How to Install Outdoor Lighting and Outlet

Hush-hush wiring puts low-cal and ability anywhere in the yard. We'll prove you how you tin do information technology easily and safely.

Fourth dimension

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$101–250

Introduction

Run an undercover electrical line into the garden to power an outdoor lite. Here's the quickest and cheapest method for bringing ability to a remote spot without tearing upward your yard.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Mattock
  • Trenching shovel

Say you lot need a bright yard light way out in your yard or a remote outlet to power a pond pump or electric tools. By far the best way to get electrical power right where you demand it is to run underground 'line' voltage (120-volt household current). All it takes is a trivial electrical moxie and a willingness to dig a shallow trench.

In this article, we show the easiest, quickest and cheapest method to safely run electricity outdoors. Our method involves direct burial UF (hole-and-corner feeder) plastic shielded cable 12 inches below ground level. Nosotros'll also evidence you lot a no-sweat fashion to run the line nether a walkway and how to hook upwards the wiring at both ends.

For this project, yous should have the fundamental wiring skills it takes to brand proper connections and the basic electric and carpentry tools. While they're not crucial, a trench shovel, a mattock and a sledgehammer will make the trench work easier and faster. Allow about a day to complete this project, assuming you collect all the parts in advance.

In our project, we run a line from an existing outdoor outlet on the house to a low-cal and receptacle at the edge of a garden path. It incorporates a combination light switch/outlet. The outlet is always hot, and the switch controls but the light. If you don't take an outdoor box to tap in to, consider installing one on your business firm.

You tin can expand the project to include additional outlets, switches and lights. The techniques for running the wire and mounting electrical boxes are the same. However, make certain non to overload the circuit.

While nosotros enclosed the electrical boxes within a hollow mail, you tin simply mountain a weatherproof box on the side of a 4×4, every bit long as yous protect the cable by running it in conduit from the trench bottom to the box.

Project step-by-step (xvi)

Stride 1

Tap into House Wiring

  • Determine where you lot desire the electric post positioned and so notice the nearest existing outlet to supply the power.
    • Note: That outlet must be GFCI protected.

Figure A: Typical electrical connection Figure A: – 1 Underground wiring details

Stride 2

Mark the Road and Dig

  • Mark the cable road from the power source (firm outlet) to the position of the remote outlet with spray paint.
  • Call the utility companies to mark whatsoever underground lines.
  • Get an electric allow, either from your local building inspections section or a state part.
  • Dig a 12-inch deep trench connecting the ii points and the 2-foot deep posthole for the low-cal.
  • Pile the dirt on a strip of plastic adjacent to the trench.
    • Pro tip: Give trees a wide booth to avert chopping through roots. Arroyo sidewalks or paths at right angles for easier tunneling and brand certain to plan a 3-human foot long straight section of trench on one side of the walkway. That'due south so you'll take room for driving the conduit beneath it.
  • After the trench is finished, dig a posthole at the end of the trench about 2 anxiety deeper than the trench to receive the light pole postal service.

FYI for GFCI

To make certain the "feeder" outlet y'all choose is GFCI protected, look for the characteristic GFCI buttons, or if it's a standard outlet, check it with a GFCI tester. Standard outlets still may be GFCI protected by existence linked to another GFCI outlet elsewhere in the business firm. If yours isn't protected, simply supplant the standard outlet with a new GFCI outlet using the techniques we show in Photograph 13 and Figure A. Another option is to cutting in, mount and wire a new outside GFCI outlet, feeding it from an outlet mounted on an inside wall in the house. Sometimes that'due south easier than excavation a long trench to a more distant power source.

You besides have to make sure the new outlet/light won't overload the circuit you tie into, and that the box is big plenty to handle the additional wire. To determine whether the circuit you want to use tin can handle the boosted electrical demand, first shut off the excursion in the main console. And then get through the house turning on lights and other electrical items. Add up the wattage of everything that stays off (the items on the circuit). Then add on the wattage of the post light plus the wattage of items continuously powered by the outlet. We recommend a maximum connected load of 1,440 watts for a 15-amp circuit and 1,920 watts for a 20-amp circuit (the amperage is stamped on the breaker or fuse). If the total wattage exceeds these amounts, observe a different circuit. If you're not sure, telephone call in a licensed electrician to assist with this part.

