How to Install Path Lighting (continued)

Easy-to-install night lights brings a yard to life after dark

Photograph: Evan Joseph

Laying The Groundwork

1. Plan the placement of each fixture. To avoid a lighting effect that resembles an airport runway, alternate and stagger the path lights to the right and left of the walk, or put all of them along one side. Space them eight to 10 feet apart, and mark the location. If possible, run the cable through gravel or flowerbeds instead of grass since mowing and trimming can damage the fixtures. Skip to Step 7 for solar installation.

2. Lay out the cable. (A 16-gauge cable supports up to 150 watts; a 14-gauge cord will carry 200 watts; a 12-gauge one can handle 300 watts.) In general, avoid high-wattage lights, which cast a bright, unflattering glare. Instead, opt for fixtures that use 4- to 20-watt bulbs.

3. Dig a shallow (no deeper than three inches) trench approximately 12 inches from the walkway with a flat-blade shovel.

4. Run the cable through the ditch and up to the outdoor electrical outlet. With wire strippers, cut the cable and snip off the top ½ inch of insulation to expose the wires. Separate the wires, place them under the designated terminals on the transformer, and secure them by tightening the screws.

5. Mount the transformer near the electrical outlet and at least 12 inches off the ground (secure it to a wooden stake if there's no available exterior wall space). Then plug in the transformer.

6. Assemble the fixtures. Connect them to the cable by pressing the clamps (which are included with the fixtures) through the cable until they click. If the lamp doesn't light up, make sure that the bulb is screwed in tightly before unsnapping the clamps to try again.

7. Use a long steel punch to bore a hole in the ground, lightly tap the stake into the hole with a small sledge or a mallet, and replace the soil or gravel around the fixture. Repeat with each lamp.

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