How to Buy Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting

Many people use low-voltage landscape lighting to give a fresh new appeal to their homes when the sun goes down. The advantage of low-voltage landscape systems is that they work on only 12 volts of electricity, as compared to the 110/120 volts in a wall plug. The low voltage means you can install these electrical lines without hiring an electrician and without paying for permits to lay out the line. With a little planning, you can set up lighting over the course of a weekend for a small to medium-sized landscape area.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Notepad
• Measuring tape

1. Draw the layout of your home and all of the areas you plan to illuminate. Start at a pathway or driveway and walk around your property, drawing as you go.

2. Measure the distances from the outdoor outlet you will use to power your line to the light locations. Write down these measurements on your drawing.

3. Write down the number of lights you will need for various trees, flowers, bushes, walls and all other areas. You can mark the light locations on your drawing.

4. Add the electrical line on your drawing to show the route you will use to get power to the lights, avoiding any obstacles you will encounter.

5. Decide on the theme or style for your project to maintain a consistent look and feel throughout your landscaping and home.

6. Count the number and types of lights you will need to complete your landscape lighting design. For example, you may need six floodlights, eight pathway lights and four garden lights.

7. Add up the total wattage of the bulbs on the line to determine the size of the transformer(s) you will need to buy.

8. Purchase the lights, transformers and more than enough electrical line to reach all of the lights.

Tips & Warnings

• Use outdoor electrical sockets closest to the areas you will light. You may have to buy two or more transformers.
• Buy a larger voltage transformer than you need at the present time so you have room for expansion in the future.
• Consider using solar lights for pathways to cut down on the number of lines you have to run.
• Try to buy a kit with everything you need (except a shovel) to set up your low-voltage landscaping lights.
• Don't forget to call 811 at least a week before you begin digging to have various utilities mark the ground for wires and pipes. Cutting through power lines is dangerous, and you may be fined.