How to Install Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting
Courtesy of Cornerhardware.com

1. Choosing Fixtures
Turn off the power. Use the electronic stud finder to locate ceiling joists. Trace the outline of the fixture onto the ceiling. Then, with a tarp beneath, use a drywall saw to cut the opening (or enlarge an existing opening) for the recessed light between the joists. A jigsaw with a plaster-cutting blade will make the job easier, but be careful not to cut through existing cables hidden in the ceiling. Another handy tool, especially if you're putting in several recessed lights, is a drywall circle cutter. It's precise and easy to use.

2. Installing the Power Pack
A power pack transforms 120-volt house current into a low-voltage circuit. Typically, power packs are weathertight plastic shells that contain a hard-wired plug that connects to your house wiring, typically by plugging into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI); screw terminals for the low-voltage cable; and a timer that turns lights on and off.

Using screws provided by the manufacturer, mount the power pack to an exterior wall, at least one foot above ground. Once the power pack is secured, strip the low-voltage cable wires and attach them to the terminals on the power pack. Although the example shown is typical, consult your manufacturer's instructions in case of any variations.

You could also mount the power pack inside your house, say, inside a basement wall, so that you can plug into a receptacle inside. But such a location is not only less convenient, it also requires drilling through exterior walls and sheathing the cable in a length of conduit as it passes through the wall. It makes more sense to add an exterior GFCI and plug your power pack into that.

3. Laying Cable and Attaching Fixtures
After you mount the power pack, you're ready to run cable to your outdoor lights. Place your lights wherever you like. Though installation details vary, most lights are simple to set up: slide light shades over the fixture socket, attach that assembly to a riser post, insert a ground stake in the bottom of the post, and stick the stake into the ground. Then run the low-voltage cable on top of the ground alongside each fixture in turn. You can bury the cable, but we prefer to cover it with a few inche s of topsoil, so it can be unearthed easily if necessary.

Each light connects to the cable via two wire leads that end in a cable connector. Cable connectors almost always look like two tiny jaws with a small, sharp prong emerging from each. Place a connector on each side of the cable and simply press them together till they lock. The prongs pierce the cable and thus complete the electrical connection. Back at the house, plug the power pack into the GFCI, set the timer—and bring on the night!

Tools & Materials
Stud finder, Recessed lighting fixture, Drywall saw, Tarp, jigsaw, Cable clamp, drywall circle cutter, Twist-on wire connectors, Adjustable wire stripper, Long-nose pliers, Screwdriver.