Be careful not to over-light your landscape like a birthday cake. If you need more advice call our knowledgeable team of lighting experts at 1-80.and create a picture perfect scene! Read on for some useful "how to" tips and ideas to keep in mind when designing your outdoor landscape lighting. Part two of this how-to will cover the installation of your landscape lighting. Remember to take your time and plan your lighting with care. Landscape fixtures are also available in LED, which will use far less power than traditional halogen or incandescent lighting. Path lights should be spaced about 8 to 10 feet apart. It makes it easier to wire the system in cases where you have to split between two or more runs. Try to center the transformer in your design. To avoid voltage drop, consider running multiple straight runs in several directions, a tee connection run, or a looped run (more about types of wiring layouts in Part 2). The first fixture should be at least 10 feet from your transformer to prevent it from getting too much voltage and burning out prematurely. Last but not least, here are a few more tips to help you in the planning stage: PVC pipes, couplers, and caps (to weatherproof connections to path lights) Weather-treated wood post for your transformer Wire clips and stainless steel screws (for mounting cables to trees)
Weatherproof cover for your GFCI outlet (if your transformer is a plug-in model) Weatherproof wire nuts (with sealant in them) Optional materials include:Ī timer or photocell (if it’s not already built into the transformer) There are other supplies you might need depending on your design or preferences. Lighting Tip: You can run 12-gauge about 100 feet without voltage drop issues as long as the total wattage of the fixtures on the wire is 100 Watts or less.Īlso check that your wire and connectors are listed for direct burial which helps prevent corrosion and other weather-related problems over time. The further you get from the transformer and its power supply, the more resistance occurs in the circuit which causes the voltage to decrease. We recommend 12-gauge or 10-gauge wire for long distances. Common wires for landscape lighting are 10-, 12-, 14-, or 16-gauge wires. A lower number means thicker wire and greater capacity to carry the power current for longer distances. Low voltage landscape wiring or electrical cable comes in several numerical gauges or sizes.
This is called derating and helps to account for inefficiencies in the transformers. That means the transformer should never be loaded with more than 80% capacity of its rated max wattage. While LEDs are becoming a more popular choice for this kind of project, if you decide to go with traditional halogen lighting then you will to need buy a transformer with a maximum wattage of 20% more than your total wattage. If you think you might add more lights in the future then choose a transformer with a max wattage that’s 100 to 200 Watts higher than the current total wattage of your fixtures. For example, if you add up the wattages of all your fixtures for a total of 200 Watts then you at least need a transformer with a maximum output of 200 Watts. When choosing a transformer, it’s important to pick one that can handle the total wattage of your fixtures. You also need a transformer or two to step down the 120 Volts coming from your house to 12 Volts for your outdoor fixtures, 100 feet or more of landscape wire, and a square-blade shovel. Underwater Lighting (for ponds and fountains) Landscape Bullets (for spotlighting trees and other objects)įlood Fixtures (for general uplighting or wall lighting effects) Here are some types of landscape lights you can use: Once you take your needs and your rampaging mower into account, you can decide on more practical things like how many fixtures you need and the path the wiring should follow. Rather than illuminate everything like a sports stadium, think in terms of pools of light and allow features to stand out. Outdoor lights are supposed to accent your yard. Lighting Tip: Avoid over lighting an area. Also nothing is more disheartening than taking out a ground fixture with a weed whacker or cutting through your wiring with your lawnmower. Make sure you also consider lawn maintenance like the chemicals from fertilizer can corrode your fixtures and what happens when you shovel that 5-foot snow drift. Your emphasis could be on safety and use lights to illuminate paths, driveways, and steps. You can use lighting to highlight your favorite plants and features like statues, trees, or flag poles. Ask yourself how you want to light your yard. Whether you decide to use a low voltage lighting kit or buy your pieces individually, you’ll need a plan of action.
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