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Landscape Light Installation - The Facts

Without any significant electrical experience I went on the search for easy to set up reduced voltage landscape lights. Low voltage landscape lights are powered via a transformer, that affixes to the wire, that reduces the voltage from regular 120 volts to 12 volts.


I constantly assumed I 'd need to dig ditches and run all sort of wires however the reduced voltage outdoor spotlights that I located were so easy to set up. Half an hour was all it required to give our cottage an enchanting glow in the evening. I ordered 2 of these light kits for the front of our house.


I possibly can have gotten by with fewer lights however the 4 light collection was the smallest one available. When I began looking for outdoor spotlights my initial priority was to find something that was easy for me to set up and connection. After I narrowed down my choices I looked for lights that had excellent evaluations.






When I got them and laid the lights out I recognized the 3 and 3 configuration would not work. Even though I obtained a whole lot of wire with the set, I would certainly have had to dig under the walkway in order to hide the wire.

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Bear in mind, I desired this to be simple with no excavating and no rewiring. While I identified a repair I simply mounted all 6 by the guest room to see how they would look. A quick word of caution. Although we are just plugging in lights it is very important to be risk-free and utilize caution when collaborating with electrical energy.


I simply stuck the risk right into the ground and adjusted the light. There was a black wire that ran to each limelight so I rolled up the extra from each light and connection covered it using the black twist tie that came with the set.


When the cables were buried I plugged the spotlights into my outside extension cable, that is plugged in to an outlet on the house. To make points also much easier I also utilized a timer. Now the landscape lights switch on and off automatically at set times each night. As soon as the sun collection and my lights turned on I went outside and adjusted them to hit the front of your house.


Like I said, the smallest collection I can obtain was 4 lights so that's what I bought. Once they arrived I installed them following the same steps as the first collection of lights. Actually, a super straightforward way to add a gorgeous glow to your home. I moved here must have done it 5 years back.

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


# 10 gauge exterior cable # 12 scale outdoor cable 1-1/2 in. x 12-in. PVC pipeline 1-1/2-in. PVC cap with -in. female string -in. copper pipeline For every ground light: 1-1/2-in. PVC coupler with -in. tee for wire opening Lighting One box of weatherproof cable adapters Transformer 2 -in. sweat-to string copper adapters Expansion ladder Garden rake Degree Posthole digger Shatterproof glass Voltage tester Cable stripper/cutter Wrench setvolt me Volt meter A yard spade Light weight aluminum tent her response risks.


Mount lights where they won't be easily damaged by rakes or shovels (Landscape Light Installation). Not all plants must be evergreens, some plants such as hydrangea, dogwoods and sumac are intriguing lit up even when leafless.


It's a cost-free service and you'll prevent unsafe and expensive surprises. Use 10-gauge cable for the main lines from the transformer to where the lights begin, then change to 12-gauge wire in between the lights. To hide the cords where they go across the lawn, use a flat-nosed shovel to cut a slot and fold back the sod.

Landscape Light Installation Fundamentals Explained

Given that the transformer will certainly always be plugged in, you should replace the conventional electrical outlet cover with an in-use weatherproof cover, readily available at a lot of major home enhancement centers and hardware shops. The ground risks that include many vertical lighting fixtures are not strong enough (or go deep enough) to keep them good and straight in time with changing soil problems, disintegration, etc.


Making use of the PVC pipeline, construct and hide a footer that will house the cord links and sustain your pole navigate to this site expansions (advised to be constructed from 1/2- inch copper pipeline). Connect the cords 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 certain where to start with landscaping lights, you're in the appropriate location! Below is our useful outside lighting guide, where we will certainly stroll through where to position landscape lighting, what types of lights to utilize, and how to utilize light for the ideal effect.

Landscape Light Installation Fundamentals Explained

Set up lights where they will not be quickly harmed by plows or shovels. Not all plants must be evergreens, some plants such as hydrangea, dogwoods and sumac are intriguing lit up also when leafless.


It's a cost-free solution and you'll stay clear of dangerous and costly shocks. Usage 10-gauge cord for the primary lines from the transformer to where the lights start, then change to 12-gauge cable in between the lights. To bury the wires where they cross the lawn, make use of a flat-nosed shovel to cut a slot and layer back the turf.


Because the transformer will always be plugged in, you need to replace the standard electrical outlet cover with an in-use weatherproof cover, offered at many major home enhancement centers and hardware stores. The ground risks that include many vertical lighting components are not strong enough (or go deep sufficient) to keep them nice and straight gradually with altering soil problems, erosion, and so on.


Utilizing the PVC pipe, construct and hide a footer that will certainly house the cable connections and sustain your pole extensions (recommended to be constructed from 1/2- inch copper pipeline). Link the cables with weatherproof wire adapters. These cable adapters have a shield under and a blob of sealer inside that make them weatherproof.

Some Known Factual Statements About Landscape Light Installation

If you're not sure where to start with landscaping lights, you're in the ideal area! Below is our useful outdoor illumination overview, where we will certainly stroll via where to place landscape lighting, what types of lights to utilize, and exactly how to make use of light for the ideal result - Landscape Light Installation.