Installing low voltage lighting is easy for any homeowner. Because this kind of landscape lighting doesn’t require any wiring, there’s no need for special electrical skills! This project can be tackled in a single afternoon, and is even easier if you are already working in your flower beds. The lighting highlights features of your yard as well as provides safety and security around your home.
Amber Oliver, of In the Loop, installed low voltage lighting in her front yard, and shows us exactly how she did it.
How to Install Low Voltage Lighting
When our giant pecan tree dropped HUGE limbs and missed our house twice, we had to remove it. (I can take a hint!) After it was removed we were left with a messy flower bed, and the front of our house was wide open; we needed some curb appeal!
After planting all new flowers and shrubs, the finishing touch we needed was outdoor lighting. We wanted a landscape lighting project we could do ourselves, so we opted for low voltage lighting we could put in without calling an electrician.
Materials and Tools
- Low Voltage Outdoor Light Kit
- Low Voltage Transformer
- Low Voltage Cable
- Drill
- Wall Anchors and Screws
- ¼ in. Drill Bit
- Shovel
Step 1: Unpack Your Materials
The lights will come disassembled, so your first step is to put them together.
Screw the top and bottom of your light together.
Next, screw the stakes into the bottom
Step 2: Install the Transformer
Decide where you want the transformer. It needs to be mounted off the ground near an electrical outlet. We put ours on the wall on the corner of the front porch, close to the wall outlet. It could easily be hidden by a potted plant.
Mark the holes for the mounting screws, then drill holes for the anchors.
Our transformer came with a handy paper template that helped us mark where to drill.
Press your anchors into place.
Then insert screws to mount your transformer
Step 3: Decide Where the Fixtures Will Go
Layout your fixtures and decide where you want them placed. We placed the flood lights so they’d point up at a tree then spaced the path lights around the front of our flower beds. Make sure the first light is at least 10 feet from the transformer
Step 4: Lay the Cable
To connect the lights to the cable, open the cable connectors and attach by pressing together to lock.
It’s that simple!
Step 5: Bury the Cable
We had one section we had to run under the grass so we used the shovel to cut a trench, bury the cable, and then lay the grass back over it.
The far end of the cable (the one not attached to the transformer) can simply be cut and buried. Leave about 12 in. of cable after the last fixture and bury.
Step 6: Attach the Cable to the Transformer
Prepare the cable to attach to the transformer. Use the wire cutters to remove the insulation.
Refer to the strip length guide that came with the transformer. Note: if you use a different kit or add lights, consult the package to ensure you are using the correct transformer and cabling
To connect the cable to the transformer, lay the transformer on a flat surface. You’ll insert one end of the wire you stripped under the terminal clamping plate marked “COM” and the second to the voltage tap (depends on which cable you used) then tighten the screw.
Gently pull on the cable to ensure the connection. Also, make sure there is no insulation under the clamping plate!
Step 7: Plug the Transformer In
After you’ve attached the cable to the transformer hang it up and plug it in. Let there be light! There are different options you can set to control when the lights come on and off. Consult the user guide for the different options!
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