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Installing Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

Having your outdoor landscaping look beautiful both day and night can be as simple as installing low voltage lighting. Low voltage lighting is available in abundance of styles and can add emphasis to key elements of your home or garden at night, it will also make it safer on your walkways after the sun goes down. Low voltage landscape lights are available individually or in kits. Lighting is easy to install and safe even if you are electrically challenged.

When installing low voltage landscape lighting, it's important to remember that you are still working with electricity. Always shut the power off before working and don't touch the wires near electrical panels. Make sure your hands are dry and wear rubber gloves for improved insulation. Consult your manufacturer's safety directions and always check with your utility company before digging so they can inform you of the location of underground wires or pipes.  There are very few building code restrictions on low voltage lighting because of the limited wattage of the bulbs. They can be safely installed without an electrician.

If you are installing from a kit, the lights will be matched to the transformer wattage.   The disadvantage of purchasing a kit is that you can't generally add more lights because the wattage of the transformer is matched to the lights of the kit.  If purchasing the lights and transformer individually, you can be creative in the number of lights and styles.  Just be sure to add up the total number of watts that each light will use and then purchase a transformer that has at least 50 percent more power than you need.

Install the Transformer - The transformer should always be installed near a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. A GFCI outlet is designed to protect you from severe or fatal electric shocks. Because the GFCI detects ground faults, it can also prevent some electrical fires by interrupting the flow of electric current. The GFCI monitors electricity flowing in a circuit and quickly switches off power to that circuit if the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning. The transformer should be installed within one foot of the GFCI outlet and at least one foot above the ground. Add a weatherproof cover to protect the transformer from sun and rain. If installing a photocell so the lights will turn on/off automatically, be sure to mount the photocell so that it is not blocked from the sun or it may activate the lights too early in the evening. Keep the transformer turned off or unplugged while installing the lights and wires.

Arrange Lights - Lay out the landscape lights and cable on top of the ground where you want them installed. Leave approximately 8-10 feet in between each light and keep the first light about 10 feet from the transformer. Assemble the lights fixtures and attach the cables to the fixtures. Test the lights to ensure they work properly before burying the cable. If one or more of the lights do not work, check the connections making sure the connectors pierce the cable.

Bury the cable - Using a small garden shovel, dig shallow trenches about 3 - 5 inches in which to bury the cable. Lay the cable into the trenches leaving a small amount of slack at each light fixture to allow for light adjustment if necessary. Carefully fill the trenches with soil or mulch to cover the cable.

Finishing Touches - Attach the light fixtures to the ground stakes following the manufactures instructions. Carefully push the stake into the ground until the light is the desired height while ensuring the light is straight.

If installed correctly, you should have a soft nightly glow rather than your yard lighting up like a football field. For more advanced installations, you can purchase a transformer that allows multiple cable connections allowing you to install individual cables to separate zones. This provides more flexibility in lighting and better illumination in certain zones if desired.
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