Light the Night

For a small investment of time and money, you can make your yard available for nighttime entertaining -- and increase the security of your home. Low-voltage lighting systems are safe and economical. Because the cables carry so little voltage, many of the precautions required for normal electrical wiring are unnecessary, making installation quick and easy. You can choose to put the lights on a timer that will turn the lights on and off according to your specifications, or opt for a light sensor that will turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn.

Low-voltage lighting kits are readily available at building centers and hardware stores. Equipped with transformers, these kits can be augmented with additional fixtures to suit the needs of most sites. If you do not have an exterior grounded outlet, hire an electrician to install a grounded exterior outlet equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). A shovel and standard tools are all you''ll need for most installations.

It is usually best to buy one of the many kits available. They will include most everything you need -- a selection of light fixtures, cable, and a transformer. Some of the following types of lights will be in the kit; others can be purchased separately.

• Entrance -- General illumination along walks and driveways
• Tier -- Along borders for a soft, decorative accent
• Flood -- Strong beam for backlighting or highlighting
• Globe -- General lighting without glare
• Mushroom -- Source of light is hidden for a soft, glowing effect
• Well -- Upward beam for accenting trees, bushes, and buildings

From left to right: entrance, tier, flood, globe, mushroom and well lights.