Installation of Electrical for Landscape Lighting

Components

• To install landscape lights you will need weather-resistant, low-voltage fixtures, a low-voltage electric cable, a transformer that lowers the voltage from 120 volts to 12 volts and access to a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet. The GFCI outlet should be enclosed in a plastic box that covers the outlet and protects it from the weather. You can purchase all of these items from your local hardware store.

Design

• Before purchasing the equipment you need, you should decide what areas in your yard you want to illuminate and what types of light fixtures you want to use. You may want to focus lights on trees and bushes for an aesthetic effect and/or illuminate walkways and dark areas of your yard for practical purposes. You'll need to decide how many fixtures you need, where you want to place them and what the total wattage will be. The wattage will determine the transformers you'll need, where transformers should be located and where you need to run electric cables.

  Divide lighted areas into separate areas that have their own transformers. This will make it easier to upgrade or change your lighting system in the future. It will also reduce the length of cable needed, because you will have a transformer close to each area you're lighting.

Transformers, Cables and Light Controls

• When purchasing your equipment, it's a good idea to select transformers that will handle 50 to 75 percent more wattage than you need for your lighting system. This way you'll have room to add on to your landscape lighting system later. When estimating your cable needs, keep in mind that a system of less than 200 watts requires a 14-gauge cable. A system over 200 watts requires a 12-gauge cable.

  A simple on and off switch on your lighting system will suffice. A more elaborate and popular choice in light control devices has either a timer or a photo-sensor. A timer will cause your landscape lights to go on and off automatically at a pre-set time; a photo sensor can turn the lights on when the sun begins to set and turn them off when the sun rises.

Installation

• When installing the transformer, be sure to hang it at least twelve inches above the ground. After attaching the cable that runs to the lights, adjust your photo-sensor to account for any artificial lighting in the area, or set your timer according to when you want your lights to turn on and off.

  Position your landscape lights in the locations you desire, and run the low voltage cable along the ground, attaching it to each of your lights. Connect the lights to the cable by squeezing the connector on the fixture into the cable connector. After everything has been connected, you can bury the cable underground or under the mulch in your garden. The cable only needs to be buried about three to six inches under the ground. If you want to bury the cable in your lawn, take a spade and cut a thin trench through the sod, then insert the cable in the trench and cover it with the grass sod.

Checking Your Lighting Design

• Turn on the lighting system so you can see how the lights shine on selected areas. If you are satisfied with the placement of your fixtures, insert the fixture stakes into the ground to secure them in place. Now enjoy your beautiful landscape lighting.