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LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHTS
By John | January 10, 2008
Garden lighting has gotten much simpler in recent years, thanks to low-voltage systems that require little or no digging and only rudimentary electrical skills. Nowadays, if you find you don’t like the light fixtures’ placement after installing them, you can easily move them around until you get everything right.
In addition to the low-voltage lights and outdoor wire, you need a transformer that reduces power from the standard 120-volt household current to a much safer 12V (the transformer is designed to be concealed in an out-of-the-way place, like a garage or mudroom). All this equipment comes packaged in relatively inexpensive kits (about £25 to £100 for six lights and 100 feet of wire) that you’ll find at home centers and lighting stores. Or you can buy higher-quality components separately.
The size of the transformer determines the number of fixtures and the length of wire you can run, details That are explained in product instructions. Transformers are usually sold with a timer, so you won’t have to worry about hooking up a switch. The cord can be covered with only a few inches of mulch or laid in a shallow trench gouged out with a pick or shovel. The lights attach with clamps that punch through the power wire, so you don’t need special tools. Where these plug-and-play connectors are exposed to salt air, however, it’s wise to attach lights in a waterproof junction box and to use heavier wire. I would entrust that job to an electrician.
As the popularity of illuminated gardens increases, more and more electricians are specializing in the design and installation of outdoor systems. A good place to ask about installers is a lighting supply store, where you can pick up manufacturers’ catalogs and shop for fixtures, too. The sales staff will also know local consultants and landscape architects who design outdoor lighting systems.
Working with a landscape architect or other professional designer to start this project may not be as expensive as you might think. For a modest job, like lighting a patio and pathways, a two- or three-hour consultation as you walk through the property ought to do. During that session, ask the designer to place flags or other markers where fixtures should go, to specify the intensity and direction of the light at each point, and to recommend electrical contractors to bid on the job.
A lighting designer or landscape architect may charge between £40and £60 an hour; if the job requires a blueprint or other drawing, expect to pay more. Professional designers’ main concern is to show you a range of options for your garden, not to sell you hardware and labor—though they may have on hand a wider range of catalogs for fixtures than the best lighting store. They will almost certainly propose doing more than you had originally planned or than your budget will currently allow. That’s as it should be. It’s a simple matter of signing up for only the amount of work you can handle this year; save the more elaborate enhancements for another season.
Once you have settled on a rough plan, ask for comparative estimates quoting the cost of low-voltage and ordinary line-voltage lighting. The lower intensity of low-voltage lights is easy on the eyes, but it can be a jolt to the bank account, since you may need more fixtures to do the job. Because standard voltage requires digging a trench 18 inches deep to bury the cable, it raises labor costs, but you can illuminate a larger area with more-powerful lights. You may well find that there’s only a small price difference between the systems.
Good Luck
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