Do-It-Yourself

Do-it-yourself installations are always an option for homeowners on a tight budget. You should research and plan your work carefully. Use the best equipment you can afford; treat the system as modular and add fixtures over time to spread the cost; experiment with effects and take the time to evaluate your work with an eye toward improvement.

There are a number of publications dealing with low voltage outdoor lighting. The writer of this guide has reviewed all of the currently available books on the topic on amazon.com. Since amazon.com retains the rights to all reviews posted on their site, the reviews cannot be published here. You can access these reviews at Amazon.com.

Some manufacturers publish instruction manuals for their products or provide installation guides in their catalogs. Visit your nearest lighting supply showroom or contact a local irrigation supply company that also carries low voltage lighting equipment. Either of these sources may have free materials available.

There are a growing number of web-based companies that supply useful information on low voltage lighting along with solicitations to buy equipment from them. Some web sites are very consumer oriented and provide excellent sources of information on this topic.

There is a low voltage lighting forum (http://www.lowvolt.org) that contains information on both interior and exterior applications. Search the posts on this site for up-to-date and generally sound opinions, tips and specialized details. This forum can be browsed at will but requires that you register if you want to make a post. This new site (07.15.01) has a growing list of members who may take the time to respond to your questions.

A California manufacturer with a background of low voltage lighting installations maintains a very extensive web site (http://www.fxl.com) detailing the entire sequence from concept to completion. There are page after page of plans, before-and-after images, design, installation and technical tips plus very detailed product specifications.

A web site for well-designed, high quality copper lighting fixtures (http://www.escortlighting.com) and a full range of accessories also maintains technical information pages culled from various sources: