How to Install Low Voltage Lights

Use some irrigation marking flags and your illumination plan to mark the location of each light in your yard. Keep in mind while placing your flags that a wire will be run to each light. Relocate a light if an obstacle is in the way, such as rock or concrete that will prevent digging a trench for this wire.

Locate a standard 110-volt outlet on your house to supply power to the lights. A power transformer that will convert 110 volts to 12 volts for use with the lighting system will plug into this outlet. Pick a central location as all the wires that are connecting to the lights will connect to this transformer. A central location will help to limit the length of required wire for each set of lights.

Determine how many lights you will operate off each wire. Included with the lights you purchase, the light manufacturer will provide a wire-sizing guide for you to determine the maximum number of lights that can be run on each wire. It will also help you determine the maximum length each individual wire can be run.

Dig trenches from the transformer to each light location. These need to be deep enough to cover the wire completely. According to author Merle Henkenius in the May 2008 edition of Popular Mechanics, "There is no depth requirement for 12-volt systems." Most low voltage lighting systems operate off 12 volts supplied by a transformer. Check the instructions for the lights you purchase to verify your voltage and wire depth requirements.

Run the wire to each light location and connect the lights. The 12-volt light systems usually come with connectors that allow you to connect the light without the need to remove the coating from the wire. If you do need to remove the coating, apply a waterproof coating to the bare wire prior to burying the wire. This will help deter any corrosion of the wire in the future.

Connect all the wires to the transformer, and test your lights. The connections on the transformer will depend on the light manufacturer; however, they are generally the quick connection type as with those on the lights.