Even on the brightest of evenings, navigating your garden by path or patio can be a challenge at best and, at worst, the cause of a nasty spill.

A house-mounted spotlight can provide lighting, but has several disadvantages. Usually house-mounted lighting is line voltage (120 volts) which can be a budget-buster. In addition, it is operated from switches located at the home's interior and thus can be inconvenient when you are outside.

An increasing number of people are discovering the benefits of low-voltage landscape lighting as an economical, effective and energy-efficient source of exterior lighting.

The biggest difference between traditional forms of line-voltage landscape lighting and its low-voltage counterpart is the electric current required to power the system. The former is powered by 120 volts, the same electricity used to power most homes. Low-voltage lighting, on the other hand, operates on only 12 volts of electrical current, a tenth of its line-voltage cousin.

There are other advantages to low-voltage lighting. Many landscape-lighting systems are sold in kits for user-friendly do-it-yourself installation. Many folks who wouldn't otherwise chance fooling with electricity can be found installing a low-voltage landscape lighting system on any given weekend. Furthermore, the systems are affordable and can be installed in an afternoon, without an electrician.

A low-voltage landscape-lighting system consists of the transformer, low-voltage electrical wire and the light fixtures.

The device that converts line-voltage electricity to low-voltage is called a transformer. The transformer plugs into a 120-volt electrical outlet near its installation location. Low-voltage wires that supply electricity to various light fixtures are connected to terminals found on the transformer.

Transformers are available in various wattage, which corresponds to the number of light fixtures that will be powered by it. Generally speaking, the greater the number of fixtures, the higher the wattage, the larger the transformer.

The wire used to connect the light fixtures to the transformer typically is 14- or 16-gauge direct burial. It is not necessary to run the wire in metal or plastic conduit. It simply can be buried in a shallow trench, though, we suggest that it be at least 8 inches below the surface to avoid damage from digging in the garden.

The final components are the light fixtures. Low-voltage landscape light fixtures come in more sizes, styles, finishes and price ranges than ever before. Essentially, there are three basic types of fixtures: spot lighting, path lighting and general lighting.
Spot lighting consists of a floodlight that is used to direct light to a specific location so as to illuminate a tree or group of decorative shrubs. A spotlight also can be used to highlight a specific architectural element of the home's exterior.

Path-lighting and accent-lighting fixtures are by far the most popular styles used by homeowners today. An evening drive around virtually any neighborhood will reveal this style of lighting surrounding paths, patios, driveways and carports. They also can be found sprinkled throughout flowerbeds and other planting areas.

Path- or accent-light fixtures once could be identified by their "one-trick" style, a multi-tiered pagoda-style fixture with a green or black finish. While the pagoda style remains popular, patch and accent lighting comes in more styles, sizes and finishes than ever before.

Keep in mind that, in addition to providing ample light, the fixtures that you choose should act as a design element to enhance the appearance of your home and landscaping.

Always begin with a pencil and paper to create a plan rather than a shovel and soil to forge a trench. The plan should detail each fixture location by style. In addition, proposed transformer locations and existing electrical power sources should be detailed on the plan.

Most leading manufactures of low-voltage landscape lighting have informative, well-illustrated pamphlets that offer step-by-step instructions on everything from layout to installation.

One aspect of design that deserves particular attention is the maximum distance that the wire will travel. The longer the wire travels the more the voltage drops, which, in turn, creates a drop in illumination. To avoid this condition, several wires of varying lengths should be run from the transformer.

When choosing a transformer, look for one that offers multiple accessories that can make your low-voltage landscape lighting more versatile and efficient. For instance, some transformers are equipped with a photoelectric (PE) cell that will automatically turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. Another popular accessory is a variable rheostat (dimmer) that will control the intensity of the lighting to create the perfect mood on your deck, patio or gazebo.