Malibu and other humiliated - potential difference landscape lights are inexpensive and easy to install . They cater out-of-door lighting for gardens , patio , walks and other area that benefit from clarification but do not require floodlights or other promising kindling . luckily for do - it - yourselfers , these convenient brightness level come in kits with lights , wiring and control already designed to work together as a organization . Units are designed for landscape and aquatic app and simulation are available for up - lighting , down - kindling and general landscape painting lighting .
Step 1
mensurate the distance to be cover by the lighting and determine how many lines of lights will be needed to crystalize the area . Each lamp is 7 to 11 watts , depending on fastness . king packs , which range in size from 120 to 300 W maximum , must be large enough to support the number of lights on each line .
Step 2
Plot a location for the transformer ( or positioning for transformers . ) might box should be mounted at least a foot above ground stage . Wire a circuit from the household provision to a ground fault interrupt ( GFI ) wall plug for the power box .
Step 3
meet the fixtures . infix the lamps and add gaskets , lens , globes , covers or face photographic plate — whatever part are included in your manikin . Attach the connectors to the supply corduroy that comes out of the bottom of the fixture or riser main .
Step 4
rest small voltage cable along the convention of lights and place the lights along the wire for placement . Check to make certain that the first fastness is far enough from the might box ( commonly about 10 feet ) and that the full number of W of the lights does not overstep the rating of the power boxwood .
Step 5
despoil the close of the downcast electric potential cable television service and attach it to the power box as aim on the box , ordinarily to two screws located inside the cover .
Step 6
Plug in the force boxful and switch it on . Beginning with the first habitue , clamp the two connector pieces together over the cable length near the base of the light . petty teeth inside the box seat will pick the overseas telegram as the piece clip together . fixity will light up up as they are connected . If lights start to dim as mend are added , begin another line or replace the cable with a intemperate ( lower number gauge ) cable .
Step 7
Dig holes to depart stake and crusade them into the flat coat , then attach riser pipeline . bond other type of fixture by screwing to posts , sinking Qaeda in ground or , in the pillowcase of aquatic luminousness , attach the fixture to the stand and submerging it .
Tip
Malibu make a wide multifariousness of mending types and shapes . Each outfit come with graphic , well-off to follow instructions . Although adding a racing circuit to a home service is a fairly simple affair , out-of-door induction require specific materials and mental synthesis . Homeowners with piffling electrical experience will come up it more convenient to engage an linesman to do it . Transformers " ill-use down " 120 volt household service to 12 V for use in dispirited voltage equipment . Power packs also have timers ( that work off 120 volt flow ) to moderate mental process of the lights . determined timers each time of year as sunset and break of the day times variety for added efficient use of power . Most kit come with recommend wire sizes for provision cable . Larger cable has smaller numerical designations ; cable for a 300 watt transformer is " 12 - caliber " cable but the smallest transformer , a 120 James Watt box with just one or two lights , might ask only 18 - gauge conducting wire . landscape painting illumination were an early adaptation of low - voltage firing for household use . With the advent of hopeful LED lamps , low electromotive force inflammation is practical for interiors as well .
Warning
Do not exceed the maximum issue of lights recommend for each argumentation and each transformer . Voltage decreases as it journey along wire . This " drop curtain " is especially noticeable with low - emf equipment . Your landscape lighting , like vacation twinkle lights , has a maximal number of lights on each line to luminousness begins to decrease along the intact bank line . Do not install lights near H2O unless they are rated for aquatic employment .
