Deciding what to light
Start with how you move around the property at night: the walk from the driveway to the front door, the steps down to the patio, the gate, the side yard where the garbage cans live. Then think about what you'd like to see, such as a tree, a garden bed, or the face of the house. Light aimed down and across a path is easy on the eyes. Light aimed straight out at eye level is what makes a yard feel glaring.
Getting power to the yard
Most outdoor fixtures run off a nearby circuit inside the house or the garage. Lights farther out, at a fence line or a detached building, may need wire buried in a trench or run in conduit along a wall. Everything outdoors gets fixtures, boxes, and covers rated for wet locations, and outdoor outlets get GFCI protection, which is the outlet that trips when it senses a leak to ground. If you're planting beds or pouring a patio soon, tell us, because it's easier to run the wire before the concrete goes in.
Logan at 4 Point Electric was personable, efficient, and professional. Our job was a small outside lighting installation, but important to us. We were very satisfied with 4 Point.
Switches, timers, and sensors
A regular switch inside the door gives you full control. A timer or a dusk-to-dawn photocell turns the lights on at dark without anyone thinking about it. A motion sensor lights a path only when someone walks it. Many yards use a mix, such as porch lights on a photocell and a side-yard light on motion. See motion and security lighting.
Gate openers and other outdoor equipment
The same planning applies to anything outside that needs power: gate openers, outdoor outlets for a patio, a hot tub, or a light and outlet in a shed or shop. Ben installed a solar powered gate opener for Cristen P.:
… Ben came out and spent a few hours putting up a solar powered gate opener on my gate, it works great!!! And was very aware of the mess he had made, and when he left, he had cleaned up everything, I was so impressed, i will use “4 point electric” every-time i need help!
Thanks guys i really love my new gate!