r/Landscape_Lighting

Hey everyone — we’re redoing our backyard and planning to trench for a sprinkler system next month, so I figured now is the perfect time to also run conduit/wire for future low voltage landscape lighting.

Current plan:

• Path lighting along the walkway to the shed
• Uplighting for trees/privacy shrubs along the fence
• Lighting around raised flower beds
• Maybe some lighting around the future swingset area
• Warm white lighting only (nothing too bright)

A few questions for those who’ve done this before:

1. Should I run extra conduit everywhere while trenches are open?
2. Is 12-gauge wire the standard recommendation?
3. Better to do one transformer or multiple zones?
4. Any brands you’d recommend or avoid?
5. Anything you wish you had done before the trench was closed?
6. Best way to avoid voltage drop in a medium-sized backyard?
7. Are smart/app-controlled systems worth it?

Trying to future-proof as much as possible while the yard is torn up anyway.

Would love to see:

• Your layouts
• Nighttime photos
• Wiring diagrams
• Mistakes/regrets
• Favorite fixtures

https://preview.redd.it/5702ott6q62h1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27190c170e8ee110c8a652ae96f9b146bc0f1320

https://preview.redd.it/xul6du48q62h1.jpg?width=1448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9cdcc23a864d06c3a303fa7cf4eab34bba1f052

https://preview.redd.it/1qkx1az87t0h1.png?width=2940&format=png&auto=webp&s=70ccae44a66e763c647ec2014a805beeeaf690fa

Check your local Homedepot store, it should be $7.50/each

Product Info:
Internet # 320930764
Model # LBM1501LX-02
Store SKU # 1007897375

Hello All!

Looking to buy about 30 low-voltage lighting fixtures and have been looking at VOLT. Initially, I was thinking about all the top dog lights as they have a 20-pack for $899, and then using RGB lights everywhere, MR16. Are those lights not as white/bright as standard white lights? I figured that we could do the RGB even if we do not use because it would be nice to have on one-off occasions but do not want it to look poor with the white quality. Is there any other lights that would be good for these lights, as they are $40 each from VOLT. Likewise, do the beam angles and all of those for the bulbs matter that much? It seems I may be over my head with some of these items.

With that many lights would you suggest 1 or 2 transformers / what wattage as I do not want droppage. Same with how many gauge wires or thickness.

I have an entire backyard fence with walls of mature emerald green arborvitae trees that I am trying to light up. I also have two large oak trees and one maple that I would also like to add lights for.

In front of the house I have a standard 2-car driveway and need pathway lights for that and some sidewalks. Last thing would be stone features on the house and standard lighting toward the house.