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Gardens don't have to be enjoyed exclusively in daylight. With some accent lighting you can beautify your yard and gardens at night as well. Garden lights are usually powered by either solar cells or electrical power. Shop around to see which type fits your needs and budget.
Most garden lights are 12 volts. This means that your system must have a transformer that transforms the 120/240-volt power from your house to the 12-volt power used by the lights. As you plan your garden lighting, you have to select a transformer that can handle the load that the system uses.
To plan and install your garden lighting, follow these steps:
1. Select a transformer that can handle more than the total load of all your lights.
Most garden light fixtures range from 4 to 50 watts per light. Add up the total wattage required by all the lights, and then choose a transformer with a higher-rated capacity. Also, make sure you choose a transformer designed for damp areas; most garden-light transformers are rated for weather exposure.
 | An oversized transformer doesn't cost any more money to operate. A 1,000-watt transformer with 200W of lighting connected to it draws close to the 200W load. You should limit the load on the transformer to a maximum of 80 percent of its rated wattage capacity. |
2. Choose low-voltage wiring that can handle the amperage drawn by your lights.
At 12 volts, a 50W lamp draws 4.2 amps. Self-sealing, moisture-resistant, low-voltage cable comes in the following sizes and the maximum wattage for each is shown here:
• 16 AWG: 150 watts maximum
• 14 AWG: 200 watts maximum
• 12 AWG: 300 watts maximum
Total up the wattage as you wire in the lamps, being careful not to exceed the wire's rated capacity. Each pair of wires can power as many lamps as you like, but don't go over the wire's or transformer's capacity.
3. Install the wiring between the transformer and lights.
For large lamp loads, run several wires to groups of lights or install multiple transformers.
 | Low-voltage garden-light wiring has no minimum burial depth. You can run it on the surface, but consider burying it at least a few inches for appearance and safety. When burying the wire, run it where you're not going to damage it while tending your garden. Running the wire next to the building or along the sidewalk edge may help you remember where it is many months after installation. You may want to diagram the wiring. |
4. Connect the transformer to a GFI-protected, weatherproof outlet.
How are you going to control those lights? You can turn garden lights on and off manually, with timers, or with light sensors.
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