A Guide To Installing Landscape Lighting

Adding landscape lighting to your property is a great way to enhance the look of your outdoor spaces and illuminate them for safety. Outdoor lighting around the home also improves a  property's security and helps homeowners get more use of their backyard and patio areas. At Max Warehouse, you can find everything you need to help make your led lighting installation process easier and faster. Here are some tips for installing this type of lighting around your property.

Choose Your Style of Landscape Lighting

The first step to having a gorgeous, well-lit outdoor space is to choose the type of lighting you want to install. There are different installation techniques with each type of lighting option. There are also different reasons to choose one style over another. Here are the three common types of LED lighting for outdoor spaces that homeowners can install themselves:

• Solar Lighting – If you want a lighting option that doesn't require wiring or a complicated installation process, solar is it. Solar lights use the power of the sun to stay charged and illuminate your property.

• Line Voltage Lighting – Line voltage lights require a detailed installation process. They must be hardwired into the property's electrical lines and also require a junction box.

• Low Voltage Landscape Lighting – Low voltage lighting can be installed with a GFCI outlet. Homeowners can take on the task of placing each spot light around the property and installing the outlet box to take advantage of the energy efficiency and look of this style of lighting.

Use Solar Lighting

The easiest and quickest lighting system to install for your outdoor space is a solar lighting system. Solar lights are a good choice if you don't want to deal with electrical systems and wiring around your yard. They are also an option for spaces in your yard that aren't convenient to electrical outlets. Solar lights are perfect for lighting pathways around the yard, walkways to the property, or gardening and flower bed areas.

To get the most out of a solar light system, it's essential for the lights to get enough sunlight each day. Solar lights work best if they get between six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. When placing solar lights, avoid putting them in areas that are covered by trees or shrubs. Keep the spaces around the solar lights trimmed and free of growth to give the solar cells inside of the lighting system a direct line to the sun. Here are the easy steps for assembling and installing solar lights:

• Take off the cover on the solar battery and put the light component back together.

• Attach the rest of the lighting components together and ensure the stake is secure to the bottom.

• Let the lights charge outside in direct sunlight for 12 to 14 hours before placing them.

• Choose a spot in the yard where the soil is soft or use water to loosen up the dirt.

• Insert the lights by placing the stake into the ground. Align the lights evenly around the outdoor space.

Connect Line Voltage Lighting 

Line voltage lighting is another way to get gorgeous lights around your property. This project is an advanced job, so it's important to have some background working with electrical systems, have a contractor friend help or hire a professional to complete this task. 

If you have the knowledge and skills to install this type of lighting system, you'll also need to have a variety of electrical tools available. In some locales, you may also need to get an electrical permit to do the work required for line voltage lights, so check with your neighborhood or town. Be sure to turn off the power through the circuit breaker before doing any electrical work. Here are the other steps required for line voltage lights:

• Choose the spots where you want the lighting to be in your outdoor space. Then, determine the location of the outdoor light switch to operate the lights.

• Measure from the lighting location to the light switch and from the light switch to the electrical circuit breaker inside of your home. Purchase enough electrical wire and other supplies to cover the distance from the lights to the circuit breaker.

• Put the wire in a trench that is at least 18 inches deep. Drill a hole in the wall to feed the wire into the house.

• Install the light switch and run the wire to the GFCI circuit breaker. Wire the light switch according to the directions on the package.

• Schedule an electrical inspection to have someone from your region look over the work and approve of it. Bury the electrical wire after the inspection has passed.

Install Low Voltage Lights

If you want to use low voltage lights, the installation process is not as involved as line voltage but requires more steps than solar. To make this system work, you'll need to install an outdoor-rated GFCI outlet. You may need to have some power tools on hand to complete the installation:

• First, install a transformer near the GFCI outlet against the property. If that's not possible, you can place the transformer next to your home using wooden stakes.

• Connect conductors for the lights into the transformer using the manufacturer's directions.

• Buy a low voltage light kit and put the components together according to the package's directions.

• Place the fixtures for the lights in and around the outdoor spaces.

• Use the cable from the transformer to connect to the lights.

• Give yourself some slack when connecting the wiring to each light. Use wiring tools, electrical tape and connectors to connect the lights to the wiring system.

• After turning on the transformer and testing the lights, bury the cable.

You can design a beautiful lighting system for your outdoor areas. Create the landscaping system of your dreams with these lighting tips and start enjoying the outdoors with your loved ones today!