Landscape Light Installation for Dummies

Landscape Light Installation for Dummies

Blog Article

Unknown Facts About Landscape Light Installation

Without any significant electrical experience I went on the quest for simple to mount reduced voltage landscape lights. That indicated no wiring or minor building. Roger had his uncertainties yet quietly (well, nearly quietly) he viewed from the sidelines. Reduced voltage landscape lights are powered through a transformer, that affixes to the wire, that decreases the voltage from regular 120 volts to 12 volts.


I constantly assumed I 'd have to dig ditches and run all sort of cables yet the low voltage exterior spotlights that I located were so easy to set up. 30 minutes was all it required to offer our home a wonderful glow at evening. I got 2 of these light sets for the front of our residence.


I probably might have obtained by with less lights but the 4 light set was the smallest one available. When I began searching for outdoor limelights my very first top priority was to locate something that was easy for me to set up and connection. After I tightened down my options I browsed for lights that had terrific reviews.






The idea was to place 3 on either side of the front veranda. I figured that that would suffice. When I got them and laid the lights out I recognized the 3 and 3 setup wouldn't work. Although I obtained a great deal of wire with the collection, I would have had to dig under the walkway in order to hide the cord.

Landscape Light Installation Things To Know Before You Get This

Bear in mind, I wanted this to be very easy with no excavating and no rewiring. While I identified a repair I simply installed all 6 by the guest bedroom to see exactly how they would certainly look. A fast word of caution. We are just plugging in lights it's vital to be safe and utilize care when functioning with electrical energy.


After I unpacked the limelights I screwed each light into a ground stake. After that I just stuck the stake into the ground and readjusted the light. I moved on to the following light up until all 6 were with each other and in the ground. There was a black cable that went to each limelight so I rolled up the unwanted from each light and connection wrapped it utilizing the black spin connection that featured the set.


Currently the landscape lights turn on and off immediately at established times each evening. When the sunlight collection and my lights turned on I went outdoors and modified them to strike the front of the house.


Like I said, the smallest collection I can get was 4 lights so that's what I got. Once they arrived I installed them following the exact same actions as the initial collection of lights.

Excitement About Landscape Light Installation

He wouldn't confess that I was appropriate butI was right.


# 10 gauge outside wire # 12 scale outdoor cable 1-1/2 in. x 12-in. PVC pipeline 1-1/2-in. PVC cap with -in. female thread -in. copper pipeline For each ground light: 1-1/2-in. PVC coupler with -in. tee for wire opening Lights One box of weatherproof wire ports Transformer 2 -in. sweat-to thread copper adapters Expansion ladder Yard rake Degree Posthole digger Safety glasses Voltage tester Wire stripper/cutter Wrench setvolt me Volt meter A yard spade Light weight aluminum outdoor tents stakes.


Mount lights where they won't be easily damaged visit the site by plows or shovels (Landscape Light Installation). Not all plants should be evergreens, some plants such as hydrangea, dogwoods and sumac are fascinating lit up also when leafless.


It's a complimentary solution and you'll avoid dangerous and costly surprises. Usage 10-gauge wire for the primary lines from the transformer to where the lights begin, then change to 12-gauge cable in between the lights. To hide the wires where they cross the lawn, utilize a flat-nosed shovel to reduce a port and fold back the sod.

The Ultimate Guide To Landscape Light Installation

Given that the transformer will constantly be plugged in, you have to change the basic electrical outlet cover with an in-use weatherproof cover, available at most major home improvement facilities and hardware stores. The ground risks that include many vertical lighting fixtures are not strong sufficient (or go deep adequate) to maintain them great and straight with time with transforming soil conditions, erosion, etc.


Making use of the PVC pipe, construct and bury a footer that will house the wire links and sustain your pole extensions (recommended to be made from 1/2- inch copper pipeline). Link the wires with weatherproof wire adapters. These cable connectors have a guard on the base and a blob of sealer inside that make them weatherproof.


If you're not sure where to start with landscape design lights, you're in the ideal place! Below is our useful exterior lighting overview, where we will walk via where to place landscape lights, what kinds of lights to use, and how to utilize light for the ideal effect.

A Biased View of Landscape Light Installation

Mount lights where they won't be conveniently damaged by plows or shovels. Keep in mind, also, that the plants you light up will certainly experience seasonal modifications. Not all plants must be evergreens, some plants such as click to read more hydrangea, dogwoods and sumac are fascinating lit up even when leafless. When you have your products, your tools and your plan, it's time to call 811.


It's a complimentary service and you'll prevent harmful and costly surprises. Use 10-gauge cable for the main lines from the transformer to where the lights start, after that switch over straight from the source to 12-gauge cord in between the lights. To hide the cables where they cross the yard, make use of a flat-nosed shovel to reduce a port and layer back the turf.


Since the transformer will certainly always be connected in, you should change the typical electrical outlet cover with an in-use weatherproof cover, offered at a lot of major home enhancement facilities and equipment shops. The ground stakes that come with a lot of upright illumination components are not solid sufficient (or go deep sufficient) to keep them nice and straight in time with changing soil problems, disintegration, and so on.


Utilizing the PVC pipe, construct and hide a footer that will certainly house the cable links and support your post expansions (suggested to be made from 1/2- inch copper pipe). Attach the cables with weatherproof wire adapters. These wire adapters have a guard under and a ball of sealant inside that make them weatherproof.

Getting My Landscape Light Installation To Work

If you're not certain where to start with landscape design lights, you're in the right location! Right here is our handy outside illumination overview, where we will walk through where to place landscape lighting, what types of lights to utilize, and exactly how to use light for the finest impact - Landscape Light Installation.

Report this page