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Landscape Lighting
Quality Low Voltage
Landscape Lights,
Energy Efficient
LED Landscape Lights

LED Landscape Lighting

15 year warranty on all

Kichler LED landscape

fixtures

Reduce your environmental

impact

Enjoy light output equivalent

to a standard halogen lamp

Save money on energy and

lamp replacements

Landscape Lighting Layout and Determining What To Buy

Step 1: Draw a diagram.

The first step to planning a low voltage landscape lighting system is to draw a simple diagram of the property you want to light. Include an outline of the house or building then add pathways, beds, points of interest like fountains or garden art and any trees you plan to light. The drawing will help make an accurate materials list.

Step 2: Determine what fixtures to use

Flood and spot lights should be used to highlight trees and points of interest. Evenly spaced floods can also be used to up light the front of the home or building. Most flood/spot lights use an MR16 lamp which comes in many wattages and beam spreads.


Some of our most popular spot lights. Use the larger light for large trees where you need more spread.

Wash lights are used to wash the front of a building or house. They are widely used to illuminate rock walls and other landscape features. Wash lights have a reflector that creates a washing effect using a small bi pin lamp that is available in different wattages.

Well lights are used when the light source needs to be hidden from sight or recessed below ground to prevent damage due to lawn maintenance.

Path lights should be placed every 10-15 feet along walkways then spaced closer by stairs and other dangerous areas. Path and spread lights are also used to light plantings, rocks and walls from above.

Once you have determined what type of lights you will be using on your project put together a list of fixtures. Include wattage and fixture quantities.

Step 3: Choose a Transformer.
Low voltage lighting systems run on 12 volt electrical current which is safe compared to the 120 volt current running through most homes. The power is stepped down to this safe level with a transformer. Multi-tap transformers allow you to bump the voltage up for long wire runs. **Read more about voltage drop. Landscape lighting transformers are available in many sizes and colors. Some of the most commonly used sizes are 300watt, 600watt and 900watt. Choose a transformer by multiplying the quantity of each type fixture by the fixture wattage. Always leave plenty of room for expansion (we recommend 20%-30% free for future additions.)
Example: 10 path lights @ 24 watts = 240 watts 4 spot lights @ 35 watts = 140 watts 2 wash lights @ 20 watts = 40 watts 240w + 140w + 40w = 420 watts
You would need a 600 watt transformer for this project and there would be 180 watts left, which is plenty of space for future additions. All out stainless steel transformers have a lifetime warranty.

All out stainless steel transformers have a lifetime warranty.

Step 4: Choose switching.
Decide how you would like control your lights. Use a photocell to turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. A timer will turn the lights on and off at specified times. A photocell/timer combination turns lights on at dusk and off at a set time. A manual switch is another option in some situations.

Step 5: Choose your wire.

To produce professional results you will need a heavy gauge wire and strong long lasting splice kits. We recommend using 10 gauge wire for most of your runs. 10/2 wire comes by the foot or in 500ft spools. Break your system into zones making all the fixtures in close proximity to the transformer on the same wire and the fixtures further away from the transformer on different wires. We recommend not putting more than 175 watts on each 10 gauge wire run. The wire can handle more wattage than this but it’s always good to have extra room for expansion without running new wires. When calculating how much wire you need for your project add up all the wire run distances and then add an additional 25% to make sure you’ll have enough wire during install. Read more about voltage drop to understand more about wiring and multi-tap transformers.

Step 6: Choose connections and accessories.
Fixtures all come with quick connectors and most come with stakes or some means of mounting. We recommend using a direct burial splice kit for each fixture and any other splices you make. Read more about splices. If you are mounting a light on wood, concrete or other surface where an in ground stake won’t work you will need to choose other mounting accessories.

Step 7: Make a list.

Make a list of materials and double check all your quantities. You are now ready to purchase all of you materials and complete your landscape lighting project efficiently.