Choosing the Right Outdoor Light Cable
Updating your outdoor lighting is a simple and inexpensive DIY project that will make your home more welcoming. However, working with electricity is dangerous and you should use a qualified electrician for this task.
The first step is to identify a power source for your lights. This can be an outdoor GFCI outlet or a junction box.
Types
Outdoor light cables serve a variety of purposes, each demanding specific considerations in cable selection. For example, landscape lighting wire must be durable enough to withstand aboveground and belowground exposure to sun, rain, dirt, and temperature fluctuations. This type of lighting also requires more tolerance for flexing and a higher tensile strength than household wiring.
For outdoor lighting installations that will be exposed to harsh weather conditions, you can choose a cable designed for direct burial. These types of cables have a plastic coating that helps them resist moisture and other environmental hazards. They are also often color-coded to make them easier to identify during installation. If you are installing lights in a concrete or wood deck, however, you may prefer to use a type of cable that can be run in conduit.
Low voltage lighting cables are also suitable for outdoor use, as they are designed to be compatible with transformers with a lower voltage output. These cables are easy to install and pose less risk during maintenance. They are available in a variety of colors, making them easy to coordinate with your lighting setup. The number of strands and the voltage required by your system will help you determine which type of cable is best for your project. You can string the strands in straight lines, zigzag across your yard, centralized around a point like a circus tent, or randomly for a whimsical look.
Lengths
The length of cable you need will depend on the distance between your power source and your light fixture. The longer the wire run, the more voltage drop occurs, so choose a heavier gauge of cable to prevent the wire from overheating. Lowe’s has 12-, 14- and 16-gauge landscape lighting cable in a variety of lengths to meet your needs.
Before installing your lights, plan out your wiring and layout to save time during the installation process. Use a level to ensure your cable runs are straight and outdoor light cable even, then count how many bulbs you want per strand and decide what type of wire hooks to use (eye or screw).
For example, eye hooks are ideal for hanging lights from branches and other structures because they’re easy to adjust and provide the most secure hold. Screw hooks, on the other hand, provide more flexibility in terms of positioning your lights. Screw hooks also offer the added benefit of keeping your strands in place without the need for tape or other fasteners.
Be sure to protect the cable from damage by burying it at least 6 inches deep or running it through conduit. Burying your outdoor light cable will help prevent the wire from being damaged by lawnmowers or other garden equipment. Use waterproof wire connectors to prevent moisture from entering the connection and causing corrosion or electrical issues.
Connectors
Over the years, outdoor lighting cables have been invented with a variety of refinements to help them endure and withstand outside manipulations. They must survive rain, snow, ice, UV rays from the sun and other harsh weather conditions. Cables for landscape lighting must also be able to resist rodent chewing, mechanical damage and other environmental impacts.
VOLT has a variety of connectors to choose from, depending on how many and what type of wires you want to connect. These can be found in the wire connection section of our website. We recommend using waterproof connectors for any direct burial applications. These are filled with silicone gel that will seal and protect against ground moisture.
Before you start connecting your lights, it’s important to know the voltage requirements of your transformer and how many strands can be connected safely. This will ensure that you don’t over or underpower your system. Then, make sure that the breaker and timer are turned off and that the transformer lead wire is disconnected. Next, use a pair of wire strippers to expose about half an inch of the copper ends. Use these to connect the strands together and then fasten with zip ties. Be sure to count the number of bulbs on each strand so you can secure them evenly.
You can then start securing the light strands around your yard or patio. You can choose to string them straight or zigzag, centralized in one area like a circus tent or spread out randomly for a whimsical look.
Materials
When it comes to choosing the materials for outdoor light cable, there are a few things you need to consider. For one, you need to choose a material that will be weatherproof. This is important because it will ensure that the cables can withstand the elements. This means that they will be able to withstand rain, snow, and even UV radiation.
Another thing you need to consider is how the cables will be installed. Some outdoor lighting systems require buried wires, while others use conduit installations. In either case, you need to select a cable that will be able to handle the burial or conduit installation.
Finally, you need to choose a cable that will be able to carry the amount of current required by your outdoor lighting system. This will be determined by the gauge of the wire. A M16 large head PVC higher gauge wire will be able to accommodate more current, while a lower gauge wire will be unable to do so.
Before beginning any work, make sure that your electricity and the outdoor lighting transformer are both switched off. You should also turn off the lights inside your house, and lock the breaker (if possible). Finally, you should always put your outdoor lighting on it’s own consumer unit RCD, so that any problems with your outdoor lighting will not affect your power in the home.