Step 3

Run Conduit Under the Sidewalk

  • Drive 1/2-inch rigid metal conduit under the walkway with a sledgehammer.
    • Pro tip: Never use "thin wall" conduit, which corrodes quickly, or plastic conduit, which is also weak.
  • Protect the ends with fittings (lower photograph) and lay wood blocks in the trench to go on the conduit clear of the trench lesser.

Step 4

Push the Wire Through

  • Replace the conduit fittings with plastic bushings.
  • Lay the UF cable in the bottom of the trench and push button the cable through the conduit.
    • Note: Wire rated for underground employ carries a stamp on the jacket (lower photograph).
  • Cutting it to length, leaving 3 feet of extra cable at the post hole and at the outlet.

Stride 5

Gather the Parts

  • Turn off the circuit breaker to the house outlet.
  • Test it to make sure it'due south dead and disconnect it.
  • Cutting to length and dry out-fit the PVC parts, then mucilage up the associates.

Step vi

Bring the Cable to the Ability Source

  • Feed the cable through the conduit and screw the exterior extension box to the existing box.
  • Spike the conduit to the siding with a strap and file two 1/eight-inch deep weep holes at the bottom of the box.

Step 7

Partially Preassemble Your Light Postal service

  • Partially preassemble the light post before it's wired and then y'all can stick information technology in the footing and have full admission to the interior for stapling wires and making the hookups.
    • Pro tip: But make certain that the light fixtures you choose are rated for "wet location." You lot'll find that designation on the fixture box.
  • Test-fit the fixture on the post before cut the hole for the round electrical box to brand certain it clears all of the trim.

Figure B: Post outlet/wiring

Step eight

Notch the Post

  • Cutting a 4-inch tall x 1/two-inch deep notch in the 4x4 x 60-inch post.
  • Nail ii sides and a 1-1/ii 10 2-inch nailer to the post as shown.
  • With a jigsaw, cut the hole for the circular electrical box in the second 1x8 and blast it to the post associates.

Step ix

Cut Holes for the Electrical Boxes

  • Trace and cut the hole for the outlet box in the 2d 1x6.
  • Tack the 1x6 to the sides, and so slip the box through the hole and screw it to the notch.
  • Shim out the box if needed, and then remove the 1x6.

Step 10

Set the Mail service

  • Set the post assembly in the hole and adjust the top
  • Fill and pack soil around the mail service bottom.
  • Gather and glue the plastic conduit parts.
  • Run the cable through information technology and strap it to the post.

Figure C: Post dimensions

Stride 11

Fasten the Light Box

  • Install the light box and run a cable from it to the outlet box.
  • Insert both cables and fasten them to the outlet box with cable clamps.

Pace 12

Add the Light Fixture

  • Terminate the wood trim on the postal service.
  • Hook up the low-cal fixture post-obit the manufacturer's directions.

Step 13

Wire the Switch

  • Connect the switch/outlet with 6-inch 'pigtails' for the neutral and ground.

Step 14

Install the Weatherproof Cover

  • Mount the gaskets and screw special weatherproof covers over the switch/outlet for this project.

Footstep 15

Connect to the GFCI Outlet

  • Connect the hot and neutral wires leading to the post to the "load" terminals on the GFCI.
  • Connect the firm wiring to the "line" terminals.

Step 16

Stop Up

  • Add a weatherproof comprehend to the business firm outlet.
  • Fill the trench afterward the electrical inspection.

Electrical Connection Tips

  • GFCI outlets accept ii sets of terminals, "line" and" load". Line is for the incoming wires from the power source, and load is for the switches, outlets and fixtures that it supplies. Don't wire it improperly or users won't be protected against shocks caused by damp ground or standing water.
  • Cut and dry-fit all of the PVC parts. Before taking them apart for gluing, draw alignment marks on each joint. That way you lot'll go them back together in the proper orientation.
  • Utilise "duct seal" putty to the bottom side of the height hub plugs in the extension box at the house. That will proceed water from entering the box.
  • The male adapters and plastic bushings on the ends of pipes are to protect the cablevision from the abrupt pipe edges. They're not only required but also a skillful idea, so don't skip that step!

Originally Published: December 31, 2022