Installing outdoor lighting along a path in your yard, or to accent a flower garden adds panache and safety. While such lighting systems may look complicated, they're really pretty simple to install. Gertens carries a wide variety of lighting options and styles to choose from including Cast Lighting, Kichler Lighting, Unique Lighting, and Moonrays Lighting. Check 'em out to see which styles suit your style!
Make sure your lights and cables are well placed and sturdy, and that your cable is buried deep enough to prevent accidents
Planning your project:
- Measuring tape
- Rope or string
- Determine the number and placement of the lights.
- Measure the distance from the closest exterior outlet to the first light, and so on along a course that includes all your lights.
- Add up the distances so you'll know how much cable you need. Most kits come with 50 feet of wire but you'll probably need more.
- If you're math-impaired, just run a piece of rope along the whole course and measure.
Materials needed to set up the lights:
- Exterior lights
- Low-voltage cable
- Transformer
- All-weather cover for outlet
- Rubber mallet
- Spade or flat shovel
- Mulch or sod
The installation:
- After buying the lights, hook up the low-voltage cables to the transformer that comes with them, then plug the wires into the electrical outlet. (If the set does not include a storm-weather cover for the outlet, make sure to buy and install one.)
- Thread the cable between the various lights and connect each one by combining the connectors around the cable.
- Switch on the lights and make sure they actually work. If the bulbs seem a little dimmer as you move farther from the house, that's natural, because the voltage dissipates; sometimes, though, you'll need to use a higher-voltage cable to get ample illumination.
- Once everything seems to be working, plant the lights firmly in the ground using a rubber mallet.
- Carefully cover the cable by digging a narrow slit in your landscape or simply throwing mulch over the wire to prevent tripping or cutting it with a lawn mower.
Stop by or give our Landscape Projects Desk a call at 651-239-1315
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!
