How to Light Outdoor Fountains
- 1). Determine how you want your lighting to function. For example, determine whether or not you want your lighting to be soft and romantic or bright and illuminating. Also determine if you would like for your lighting to highlight a specific feature, such as a fountain, or light a pathway.
- 2). Draw a basic sketch of your fountain area that shows trees, landscaping, buildings and any existing lights. Make note of the electrical access points if you are planning on wiring a lighting system. Determine how many lights you would like and mark each type onto the sketch.
- 3). Purchase a lighting kit that matches your lighting intentions. Purchase short stake lights to light a pathway around your fountain. Purchase pole-type lamps or a spotlight to light specific areas of your fountain. Consider using a few smaller lights instead of a single spotlight to highlight certain objects to avoid harsh shadows. Underwater lights are also a good option for adding vibrancy to your fountain.
- 4). Lay the wiring out to match the location of your lights. Connect the source end of your wiring to the electrical transformer in the kit, which reduces the voltage used from your house to 12 volts. Strip the ends of the wires and connect them to the terminals as directed in the kit. Mount the transformer to the wall near the GFCI outlet. Do not plug the transformer in until after installation is complete.
- 5). Assemble the lighting kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once all of the fixtures have been assembled, run the wiring to the individual lights and secure the light fixtures. Dig a shallow trench and bury the wiring that runs between the individual lights.
- 6). Plug the wiring into the electrical source. Confirm that all lights are functioning properly.