Installing outdoor lighting is an effective way to enhance your curb appeal. You might be wondering what wattage should landscape lights be or any light essential to know the differences between the high and low voltage in order to give your home a high-end outward appearance while making your room appear bigger from the inside after sunset. Follow along with this tutorial on how to install outdoor lighting to improve your home’s exterior.
How Do You Install Outdoor Landscape Lights?
Of course, begin at a home improvement store or a landscape supply store to purchase everything you will require to install your outdoor lighting. Some people will ask for assistance to Spring TX commercial electrical repair to connect the wires correctly. There are some of the supplies you will need for outdoor lighting installation include:
– Powerpack/ multi-tap transformer
– Landscape lighting wire
– Waterproof wire connectors
– Wire stripper
– Wirecutter
– Landscape lights with stakes. LED lights are a preferable option since they are cooler to the touch, are much less costly to operate, and last forever.
The first step is to plan out your entire lighting layout. Utilize a diagram or simply layout the main wire on the ground to plan out the placement of every light, and to ensure that you have the correct lengths. Also, this is an ideal time to determine how far away from every object(fence, wall, plant, etc.) or how do you hide cords outside or usually how do you hide landscape lights. These are one of the things you need to determine to place each light untangled. Remember that the farther away from a subject your light will be, the wider the beam will look, but the light will be dimmer.
Place the light fixtures where you need them to be. Begin at the position you expect your transformer to be, then lay out the mainline running past the spots where every light will be connected.
Generally, there are various techniques for connecting your outdoor lights onto the mainline, for example, crimp-on quick connectors. However, the experts say the ideal way to ensure they never malfunction is to use wire connectors, especially the ones that are waterproof and silicone-filled.
Cut the main feed cable when there’s a light, and pull the ends apart approximately 6 inches down, and then strip off the ends. Take one end from the three wires, then twist your copper wire together. Ensure to twist the wire in a similar direction like twisting on the connector. Next, twist on the connector until it becomes really tight. Repeat the step with the other three wires using a different connector.
As of now, you should have two connectors and three wires originating from each. Hammer in your stakes where you want your outdoor landscape lighting to be. In case the stakes are plastic, use a scrap piece of wood to avoid cracking the stakes. The depth you pound those stakes in will directly affect the light’s height once you install it.
Attach the lights to the stakes
Prepare trenches to bury all your cable. For those who have mulch or rock, it only requires to run underneath such that it is not exposed to the wrong elements, or perhaps causes someone to trip. In case you’re laying your particular outdoor lighting cable underground, dig a trench around 2-3 inches deep with a square edge shovel, then push the wire into the trench’s bottom and cover.
Attach the main line’s end to the transformer. If you’re using a multi-tap transformer, you’ll have two main lines to attach. However, you may only have one based on the transformer you purchase, and how wide your outdoor landscape lighting layout is.
Next, mount your transformer depending on specs. In most cases, at least 12 in. of the ground.
Now you’re done with installing your outdoor landscape lights. What a difference! Undoubtedly, you’ll love how they highlight your landscape, as well as adding security to your yard. You can even adjust your lights to the desired angle and position at night, allowing you to view the full effect.