By using a straight edge tool, the lighting technician cut a six-inch deep trench for burying the 30 feet of 12/2 direct bury cable, as required by the National Electrical Code. Also, at this level the homeowner will not have to worry about the wire being damaged by an aerator machine.

 

A digital multimeter can conduct various electrical measurements including the amount of volts, amps, ohms and capacitance - the electrical potential.

The lighting technician installed a downlight in a large oak tree to create a moonlighting effect. Note that he is secured by a harness and rope as a safety precaution.

This project in Spicewood, Texas, received a complete LED outdoor lighting installation, including up lighting on the home's columns, down lighting from the large oak trees, water feature lighting and path lighting.

When I first launched my business about 11 years ago, I was new to the industry and hungry to learn. In the past decade I have been able to build a successful landscape lighting-only business, and I have indeed learned a lot. Hopefully this article will help others who are thinking about diving into this same endeavor.

Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals
One of the first things I looked for was a network of industry professionals willing to share what they knew about this business. I found that the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) gave access to a private online forum of members, where experienced guys were willing to discuss just about any topic you might imagine. Topics like design, installation, connections, transformers, fixtures, even basic business operations and much more. There are members from all over the United States and Canada with a wealth of knowledge to share, which can help you to avoid the pitfalls. Through the AOLP, you can also become a Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician (CLVLT) and/or Certified Outdoor Lighting Designer (COLD). Both of these comprehensive programs will allow you to separate yourself from your competition. Joining the association was probably the best move I made.

Lighting Products
It's very important to find a good reliable product to install. There are many to choose from so do some research. Consider your climate when choosing materials. Avoid the cheap big box store products and look at better quality, contractor or commercial grade products that will last. Personally, I want a product with a great warranty - and I want it to be easy to replace something with that warranty if something goes wrong. The client doesn't care about the name of the product; they want it fixed if something goes wrong.

Make sure you use solid, dependable waterproof connectors. The connections are the weakest link in an outdoor lighting system; and if the connections fail, the resulting domino effect of failures can create some serious problems for the lighting system and consequently the installer. Some people swear by heat shrink connections, while others like a copper crimp; and still others do quite well with quality silicone filled wire nuts. Your climate may have some bearing on the best connection for your area.

Installation Tips
Purchase and use a digital multimeter. Check your voltages and amp readings on the lighting systems every time. Even though LED has really lowered the chances of having issues with voltage drop and amperage overload, those things still happen regularly. Electrical theory is still in play on any electrical system, and all of the same rules apply. The biggest mistake people make is to disregard the fundamentals of electrical distribution by taking short cuts. This often results in callbacks that can destroy the contractor's reputation and business.

Keep clear records of your installations. Know where each fixture is located and its wattage. Know how many amps are on each wire run to your transformer. This way you will know if anything is wrong with the system by simply checking the transformer load readings. If you find a reading that is lower than it should be on a run, you will know that there is a light out on that run. If the load is higher than it should be, you'll know somebody added something or there is a problem with a fixture that is causing a load increase.

The National Electrical Code requires that the low voltage cable be installed at a depth of six inches and I have learned it's a good idea to do just that. Aeration of lawns is becoming more and more popular, and if your wire is running to a tree in the yard less than six inches deep, it may be punctured. Also, run your wires along the hardscape or inside of flowerbeds as much as possible to help protect them.