Exterior lighting is a practical addition to any landscape design. Low voltage lights that mark pathways and outdoor stairs make it safer and are an effective deterrent for would-be intruders, and task lights make it easier to enjoy a late evening barbecue on the patio. But outdoor lighting is not just about safety and function. Outdoor lighting has an equally important role to play as a decorative element.
Ornamental lighting or "accent lighting" can be used in many different ways. Spotlights create interesting focal points by calling attention to one specific feature, like a tree, bush or water feature, while backlights produce silhouettes and outlines. A good landscape design generally incorporates many types of accent lighting that provides the home with amazing curb appeal long after the sun goes down.
To install outdoor lighting you will need: A low voltage light kit, wire strippers and a square ended shovel.
Designing With Light
When you are designing a lighting plan, keep in mind that decorative or "accent lighting" should be used judiciously. A few well placed lights will add depth, shadows and highlights to your landscaping, where too much light will make it look like a carnival.
The key to good lighting is to leave some areas in shadows. Carefully consider which features you want to highlight, and use subtle light to draw the eye through the landscape to see it rather than lighting up the entire yard. Another thing that must be considered is that when the lights are on outdoors, at night they will visible through the house windows, so they should not be too overpowering.
Low Voltage Lighting
Most outdoor lighting is low voltage and operates on 12 volts. Most systems consist of low voltage electrical cable, a transformer, and the lights themselves. The transformer must be plugged into an outdoor electrical outlet protected with a ground fault circuit interrupter ( GFCI ) that has been fitted with a plastic cover. The transformer cuts down the 120-volt house current and converts it to 12-volts.
Installing Outdoor Lighting
Low voltage lighting kits are available at almost all home centers and come in a variety of sizes and styles.The installation of outdoor lighting is an easily manageable job for any do-it-yourselfer provided there is an existing outdoor power source. If your project requires extensive electrical work or you are planning an extensive lighting scheme, you should probably consider hiring an electrician or contractor for the electrical installation.
Step #1
Place the lamps on the ground at their intended location and run the wires beside them. Low voltage wires do not have to be buried, they can stay on top of the ground and be covered with mulch or other ground cover, but if they could present a tripping problem or be easily damaged, they should be buried.
Step #2
Using a square mouth shovel, remove a 12" section of lawn along where you have put your lights and fold it back. Dig a 3" deep ditch in the soil for the wires. fold the sod back down, making a slit in the sod where each lamp will go and pull a loop of wire through.
Step#3
Using wire strippers, strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of two wires. Loop the stripped ends around the two terminals on the transformer and tighten the screws. Plug the transformer into an outdoor outlet that has a ground fault circuit interrupter.
Step #4
Make the electrical connections for the lights with the transformer turned on (there is no danger because of the low voltage) to make sure that each lamp is working. Open the connector hanging from the bottom of each lamp and slip it over the wire. Press the connector through until you feel it click into place.
