How To Install Low Voltage Deck Lights and Post Caps

How To Install Low Voltage Deck Lights and Post Caps

Tools Needed to wire your low voltage deck lights.With a good set of tools it is much easier than you might think!If you live in Kansas City and you want us to do the install just call. You can also estimate your deck here to see about how much it will cost.

http://www.moonlightdecks.com/EstimateYourDeck.php


Draw an X on top of the post to find the center.


Drill a hole with the Forstner bit just off center about 1.5" deep to accomodate wires.


Drill a hole with the auger bit just off center and down until you are sure it is deeper than the hand railing. When you are finished drilling all the posts, use your shop vac or blower to get as much of the sawdust out of the holes as possible.A clean workspace makes your job easier and mistake free.


Use the 1/2 inch drill bit to drill up at an angle from under the hand rail into the augered hole.*If you are building your deck, another great way to wire it is to take off the hand rail and router the top 2x4 to lay your wire into. Then drill your holes up into the post. This way, you definitely won't see any wire. Just be careful when you put the handrail back on not to screw into your wire.


You may have to drill the 1/2 inch holes on both sides of the post to accommodate the daisy chained wiring.


This shows one of the end posts with a single 16-2 wire coming out.


Here is the wire with the light socket and wirenuts.


I usually tape the wirenuts. This helps avoid breaking the connection when stuffing the wires into the hole. Or, you can use crimping wire nuts for a very secure connection.


Here is the single wire finished and stuffed into the hole with the light socket centered and screwed in.If you purchase the smooth version of my cap you may have to recess the socket slightly so that the bulb does not touch the inside of the cap.


Wire is run from post to post underneath the handrail, stapled up every 6 inches or so.Make sure you DO NOT staple through the wire. Make sure the staple goes completely around the wire. It will ground it and your lights won't work. If you do staple through it, just pull it out and get it right on the next shot. No worries.


This shows the wire coming up the post from the transformer and heading out to the next post.*If you are building your deck, another great way to wire it is to take off the hand rail and router the top 2x4 to lay your wire into. Just be careful when you put the handrail back on not to screw into your wire.


This shows the wire coming up the post from the transformer and heading out to the next post.You can find brown insulated staples in the electrical section of Home Depot. *If you want to hide this wire, you can use a router again and notch out a spot for the wire up the post. Then add a decorative piece of wood to cover it up.


Most of your posts will have 2 wires. Peel each one apart and strip them.

Then attach one side of one wire to one side of the other. Then again for the other 2 remaining wires.


You'll have 2 wires in one group and 2 in another. Both wires in a group will be from separate wires.Then attach one side of the socket to one group of wires and the other side to the other group of wires. Cap each set off with wirenuts.


Tape up the 2 groups of wires. Screw the socket down.


Tuck in the wires and you are finished. Just push in the bulb and put on the cap.If you purchase the smooth version of my cap you may have to recess the socket slightly so that the bulb does not touch the inside of the cap.


When wiring the transformer, just put one side of the wire into A and one into B. If you are using a Kichler Transformer you will put one side into the "Common" hole and one into the 12V hole.


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Date post:	22-Jan-2015
Category:	Self Improvement
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How To Install Low Voltage Deck Lights and Post Caps

Self Improvement