Choosing the Right Outdoor Light Cable
Over the years companies have invented a wide range of cables for outdoor lighting installations. They need to be able to resist the elements: water damage, UV from sun light, extremes of hot and cold and external manipulations like digging.
The cable goes from a fused connection unit (if there is one) to a junction box from which you can line separate switch drop and light supply wires.
Weather-Resistant
Unlike the wiring inside your home, outdoor lighting cables are exposed to harsh elements. This makes it necessary to choose a cable that is waterproof. In addition, the connectors that connect the wires must also be waterproof. This ensures that moisture doesn’t leak and cause a fire or electric shock.
Fortunately, there are plenty of waterproof electrical connectors available. For instance, DryConn waterproof electrical connectors have a twist-and-lock design and are easy to use. Simply insert the wire connections into the connectors and then twist them clockwise. The connectors are coated with silicone sealant that protects the connections from water and other contaminants.
Another type of waterproof electrical connector is a UF-B waterproof cable cap. This is a cable cover that can be used to create a watertight seal for underground wires. It’s ideal for rerouting electrical wiring in your yard and can be used with buried wires, as well as with outdoor light fixtures.
To prevent any potential hazards, you should always run low voltage wire deep enough in grass to avoid unnecessary risk from garden forks and other landscaping tools. Likewise, if you’re using a ground-mounted transformer for your lights, you should put it on its own circuit, separate from the one that feeds your home. This way, if the lights trip your circuit breaker, it won’t affect your entire house.
Durable
If you’re planning to install a lighting system in your garden, patio, porch, or driveway, it’s essential to choose outdoor light cable durable M16 large head PVC cable. You’ll want to ensure the cable meets regional safety standards, as well as the requirements for your particular light installation. For example, if you plan to bury the cables, they should be installed to a safe depth, and you may wish to use conduit to shield them from potential damage. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure the cable is rated for outdoor lighting, and that it meets the power needs of your specific lights.
Luckily, there are many durable cables designed for low-voltage landscape lighting systems that can withstand the elements. Some even come with finished ends that are ready to connect to your outdoor lighting transformer, making them a convenient option for DIYers. They also feature a high-quality conductor made of oxygen-free copper and an outer jacket that protects them from corrosion, making them ideal for outdoor lighting applications. Plus, they’re easily joined together to form longer lengths for greater flexibility in your landscape design. With a wide selection of lengths and colours available, you’ll be sure to find the right lighting cable for your garden.
Easy to Assemble
Updating your outdoor lighting is an easy way to enhance the curb appeal of your home. A well-lit exterior means fewer stumbling hazards for visitors to your property, and it will also increase the safety of your home. In addition, a brighter outside will give your house a more inviting glow at night. If you have some electrical experience, you can easily do the work yourself or have a professional electrician handle it for you.
The first thing you need to do when changing a light fixture is turn off the power. You can do this by turning off the breaker in your electric service panel or sub-panel. You should also check for voltage with a voltage tester before working on the wires. Next, find the junction box for the light switch and remove the cover. Feed the new electrical wire into the junction box and connect it with the existing wiring by twisting the black wires together and installing a wire nut. Wrap the bare copper ground wire around a green nut and screw it on, and then install a faceplate over the junction box.
Then, use a clamp connector or DryConn waterproof connector to splice the wire connections for your landscape lights. These connectors are a lot more reliable than push style connectors and are designed to be buried outdoors, making them an excellent choice for landscape lighting. It is also important to make every cable connection 100% watertight, which can be done with a heat shrink kit or buried in a resin mixture.
Flexible
Over the years, lighting companies have come to realise that lighting needs to be flexible. Not only does it allow the lights to be installed in difficult spaces, but it also allows the cable to resist damage from garden tools and other manipulations. Choosing a cable that doesn’t have good flexibility can cause issues such as internal conductor shutdowns, outer insulation erosion, tearing and other functional failures. It can also be dangerous if the cables are exposed to a lot of movement.
Typically, low voltage garden lighting is buried or placed in conduit and is then run to each light with a flexible cable. This allows you to avoid the need for digging trenches and means you can avoid risking the cable with garden tools such as spades and forks. It also makes it easier to connect the lights as you can just pull in and out of the conduit or buried cable without worrying about the connectors on the end of the wire.
For this reason, you should always use a cable that is rated for outdoor use. Using a standard extension cord may work fine for some installations, but it’s not designed to take the weather and other outside elements. Likewise, using non-outdoor rated wiring for a temporary outdoor setup can be very dangerous. Always use a professional electrician to ensure that all your wiring is safe and up to code.
