How To Hardwire Outdoor Lighting

Hardwiring outdoor lighting is a great way to illuminate your home's exterior and create a welcoming atmosphere. By following these steps, you can safely and easily hardwire your outdoor lighting fixtures. ### Step 1: Plan Your Lighting Layout Before you start wiring, take some time to plan your lighting layout. Determine where you want to place your fixtures and how they will be connected to each other and to the power source. Draw out a diagram of your layout to help you visualize it and plan for the necessary materials. ### Step 2: Gather Your Materials

You will need the following materials to hardwire your outdoor lighting:

Outdoor lighting fixtures
Electrical wire (14- or 12-gauge UF wire is recommended for outdoor use)
Wire connectors (such as wire nuts or crimp connectors)
Electrical tape
Mounting hardware (such as screws or bolts)
Drill or driver
Screwdriver
Voltage tester

### Step 3: Prepare Your Wires Cut the electrical wire to the length needed for each fixture. Strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from each end of the wire. Twist the bare wires together to form a secure connection. ### Step 4: Connect the Wires to the Fixture Match the black (hot) wire from the fixture to the black wire from the power source. Twist the wires together and secure them with a wire nut or crimp connector. Repeat this process for the white (neutral) wires. ### Step 5: Connect the Fixtures to Each Other If you are installing multiple fixtures, connect them to each other in series or parallel. In a series connection, the wires from the first fixture connect to the wires from the second fixture, and so on. In a parallel connection, the wires from each fixture connect to a common wire. ### Step 6: Mount the Fixtures Mount the fixtures to the desired location using the mounting hardware. ### Step 7: Test the Lighting Turn on the power and test the lighting to make sure it is working properly. ### Tips for Hardwiring Outdoor Lighting

Use UF wire (underground feeder wire) for outdoor installations.
Bury the wires at least 18 inches deep.
Use wire connectors that are rated for outdoor use.
Install GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets for added safety.
Hire a licensed electrician if you are not comfortable working with electricity.