How to Install Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting for Dramatic Results

Start by mapping out your lighting. Place fixtures on the ground where you want to install them, and set the electrical cable on the ground running from the outdoor outlet all the way to the farthest fixture. Leave at least 5 extra feet of cable at either end so you don’t run short and so you can make adjustments if necessary. 

Next, use your drill and mounting screws to mount the transformer near the outdoor outlet it will be plugged into. Transformers can be mounted directly to the side of the house or on a post or stake near the outlet. Ensure that the area where you’re mounting the transformer is free of obstacles for a foot in every direction. 

Connect one end of the electrical cable by using wire strippers to remove about an inch of the wire insulation, then attach the stripped wires to the terminal screws on the transformer. Terminal screws are usually located at the bottom of the transformer. Do not plug the transformer in yet.

Using a shovel, dig a trench 6 inches deep to bury the electrical cable. When digging along a pathway, position the trench so it’s 6 inches to a foot back from the edge of the path, so the lights will be installed between the cable and the pathway. If you’re making your trench in sod, carefully lift the sod and then dig down to the desired depth. Lay out the cable into the trench, but do not fill it back in yet. 

After determining where you want your lighting fixtures, dig a hole for each fixture. Most outdoor lighting fixtures are set on stakes, although some are installed directly in the ground. Stake holes can be dug using an aluminum stake and a hammer. Ensure that fixtures are evenly spaced and not overhanging any pathways or areas where people will walk. 

Next, connect the fixtures to the electrical cable using weatherproof wire clamp connectors. Many fixtures have connectors preinstalled; if not, install a connector to the wiring protruding from the fixture. Clamp the connector to the cable until you hear a click, which indicates that the connector has pierced the cable’s insulation and created a contact point with the wiring inside.

Once your fixtures are connected to the cable, plug the transformer into the outdoor outlet and confirm that each fixture is connected by checking that all lights are illuminated. If any lights are not illuminated, unplug the transformer and try reconnecting the fixture to the cable. If it still isn’t working, check that the bulb in the fixture is installed correctly. 

After confirming that all the fixtures are connected, set each fixture into the ground using its attached stake. Check that fixtures are level and stable and fill in any remaining space around the fixture with soil. 

Once your fixtures have been installed, bury the electrical cable in the trench by replacing the soil or sod. When working with sod, you may want to cut the sod to accommodate the lighting fixtures without any lawn bald spots.