7 Things to Consider Before Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Installation

Landscape lighting can add a touch of magic to any property, and low voltage systems are a great way to achieve that effect without breaking the bank. But before the low voltage landscape lighting installation, there are a few things you should consider. Here are seven:

1. Unobstructed access to line ends: Even when buried, low voltage lighting systems can be difficult to service if they’re installed where grass and branches will grow over the heads of the fixtures. If you plan to add more lights later or want easy access for pruning or other maintenance activities, you should consider relocating the system.
2. Low voltage transformer spacing: Spacing between low voltage transformers is a matter of personal preference and site-specific conditions (typical transformer-to-transformer spacing varies from 1/4 mile to 3/8 mile). The main thing to keep in mind is that your design should allow for future expansion; if you use too much spacing today, it may not accommodate the addition of new fixtures in the future.
3. Err on the side of caution when determining where to place fixtures: Outdoor exploration with a power source can be dangerous, but it’s also necessary if you want to determine where to place individual fixtures (or groups of fixtures). If you don’t plan to read this book cover-to-cover during design and installation, err on the side of placing your lights in relatively open areas rather than in tight spots or in less visible areas. You can always install more lights later if needed.
4. Avoid light pollution: Darkness is one of the great benefits of low voltage landscape lighting, so avoid installing luminaires too close together – opt for gaps between each fixture instead. Also, keep luminaire wattage down to whatever you can get away with (consult the luminaire manufacturers for guidance on this). When in doubt, err on the side of smaller-sized fixtures to ensure maximum darkness.
5. Make low voltage lighting part of your landscape design: Low voltage lights are not simply about function; they’re also about form and adding beauty to any property. So use low voltage lighting as another design tool to complement your plant material selection, water features, and outdoor living areas like patios, decks, or pools.
6. Pick a convenient wiring system: Power is at its most convenient when it’s installed along existing paths, so keep power cables together in one location if at all possible before spreading them out across the landscape. To do this, you’ll need to know where the power source is located, so measure from this location to all of your light locations before you decide on a wiring system.
7. Schedule regular maintenance: No matter how careful you are, you’ll likely have to clean or replace bulbs and batteries from time to time, so create a property landscape lighting maintenance schedule that includes note-taking for each light fixture and replacement parts storage areas. This will allow you to keep your low-voltage landscape lights in tip-top condition year after year.