Landscape lighting can be used to meet a variety of needs, including adding visibility to walk ways, showcasing special elements of a landscape and even contributing to the mood for a space. The fixtures themselves are rarely what is meant to be showcased, which is why most landscape lighting fixtures are designed to be hidden. Landscape lighting can be installed by hand with the right tools and some basic know how.

Assemble Fixtures

Assemble chosen lighting fixtures, inserting appropriate bulbs. Never touch halogen light bulbs with bare hands as the oils present in skin can shorten the bulbs' lifespan. Follow manufacturer instructions to ensure that lighting fixtures operate properly. The manufacturer's directions may also give insight regarding design for landscape lighting to get the most out of the system.

Assemble Design

Create a landscape lighting design that creates aesthetic appeal by hiding lighting fixtures behind shrubbery and other outdoor items. Once the fixtures have been assembled properly, set them in the desired places based on the design plan. When lights are hidden among the landscaping, the light itself is showcased rather than the lighting fixture.

Run Cables

Run cables between lighting fixtures and the transformer. Lay the transformer on the ground rather than mounting it right away. Ensure that there is at least 5 feet of slack near the transformer and run cables loosely to each of the fixtures based on the design layout for all of the fixtures. Once cables are run, use a direct burial splice connector to join each of the lighting fixtures with the cable. A hub system may be used to centralize all cable spices, making maintenance and troubleshooting easier. Connect each wire to the main transformer before the transformer has been mounted on the wall.

Check Layout

Plug the transformer in and check the layout and the lights. Make sure all of the lights are working properly. A volt meter can be used to determine what volt tap to use for different light fixtures to get the best effect. Once satisfied with the quality of the lighting job, mount the transformer to an exterior wall, ensuring that it is at least a foot off the ground. Now is the time to adjust angles and fixtures as needed, straightening out cables and aligning everything properly. When night falls, go out and check the layout again to make sure that everything is OK.

Source:

Landscape Lighting World