Imagine stepping outside in the evening and being greeted by a beautifully lit yard, a space that feels warm, inviting, and most especially, safe. That’s the magic of landscape lighting! Not only does it highlight the beauty of your home and garden, but it also keeps pathways visible and deters unwanted visitors.
Now, whether you’re looking to brighten up your outdoor entertaining areas or simply make your property safer at night, let’s look at how to install this landscape lighting and achieve your desired goals.
Before getting to that, we’ll look at the different types of landscape lighting and how to install all of them individually. Let’s get started!
Types of Landscape Lighting
Ordinarily, landscape lighting comes in 3 different types and they include - solar landscape lighting, line voltage landscape lighting, and low voltage landscape lighting. Here’s what you should know about each of them:
- Solar Landscape Lighting
As the name implies, solar landscape lighting is an easy way to brighten up your outdoor spaces with just the sun as your power source. No electricity is needed. These lights work by capturing energy from sunlight during the day and using it to illuminate your yard, garden, or pathways at night. It's like having a mini solar panel system for your outdoor lights.
These landscape lights come in different styles, from simple walkway lights to decorative strands of bulbs, but the feature that holds all of them together is the presence of small solar panels that power the light. The best part? They help reduce your electricity bill and make installation a breeze since there's no need for wiring or plugging into an outlet.
- Line Voltage Landscape Lighting
Line voltage landscape lighting, also known as 120V or high voltage lighting, is typically used for larger areas like parking lots, outdoor security lighting, or big landscapes that need powerful lighting.
These lights are large, bright, and designed to cover wide areas, which is why it’s not usually ideal for the average homeowner. It also requires professional installation by an electrician. The cables must be buried deep (around 6 inches) and enclosed in conduit to prevent hazards.
- Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
If you want to add beauty and safety to your outdoor space without the hassle or high cost of traditional systems, then low-voltage landscape lighting is for you. These lights, such as the eufy Outdoor Spotlights, operate on a low voltage, which makes them much safer and easier to install. You don’t need to be an electrician, and there’s no need to bury the cables deeply. The eufy Spotlights offer vibrant RGB colors and tunable white LEDs with up to 500 lumens of brightness, enhancing the beauty of outdoor areas effectively.
Additionally, the eufy Outdoor Pathway Lights can be linked with eufy cameras to enhance security, emitting different lights when people are detected. Essentially, setting up your lights is a simple DIY project. Also, since there’s a lower risk of electrical shocks, it’s a great choice for homes with kids or pets, and works well in wet conditions, making it reliable for outdoor use in all kinds of weather. Both products are durable, weatherproof, and easy to install, making them an excellent addition to any low-voltage landscape lighting setup.
How to Install Solar Landscape Lighting?
Truly, adding solar landscape lights to your yard is a simple and cost-effective way to enhance your outdoor space. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the landscape lighting installation process:
- Step 1. First, charge the lights. Place them in a sunny area for about 12 to 14 hours to fully power the batteries
- Step 2. Now, decide where you want to place the lights. Ensure you choose a spot that receives plenty of sunlight during the day for easy charging.
- Step 3. Some solar lights come with stakes that need to be inserted into the soil. If that’s the case, prepare the ground for that. You should also clear debris and any obstacles on the way.
- Step 4. If it’s path lights with stakes, simply insert the stakes. Other lights may need brackets or screws. Just follow the manufacturer’sinstructions to secure their placement.
- Step 5. Finally, test your lights and make any necessary adjustments.
How to Install Line Voltage Landscape Lighting?
Installing these kinds of outdoor lights generally requires a professional electrician, especially for the sake of safety. That said, here are the requirements to check off when installing landscape lighting:
- Step 1. Before you start, contact your local building codes department to understand installation compliance requirements and obtain necessary permits.
- Step 2. Decide where you want to install the outdoor line voltage lighting system and contact local utility companies to locate any underground cables and pipes before digging.
- Step 3. When burying the wiring, use PVC conduit to protect them to ensure all connections are solvent-welded together for a continuous run. Also, use a PVC-sheathed cable that spans no more than 10 feet between buildings. For longer spans, support the cable with tensioned support wire and cable buckles.
- Step 4. Ensure the cable is grounded to the house’s main grounding point and maintains a minimum height of 12 feet above the ground over paths and 17 feet over driveways.
- Step 5. Mount the lighting fixtures securely at the designated points along the route. Use weatherproof junction boxes for any connections that need to be made above ground, ensuring all fixtures are properly sealed against moisture.
- Step 6. Once everything is installed, connect the system to the power supply and test all the lights to ensure they are working correctly and that they are well-positioned to light up the intended areas.
How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lighting?
Installing landscape lights of this kind isn’t such a hard one to crack. As long as you have the right fixtures, you can get it done just like a professional electrician. Here’s how to install landscape lighting using the eufy Outdoor Spotlights E10 as an example:
- Step 1. Determine the best locations for your eufy Outdoor Spotlights E10 to optimize illumination. It's recommended to place them 2 to 4 inches away from any wall or feature you want to highlight. Ensure the area where each spotlight will be placed is clean and clear of debris.
- Step 2. Secure each spotlight using the stakes provided. For hard surfaces, alternative mounting options such as screws may be necessary. Adjust the position of each spotlight to ensure even lighting coverage around corners and over different sections of your landscape.
- Step 3. Identify the nearest power source for connecting your spotlights. Lay out the power cables, using cable clips to secure them along the path discreetly. Connect the lights to the power source, checking that each light powers on and functions as expected.
- Step 4. Then, download the Eufy Life app and select "Add Smart Lights" to begin adding your spotlights. Follow the app instructions to connect the spotlights to your Wi-Fi network, enabling control via the app or Bluetooth.
- Step 5. Once all spotlights are connected and functioning, make any final positional adjustments to optimize the lighting effect. Check all cables and connections to ensure there are no loose sections or potential safety hazards.
Conclusion
To sum it up, installing landscape outdoor lights can greatly improve the beauty and safety of your outdoor spaces. Whether you choose solar, low voltage, or line voltage lighting, each type has its own advantages. Solar lights are easy to set up and eco-friendly, while low voltage lighting is perfect for DIY projects, offering flexibility and safety. Line voltage lighting works well for larger areas but needs a professional for installation due to its complexity and safety requirements. Now that you’ve understood how to install landscape lighting, go ahead and turn your outdoor area into a beautiful, warm, and cozy place for relaxation.
FAQs
How deep should landscape lighting wires be buried?
Landscape lighting wires should be buried in a trench that is 6 inches deep. To create this trench, use a thin, sharp spade. This tool helps you dig an angled trench quickly.
Can I install landscape lighting myself?
You can only install solar landscape lighting and low-voltage landscape lighting since the setup is easy. However, for line voltage landscape lighting which requires more complex wiring and connections, you need a licensed electrician to ensure everything is done safely and correctly.
What type of landscape lighting is easiest to install?
Solar landscape lighting is the easiest to install as it requires no wiring or electrical knowledge. Simply place the lights where desired, and they'll charge using sunlight. This makes them ideal for DIY projects, offering flexibility in placement and minimizing installation time.
