How to Install Garden Lights

Lighting Plan

• 1

  Choose the place where you would like to put your lighting fixtures. Lights suitable for lighting pathways and those suitable for up-lighting can all be placed on the same circuit.

• 2

  Measure the distance covered by the lighting and add at least 10 feet from where the transformer will be mounted and plugged in. Add approximately 1 foot per fixture to allow slack for future possible repairs and for flexibility in placing the fixtures. This is the amount of low-voltage cable you'll need for the project.

• 3

  Decide what fixtures you wish to use and note the wattage of the bulbs. Add the total number of watts used on the system. This will tell you what size transformer to buy. For example, if you use six 7-watt fixtures (42 watts) and two 50-watt fixtures (100 watts), the transformer must be able to power at least 142 watts.

Preliminary Lay Out of Materials

• 4

  Assemble your fixtures and place them in position. Do not push the fixtures stakes entirely into the ground until the fixtures have been hooked to the low-voltage cable.

• 5

  Lay out the low-voltage cable beginning at the transformer and proceeding to the next light fixture until the last fixture is done. Do not cut off the end of the cable until installation is complete.

• 6

  Place the transformer where it will be mounted. Make sure there is at least 10 feet of cable between the transformer and the first fixture. Also make sure that the transformer is within reach of a GFCI electrical outlet with cover.

Connect the System to Cable

• 7

  Hook the cable to transformer by splitting the cable down the center about 4 inches and stripping 3/4 inch of the cable cover off with wire stripper. Make a "U" with each stripped side and secure each into the respective terminal on the transformer with terminal screw. Then mount transformer on the wall.

• 8

  Hook each fixture to the cable. Some fixtures come with connector boxes or clips that will pierce the cable cover and make contact with cable wire. Other fixtures may require twist-on wire connectors.

• 9

  Plug in the transformer to ensure that all connections have been made. If all fixtures light, fixture stakes can now be pushed into the ground.

Finish Cable Installation

• 10

  Dig a shallow trench (2 to 4 inches deep) in which cable will be buried. Where possible, place the trench as close to sidewalk or away from digging areas as possible.

• 11

  Place the cable in trench and cover. Extra cable that is found near each fixture can be looped and buried in a deeper hole. Clip the end of the cable and place a twist-on wire connector to protect the end from moisture.

• 12

  Place mulch over the cable in garden areas or reseed grass in grassy areas. Make note of where the cable has been placed for future reference when working in the yard.