Landscape Lighting Installation

Beautify your home's exterior

Outdoor landscape lighting is becoming more popular among homeowners, but you don't necessarily need to be a certified electrician to install a lighted pathway. Taking a few moments to scope where the lights will go is an important first step. Once that has been done, you can move toward your goal of adding beauty to the outside of your home.

Draw up a plan for your lighting system

To help you determine the dimensions for your lighting, diagram on graph paper your home and grounds and any accompanying deck, fence, trees, and shrubs. Other tips to keep in mind before starting:

Avoid lining each side of a path with lights, thus creating an airport runway effect Don't randomly dot your landscape with lights Lights should be positioned at the front of steps or a path to mark the entrance Use uplighting - floodlights or spotlights - for hedges, vertical plants, and trees The transformer, lights, and cable are the three main components of low-voltage lightning. The transformer reduces household current to 12 volts and, through a timer or photocell, determines when lights turn on and off.

The power outlet's location will help determine the layout of the lights and cable. If the power outlet isn't where you'd like it, you'll want a certified electrician to install one. An indoor outlet will work, but the transformer needs to be rated for indoor and outdoor use. A 3-inch space around the transformer is needed to allow for proper heat dissipation.

Installing the fixtures and cabling

Now that you've done the preliminary work, it's time to install the fixtures and cabling. First, place the fixtures in the correct positions and distances from each fixture and the transformer. Lights should be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart, and the first fixture should be no less than 10 feet from the transformer. Keep lights at least 10 feet from a fountain or pool. Then:

• Lay cable next to the fixtures above ground, following cable runs in the design

• Lift any sod that is along the cabling run

• A 3-inch trench should be made

• Leaving enough slack at both ends of the cabling run and at each fixture, bury the wire in the trench

• A T-connector should be attached in the middle of the cabling run and the cable back should be laid to the power outlet

• Strip the wire 1/2 inch and affix the cable to the transformer's two terminal screws

• Next to the power outlet, drive a wooden post into the ground and attach the transformer

• Plug in the transformer and connect the fixtures to the cable

• Mount and position the fixtures according to the user's guide

• Replace the uplifted sod, and tuck any extra cable and connectors away from view