The big test to determine if it is really "UL" rated is if it causes a fire and your home owner's insurance company investigates it to verify if it is UL rated. If the unit causes a fire with damage and you put in a claim to your home owners insurance company and they find it is not UL rated; well you get the picture.
Again, my nose goes up because of the broken English and the same "one" picture on all the sites I can find it on, which really is about 3 at most.
As your nose it sniffing "electrical" burning, my nose is smelling a cheaply made (overseas), very well possible not tested and approved transformer by "Underwriter's Laboratory" unit.
Every where I look I only see "one" picture of this transformer and it is the exact same picture no matter what site you see. There is very little "electrical information" (specifications) in the product details on any site with the exception of maybe the size of it and how well "Best Pro Lighting" claims it performs.
So far the reviews are not too bad on this unit but I have this feeling that it may not be in fact really tested and approved by UL. The reviews are by "consumers".
Heck, I could be wrong, but again my nose is "smelling" something else here.
My advice - Keep it unplugged.
ok so it seems the decimal point was left out of the dimensions of the listing.