Draw a picture of the number needed and what bulbs you will be putting in each one. Multiply the bulbs by the watts needed. Are you using 6 bulbs at 20 watts each? Then 120-watt transformer is needed. So purchase a 150-watt transformer.

Since more lights may be added in the future, it's wise to increase transformer size to give lights when plants grow. Also make sure the transformer is 60% loaded. Also you should not wire one low watt fixture into a large transformer thinking you will add more lately. This just `over volt' the small lamp and shorted bulb life.

A transformer is needed because good garden lighting works on 12 volts. You should plan to place your transformer near the building or garden that provides a spot to wire each light fixture. A transformer is electric device that changes volts from one size to another. Usually for a garden, this means taking a 240-volt power input and reducing to a number of 12-volt wires for each light.

Your wire is a low voltage cable that is usually put beneath the mulch and over garden structures. Usually the transformer is mounted into black weatherproof-rated boxes. Usually the box is on a wall or a post, so to be hidden from the beauty of the garden. There are special boxes for use under ground. Sometimes the box is under a deck.

The cable can begin at the transformer and be run to each fixture, but try to keep the cables as short as possible. The reason for this is to avoid having too little voltage for each fixture. In a large garden perhaps a transformer should be at each end of it. Several short wires to go to each transformer rather than a bunch of long ones.

A good rule would be 3 lights 20 watts each coming off 1 transformer. The distance, which is good, is on a 10-meter piece of ground.

Placement of light fixtures is important if people or pets can be touching them as on a deck. They can get hot. A 50-watt light and upwards, gets hot when they are on a while. Spotlights need to be mounted in a recessed fixture due to high heat. Make sure you wear good insulated gloves to change these bulbs if hot.

Because of the 240-volt electricity being used, a professional is recommended as installing these light systems. Also it is a good idea to have professionals with the right meters to test these fixtures.

The beam angles of accent lighting can range from 12 to 60 degrees. Sometimes you want to have a single beam on a specific plant but not to light a larger area, so a beam is recommended.

Some people worry that copper garden lights will go green. Not usually though, because the verdigris pataina process takes time unless there are chemicals on it. Polluted water, or garden sprays can cause the green discoloration. You can clean your copper fixtures with a bathroom lime scale remover. If you want them antique green looking, then spray two or three times a week with a copper fungicide.

To enhance the path to the garden or other places in your yard, a garden or pathway light set is easy and fast to install. There are many videos and DVDs available from your gardening supply store to aid you in this project. Most pathway sets use low voltage systems making them easier to work with and more safe those most garden light systems.

NOTE: you should never plug in any lighting system until you are all finished to avoid electrical shock.

Most beginners and non-professionals like to buy a lighting kit so they will not have to shop for each individual part.

This is how you can install lighting in your garden.