Landscape Lighting

[MudHog]

Anyone in the know on this stuff? Needing some pointers on what to look for on the transformer. What's the magnetic power I'm seeing on some transformers? Which is better 12, 14 or 24 volts.

[landscaper]

I've installed a few, but I'm no expert, and I don't know much about electricity, but the one's I've fooled with were 12v systems. They're safe and easy to fool with because you can wire them while they're hot. I don't think it is recommended, but I've never even felt a tingle out of one.

I do know that you want to buy the best system you can afford. I like Vista and Nightscapes. The ones from the home improvement stores seem to be getting better in quality, but still come up really short in my opinion. Go ahead and get a bigger transformer than you need now, too, because the more lights you add the more dark spots you create. So, you'll find yourself wanting to add more lights later.

[landscaper]

Oh, and don't put all your light inline. If you do the one closest to the transformer will be really bright and the one farthest away will be really dim. Run a wire from the transformer to the middle of a run of lights and splice in a tee there. Then put half the light on one side of the tee and half on the other. Depending on you configuration you may also wind up needing to tee the tees if that makes any since.

[MudHog]

Thanks.

I'm thinking around (10) 10w lights, all Bollard or the 3-Tier lights, for landscape lights. I don't have anything really worth spot lighting, unless I put one on my Bradford Pear tree. Then I'm thinking 2-4 lights for my steps. Then at most on add some deck lights later.

I'm more just trying to illuminate the outside around my deck than do full on landscape lighting to accent features and such.

[cockandlock25]

I've installed a few, but I'm no expert, and I don't know much about electricity, but the one's I've fooled with were 12v systems. They're safe and easy to fool with because you can wire them while they're hot. I don't think it is recommended, but I've never even felt a tingle out of one.

I do know that you want to buy the best system you can afford. I like Vista and Nightscapes. The ones from the home improvement stores seem to be getting better in quality, but still come up really short in my opinion. Go ahead and get a bigger transformer than you need now, too, because the more lights you add the more dark spots you create. So, you'll find yourself wanting to add more lights later.

+1. I don't recommend the solar lights from Home Depots and Lowes. I think it would be worth your time and money to go with some of the more expensive systems on wires like Nightscapes.

[MudHog]

100% wired light for sure. Not even considering the solar thing. I'm running electrical and water to my deck this weekend, so I'm starting to look at the low voltage lighting now.

I looked on Lowes and they have Portfolio and SeaGull with SG being the higher priced and assuming the higher quality of the two. As mentioned I'm not trying to light up a 4 acre front yard. My beds are only 16' x 2' on each side of my deck and then 8' x 8' around my bradford pear which is only 10' from the deck itself. I've been thinking about the SeaGull one as I'm not trying to buy the cheapest stuff.


Question: Is the low voltage wiring REALLY that expensive? 100' is $132!!!!!!!

[landscaper]

Yep! Used to buy a 50' roll of 9ga direct bury wire for around $90.

By the way, if your lights come with the connectors that you push through the coating on the main wire and crimp together cut them off and throw them away! Get some grease packed weather proof wire nuts and splice all your connections!

[MudHog]

This is better, much better.

Sea Gull wiring must be with gold instead of copper. Looked more on Lowes and found some 250' of 12/2 low voltage direct burial for $52.

[LostBoy]

Dont do solar.

If i am gonna get my lazy booty out and dig aroud to lay low voltage cable then I am gonna do it right. Kichler brand. Sometimes you can get a converter/timer box on ebay, roll of wire and buy individual lights you need.