10 Easy Steps to Install Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting
10 Easy Steps to Install Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting
Low-voltage outdoor lighting is perfect for highlighting key features of your landscape and it provides a secure, easy to install outdoor lighting solution for homeowners, which makes it such a safe and effortless home addition.
Well, you can enjoy the beauty of your landscape, especially after sunset with the help of low voltage lighting. Interested in knowing the installation process for low voltage outdoor lighting? Here is the step by step instruction that you can follow to install your low-voltage outdoor lighting.
What is Low Voltage?
Low voltage means low risk! For example – using a transformer, you can lower your home’s 120-volt electric power-supply down to a meagre 12 volts, which not only makes it simple to work with but also safer for DIY (Do It Yourself) installations for homeowners.
Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting Installation Steps
1. Buy the Low-Voltage Lighting Kits
Buy low-voltage lighting kits from electrical stores or home improvement stores located near you that are available in various sizes, styles and colours. Usually, they include an array of low-voltage lights, low-voltage cables and a transformer that can turn household current into the low-voltage current. Shred the ends of the low-voltage power cable and connect them to the terminals on the transformer.
- Buying Considerations for Lighting Systems
- Buy a transformer having more capacity than you first estimated, which will assist you to add lights later as your landscape widens or you may get a bit more creative.
- Suppose, you’re installing overall 600-watts of low voltage outdoor lighting, then you should buy 900-watts transformer to be on the safer side.
- Outdoor lights look good as accents, spreading out pools of light; however, be cautious and avoid over lighting.
- When planning your landscape’s low voltage lighting installation, you should take into account seasonal factors as well. Ideally, you should install lights where they won’t be damaged easily by shovels or plough-blades. Moreover, certain plants such as sumac and hydrangea bushes having colourful stems look fantastic when they are lit up even when they don’t have any leaves.
2. Safety Comes First
First and the foremost requirement is you ought to have a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet where you should plug in the transformer. And it is critical to install it outside where you intend to have the lights.
3. Arrange & Spread-out the Lights
Now, it’s time to arrange the lights exactly where you want to install them. Please note that it’s simple to make alterations at this point rather than after they are installed. Just let the wire remain on the ground and ensure everything is where you exactly want it.
Once you position and mount up the transformer, next you need to plan for the layout. As per the style of the light, you can assemble it and insert it into the ground or push the base into the ground and then screw the light onto the base.
4. Switch ON the Power & Make the Final Adjustments at Night
Some lights have changeable shades that assist guiding the light onto particular areas. Attach the light by fastening the wires to the power cable. Switch ON the power to inspect the electrical connections, and make the final fine-tuning at night.
While most of the lights have to be assembled, it’s simple to put them together. Begin by moving the wires from the light assemblage via the riser base and fasten the stake. It’s time to insert the light bulb and then connect the lens and cover.
5. Positioning, Securing & Shielding the Transformer
Decide how many lights you’ll require and where they should be positioned. Then spot the power source that should be an outdoor GFCI outlet and decide what other electrical devices are charged by it. Avoid overloading the circuit.
Install the transformer on the wall close to the power source (close to your GFCI outlet, mounting it at least one foot above the ground level). When connecting the transformer to a brick wall, you need to drill mounting holes with a masonry tool and put lead or plastic anchors inside the holes to guarantee a secure installation.
If you aren’t able to mount the transformer to the wall; alternatively, you can push a 3-inch stake into the ground close to the GFCI outlet – install the transformer to the stake at least one-inch over the ground.
6. Time to Dig
Once you’re happy with the positioning, it’s time to dig hollow for the cable. If you have low voltage landscape lighting then it only needs a shallow dugout and can also be left above the ground if you so desire, but remember, it may put your wiring in danger from your lawn equipment.
7. Connect the Cable & Program Your Outdoor Lighting Installation
Connect the power cable to the terminals on the transformer and mount the transformer. Once you plug in the cables, set the timer to the “ON” position to test the lights. If all the lights are coming on, then set the timer for the hours you desire the lights to switch ON and OFF. Subsequently, go around the lights and hide the cable.
8. Conceal the Wire
Later in the evening, make final alterations as needed and hide cables the next day.
9. Weatherproofing the Outdoor Lighting
While the outdoor lighting feature is in use, have a plastic cover for the outdoor outlet to shield it from rain and other weather conditions, yet facilitating ease of use.
10. Cherish your Handiwork
Your outdoor landscape lighting is all set and you can start enjoying it and cherish your handiwork.
Get Professional Help for Installing Outdoor Lighting
Are you baffled over installing low-voltage landscape lighting in your home’s outer lawn/yard area or don’t want to perform the installation yourself? Well, get in touch with a certified local electrician in Sydney who will install the low-voltage outdoor lighting in your home.
