FAQs Category: Landscape Lighting

Using a timer and photocell to control your lights gives users the most flexibility by allowing the photocell to turn on the lights in the dark and then turning them off at a certain time at night. For example, the timer could be set to come on at 4:00 pm.  Since it is still light outside, the photocell would not let the lights turn on.  As soon as it gets dark, the photocell allows the lights to turn on.  The timer then could be set to turn the lights off at a certain time that night.  

Multi-volt or multi-tap lighting transformers allow for multiple voltage outputs to compensate for voltage drop going out to the light fixtures.  It is essential that halogen landscape light bulbs operate between 10.8 to 12 volts AC.  Multi-volt landscape lighting transformers allow users to choose between various voltage taps to ensure the proper voltage is supplied to the bulb.  Longer wire runs or higher wattage runs will require the use of higher voltage taps.

Landscape lighting fixtures come with 25’ leads so that they may be wired using the “hub method”.  This wiring method allows installers to group lights together and connects the 25’ leads at a central point or “hub” to a wire coming from the transformer.  By grouping lights that are close together, installers can ensure proper voltage distribution to each light.  If lights are closer than 25’ away from the connection point or “hub”, the excess wire should not be cut but rather wrapped around the bottom of the fixture.

Our landscape lighting transformers can be mounted indoors or outdoors.  Refer to local electrical codes when determining exact transformer location.

Multiple transformers should be used on large properties where the location of the landscape lights are far apart or there will be a large number of lights used to light the property. If the lights are located too far from the transformer, it may not be feasible to run a larger gauge wire to the lights to compensate for the voltage drop. These types of situations will require the use of multiple transformers to ensure the proper voltage can be delivered to the landscape lights.

Wattage is determined by what is being illuminated. Path lights require lower wattage because the area illuminated is small, whereas large trees, shrubs, and wall washing require higher wattage because of large areas or longer distances being lit.  Many times underwater fixtures are of higher wattages because of refraction and density of water.

Wattage is determined by what is being illuminated.  Path lights require lower wattage because the area illuminated is small, whereas large trees, shrubs, and wall washing require higher wattage because of large areas or longer distances being lit.  Many times underwater fixtures are of higher wattages because of refraction and density of water.

The power supply should be a dedicated 20 amp breaker.

There are three basic types of fixtures used for landscape lighting including path or area lights, well lights, and directional lights.  Area and path lights are used to light areas such as walkways, paths, and landscape beds.  Area and path lights come mounted on a post usually anywhere from 15-21” tall and produce a pool of light generally around 8-10’ wide close to the ground.  

Well lights are mounted in the ground and are used to uplight trees, buildings, and large plant material. This fixture is very versatile and is the primary fixture of choice for uplighting and providing an accent to the landscape. Well lights spread light evenly across plant material and buildings making it ideal for uplighting.  

Directional lights also known as bullet lights can be used for up or downlighting.  These fixtures produce a concentrated beam of targeted light for illuminating focal points in the landscape.

Transformers are available in 300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 watts.  The size transformer you need will depend on the number of lights, the wattage of lights, and length of wire run to the lights.  Note that transformer sizing is not as simple as adding together the wattage of all the lights on a system to determine the correct transformer size.  The length of wire runs will also factor into what size you will need since the resistance in the wire acts as additional wattage or “load”.  To best determine the correct transformer size, use the Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Calculator.  Once you enter the wire distance, wire size, and wattage for each run, the calculator will determine the transformer size for you.