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Garden Lighting > Learning Center > How to Install Garden Lighting
If you have decided on a line voltage system, you’ll need some professional assistance as you will require installation of wires that are a shock hazard. The system will also most likely need an indoor junction box, where the wires connect to your home’s electrical grid that is rated for 120 volts. This is outside the skill set of most individuals, is time consuming, and is possibly dangerous, so consult a certified professional. A low-voltage system removes all the hazardous aspects of garden lighting installation with the added benefit of being cheaper. With all of your equipment in hand – lamps, wires, and a transformer – begin by cleaning the areas around where the fixtures will be installed. Remove debris and any foliage that may block the direction of the light. After this, securely insert the fixtures in their proper place. At this point, if you happen to be using solar lamps, you’re done. Most solar lamps have their solar cells right on the top of the housing, but if you happen to have one that is directional, adjust it so it best takes advantage of the sun on your property. For low-voltage users, after the fixtures are laid, begin laying the wire. As mentioned above this wire is safe to handle, yet it may require some splicing of the cable in order to connect to certain fixtures, while others have quick connectors that remove this step. In any case, do not activate the wire by turning on the transformer (i.e.: make the wire ‘hot’) while laying it. Once the wires are connected to the fixtures, take a moment to look over the wire layout to be sure that no wire is tightly tangled or in an unsightly place. Here remember that, your transformer should have enough wattage to cover all the fixtures (6 fixtures at 30 watts need at least a 200 watt transformer). Also take voltage drop, the lessening of power to fixtures further from the transformer as electricity travels down the wires, into consideration as this can cause lamps to glow dim. The general rule for most wires no more than 100 watts on 100 feet of cable. Finally, install any bulbs, attach the cable to the transformer, and plug in, then wait till nightfall and review your work, checking for any dim or excessively bright lights and considering the overall look of the design. Related Information |
 
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Installing garden lighting can be a simple or complex process depending on the style of lighting and the number of lamps in your design. After carefully planning the layout of your garden – determining the number of lamps and their location – you’re ready to begin.