Installing Plastic Outdoor Lights – A Step-By-Step Guide
Adding plastic outdoor lights to your landscape is an easy way to add a welcoming glow. They come in a range of designs and finishes to help illuminate your backyard, patio or garden.
They can also be used to accent your yard or highlight elements that deserve attention, like a fountain or tree swing. They’re also a good choice for safety.
1. Install the Fixture
If your lights are old and dim, replacing them is a quick way to increase the curb appeal of your home. It’s also an important safety measure to reduce the risk of tripping and falling on your yard or deck.
Before you begin, you need to locate your home’s circuit panel. Then, turn off the power to the fixture and confirm that no electricity is flowing with a voltage tester.
Then, disconnect the circuit wires to the plastic outdoor lights fixture by unscrewing the wire connectors. You should see one wire with white insulation (this is the neutral wire), another with black insulation (this is the hot wire), and a third that’s bare copper or covered with green insulation (this is the ground wire).
2. Connect the Wires
Outdoor lights have a big impact on the look and feel of your home’s exterior. They also improve safety and security around walkways, doorways, decks and patios.
Most landscape lighting fixtures use underground wiring to keep the wires hidden and safe from the elements. They also have a transformer that plugs into an outlet and runs the lights on a timer or photocell.
To connect the lights, measure the distance from the fixture to where you will install the light switch and to your circuit breaker box. This will give you the amount of wire you need to run to the switch.
3. Connect the Lights
Adding a string of lights to a tree is a great way to add some flair to your home. Start with a large piece of string, and wrap it around the trunk in the most even fashion possible.
Make sure to leave a few extra feet at the end of each strand for when you plug it into your outlet or run an extension cord from there to wherever you plan on hanging it.
It’s also a good idea to test each strand before you go hog wild with your lights, as there are many types of watts that are not necessarily rated for use outside.
4. Install the Covers
Outdoor lights add a dramatic effect to any outdoor space. They also improve safety and security by illuminating walkways, patios and entryways.
First, find out if the light is rated for damp locations (IP43 or higher). This means it’s protected from water and dust and won’t break down in rain, snow or extreme heat.
Next, choose a light that’s easy to install. Some are built with clips at each bulb, making them a snap to hang on gutters or a hook. Others use hanging “T” junctions that allow you to affix the cord to rafters and the bulbs hang free below.
Once you have all of your lights, plug them in and test the voltage. Don’t bury the wires until you have tested them at night.
5. Test the Fixture
A new outdoor light fixture should be tested before it is installed to ensure that everything is working correctly. This is especially important if you are installing it in a garage door location where there isn’t an electrical box installed.
You can test the fixture by disconnecting it from the power source and touching a voltage tester to its wires. You should also check to make sure that the work box has been properly attached and the wiring is grounded at the site of the light.