Site & evening-use brief
Identify dark areas, preferred views and spaces where light should be kept low. Discuss the locations visible from bedrooms and neighboring properties.
Landscape Lighting
Outdoor Lighting Planned for the Way You Use the Yard
Light the paths, steps and spaces that matter. Coordinate the fixtures, power and controls with the landscape around them.
What & Why
Begin with the view after dark.
A useful landscape lighting plan starts with movement through the property: the front walk, changes in level, outdoor dining and the features you want to see. Fixture placement should also consider the view from inside the house and neighboring windows.
YKCA helps define the electrical installation for a new design or an existing system that needs attention. The scope includes the chosen fixtures, power arrangement, control expectations and the route through finished landscaping.
Your lighting priorities
Locations
Paths, steps, planting and gathering areas
Appearance
Brightness, beam direction and glare
Power
Existing supply and proposed equipment
Controls
Schedules, zones and manual override
Project Scope
A complete system behind the finished lighting.
Select the visual effect and coordinate the electrical details that support it.
Fixture layout
Coordinate fixture type and position with paths, planting growth, irrigation and landscape maintenance.
Power & equipment review
Assess the supply and the proposed transformer or line-voltage equipment. Match the equipment to the installation environment and selected fixtures.
Cable & route planning
Account for cable length, connected load and voltage drop in low-voltage design. Identify routes through planting, hardscape and existing sleeves.
Controls & zoning
Define which areas operate together and how schedules are adjusted. Confirm the desired control functions against the selected equipment.
Aiming & handoff
Include final aiming, control setup and an explanation of system operation. Record the equipment and routes needed for future maintenance.
Decisions That Matter
Choose the effect before adding more fixtures.
Path light or floodlight
A comfortable path and a broad security-lit area are different goals. Discuss brightness and glare where people actually walk or sit.
Low voltage or line voltage
Select the arrangement for the site and fixtures. A low-voltage system still needs a suitable power source and correctly planned cable runs.
Repair or redesign
A dark section may involve a supply, connection, control or fixture issue. Diagnose the existing system before deciding what needs replacement.
Before Your Consultation
Show us the areas you use after sunset.
A simple annotated site plan is enough to explain the desired result.
Priority areas
Mark the front walk, steps, patio and planting or architectural features you want illuminated.
Existing system
Share available fixture, transformer and controller information and note which areas are not working as expected.
Landscape plans
Identify upcoming irrigation, paving or planting work that could change the best route or fixture positions.
FAQ
Landscape lighting questions.
It may suit many pathway and accent applications. The choice depends on the fixtures, layout, available supply and intended controls; it should be made for the actual design.
Long runs, added load, conductor resistance, deteriorated connections or incompatible fixtures can cause dimming or flashing. Compare loaded voltage at the affected fixtures with their model limits. A separate home run or suitable branch layout may help a route problem; a larger transformer alone does not remove cable resistance, and raising a tap can overvoltage nearby fixtures.
Reuse depends on the transformer type, AC/DC output, LED compatibility, minimum and maximum loading, controls and cable condition. A halogen-to-LED change can fall below an electronic transformer’s minimum load or raise fixture voltage on a retained high tap. Confirm the exact models and measure the installed operating conditions before approving reuse.
Many systems can use schedules or other controls. Confirm the functions, zones and connectivity of the selected equipment, including how you want to override the automatic settings.
That depends on the route and existing provisions. Agree on access, protection of planting and irrigation, and any hardscape or landscape repair included in the work.
The fixture selection and count, power and controls, cable routes, access and restoration determine scope. Start with a lighting plan rather than a price per fixture alone.
Planning references
Manufacturer guidance explains lighting layouts and the effect of cable length, load and voltage drop. The final system follows the selected equipment’s requirements.
Related project planning
Your Next Step
Make your outdoor lighting plan clear.
Tell us which paths and spaces you want to use after dark, and what you would like to change in the existing lighting.
Frequently asked project questions
Work through the difficult decisions.
Explore the causes, choices and practical next steps behind common project questions.
How can we reduce glare without making the walkway too dark?
Compare suitable shields or shrouds, lower-output fixtures, beam distribution, placement and supported dimming. Warm color temperature alone does not reduce brightness. Do not use tape or an out-of-range transformer tap as a dimmer. Check the path, steps and nearby viewpoints after dark before accepting the result.
Read the full guide: Your Path Lights Are Bright but the Path Is Hard to See: Fix the Distribution ↗Why do my landscape lights turn on or off at the wrong time?
Check the displayed time, AM/PM, date and daylight-saving setting. Mechanical clocks without backup can stop during an outage; astronomical timers also need the correct location, time zone and offsets. Identify any photocell, override or upstream control, then verify both scheduled transitions. Internal components may carry line voltage even when the fixtures are low voltage.
Read the full guide: Landscape Lights Turn On at the Wrong Time: Separate Clock, Sensor and Override ↗What if landscaping work damages the lighting wiring?
Stop using damaged equipment and document the affected zone and yard-work area. Have the cable, actual cover, connector suitability and route assessed. A point repair may leave the same conflict with edging or digging. Coordinate the applicable 811 process and private-line locating, then record the repaired route and verify fixture operation and aiming.
Read the full guide: Landscape Lights Failed After Yard Work: Protect the Repair and the Next Season ↗- Landscape Lights Flicker After an Extension: Why a Bigger Transformer May Not Help
- Can an Old Landscape Transformer Run New LED Lights? Check More Than Watts
- Your Path Lights Are Bright but the Path Is Hard to See: Fix the Distribution
- Landscape Lights Turn On at the Wrong Time: Separate Clock, Sensor and Override
- Landscape Lights Failed After Yard Work: Protect the Repair and the Next Season
Contact Us
Request A Consultation
Local Services
We're in your city.
Choose your city and tell us what you need. We'll plan the project around your location.
Choose your city to include it with your project details.
Or call us to discuss your project:
(650) 550-0819Request received
Thank you. Your request has been received.
