How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights

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For homeowners who are not happy with the results they are getting from their outdoor solar powered lighting fixtures, another option to consider is to turn to low voltage garden or landscape lighting. This project is very easy IF you already have a 110 v outlet already accessible on the outside of your home.

Things You Will Need

Power Considerations for Low Voltage Lighting

Most modern installations of outdoor low voltage lighting installations use only 12 volts of electricity. To be able to convert your 110 volt power source from the accessible outlet outside your home to 12 volts, a transformer is required. If you do not have an easy access outlet available on the outside of your home, it is recommended that you get an electrician to install one for you. It may come in hand in the future for lawn and gardening purposes anyway.

Transformers for Low Voltage Lighting

Many times, you can purchase low voltage lighting kits from a retailer and the kit will include the necessary transformer matched to your fixtures. However if you're trying to piece the project together yourself and need to buy a transformer separately, then you need to get out your calculator. Transformers will be based on wattage capacity. To keep it simple, you should add together the wattage number of each outdoor lighting fixture you will use, and then factor in a "buffer" amount for voltage drop and extra capacity in case future fixtures are added. 25% is a good amount to factor in growth and line drop. Once you have your total wattage number, then buy a transformer that can handle your number efficiently. For example, if you have 6 lights at 12 watts each, you'll need 72 watts of capacity. Factoring in our thumbnail buffer of 25% that puts us at 90 watts. In this example a 100 watt transformer would be the right fit. Some other features to consider are the transformer rating, built-in photocell, increment timer for on/off, and multiple on/off timer.

Wire Requirements for Low Voltage Lighting

There is special wire that is sold for low voltage lighting, It is highly recommended that this wire is used. Also make sure that the wiring you choose is rated for outdoor uses. Most of the time the wire used is 12 gauge in size. If you know the layout of your lighting, you can figure out your wiring lengths at that time by simply measuring the linear distances from your transformer placement. Add a 15% for extra just to be safe.

Installation

Before even starting your project, it may help considerably to draw out a rough sketch of your lighting placement and wiring on a piece of paper. I find that writing things down puts the project firmly in mind and makes the whole thing go smoother..

Unpack your decorative outdoor lighting and place them in the designated positions in your yard. If you are extremely particular, then you can even measure the distance between your fixtures to make sure the are even and balanced.
A good guide to placement of lights is as follows:

- If you are installing path lights place them about 8 to 12 feet apart
- Always try to position the first light about 10ft. from your transformer
- If you have a pool or pond, do not place a light closer than 10 ft from it.

Run your low voltage wiring above the ground next to the fixtures according to your drawn design.
If you are going through your grass, you may need to first cut the sod and lift it. .
Now dig a trench approximately 2 to 3 inches deep along your wiring run. Bury the wiring into the dirt and leave some extra at each light fixture. Don't run the wire tight.
If required, you may need to attach a connector at some point in the wiring run so that you can also run wire back to your outlet area.
Connect your wiring to the 2 terminals on the transformer. You'll need to obviously strip the wire and attach it. Now plug the transformer into the outside outlet. .
Now you want to do the actual connections to your lights. Some lighting kits include quick fix connectors that don't make you strip wires and buy splicers etc. You'll need to look at your lights to see if this is the case. Otherwise, you'll need to buy appropriate connectors and then connect the wiring. Once connected, the light bulbs should light up.
Now you postion the low voltage lighting fixtures into their "final resting place". Make sure they are very secure so that someone who trips over them or runs into them with the lawn mower doesn't dislodge the wiring or break the light.
Finish your project by tidying up your extra wiring, burying all traces back to the transformer and securing your transformer to a wooden stake or to your home somehow so it doesn't disappear.