They bring safe power, lighting, and smart controls to the outdoors. That is the short answer. If you want a garden that works after sunset, handles water features without headaches, and feels safe to walk through, electrical contractors Jacksonville NC make that happen. They install weather-rated outlets, low voltage lighting, switches you can control from your phone, wiring for pumps and irrigation, and protection gear so storms do not ruin your investment. They also help you plan the layout, size the circuits, and meet code so you can enjoy your yard without stress.
Why power changes how you use a garden
Most yards look fine in daylight. After dark, the story changes. Steps feel risky. That nice path is a shadow. The grill sits unused. With basic lighting and a few well placed outlets, the yard turns into a second living room. You stay outside longer. You notice plants again. Kids play. Even simple lights around a seating area can shift your routine.
There is also comfort. A lit path to the trash bins keeps you from grabbing a flashlight. A switch by the back door that turns on the whole run of path lights saves time. Motion floods near gates make raccoons think twice. If you garden early in the morning, lights help you catch weeds and slugs you would miss.
Important outdoor wiring lives or dies by placement and protection. Good layout solves half of the problems before they start.
Light that extends your time outside
Think in layers. You do not need a stadium. You just want the right light in the right place.
- Path light to guide steps
- Task light for cooking or potting benches
- Accent light for a tree trunk or a water spill
- Soft wash on a fence to frame the scene
When an electrician lays these out, they look balanced. When each layer runs from a smart switch or a timer, you can keep it simple. One tap. Done.
Safe outlets and circuits outdoors
Outlets in the yard are not like indoor ones. They need the right rating and covers. The breaker feeding them needs the right protection. This is where a pro matters. The gear is not expensive, but the details are fussy.
Every outdoor receptacle needs to be weather resistant, on a GFCI protected circuit, and covered by an in-use cover so the plug stays dry while connected.
Electricians also plan circuits so you do not trip a breaker when the pump and the grill rotisserie run at the same time. They size wire to keep voltage stable at the far end of the run. That helps LEDs last longer and pumps run smooth.
Upgrades that change the feel of your garden
Below are common add‑ons that make a tangible difference. None of them are flashy. They just work. And when they are done right, you start to forget about them, which is the point.
Path and step lighting that does not glare
Low voltage path lights are the garden workhorse. They make walking easy and give a calm glow. Spacing and height matter more than wattage. Too bright looks harsh. Too dim looks patchy.
| Fixture type | Typical lumen range | Color temp | Mount height | Spacing on path | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path light with hat | 80 to 180 lm | 2700K to 3000K | 18 to 24 in | 5 to 8 ft, staggered | Shielded top, softer edges |
| Step light louvered | 40 to 100 lm | 2700K | Mounted in riser | One per 3 to 4 ft | Glare control is key |
| Wall wash mini | 150 to 300 lm | 2700K to 3000K | 6 to 12 in from surface | N/A | Softens fences or hedges |
If you want cooler light for a modern look, you can pick 3000K. For a warmer, candle-like feel, 2700K is fine. I sometimes mix both without thinking too hard. Warm near seating, a bit cooler near the grill. It is a small contrast that keeps the yard from feeling flat.
Deck, pergola, and seating areas
Downlights tucked into beams give a gentle pool on tables. Tiny LEDs under bench lips make the floor glow. A pro will hide wires along rafters and route them down posts into conduit, so nothing dangles. You end up with light where you need it and none in your eyes.
Accent lighting for trees and art
A narrow beam uplight on a crepe myrtle makes bark texture pop. A wide wash near a Japanese maple keeps leaves from looking like a blob. Try one or two fixtures first. Then add. It is easy to overdo this part.
Aim lights away from eyes and neighboring windows. Shielded fixtures protect night sky and keep the garden calm.
If you are near water or open space, keep top-of-fixture light under control. Many residents care about night skies. Good shielding helps birds and insects too.
Water features, ponds, and pumps
Anything with water adds rules. Pumps need GFCI protection. Bonding may be needed around metal parts. Underwater lights should be low voltage and listed for submersion. An electrician will pick a transformer with slack for voltage drop and heat. They will mount it above flood level and on a solid surface. That sounds fussy. It prevents failures.
I once tried to shortcut a pump outlet with a cheap stake. It lasted one storm. The fix was a proper post, in-use cover, and a sealed junction box. It cost a little more. It has been fine through summer heat and winter rain.
Irrigation controllers and sensors
A modern controller can sit in a weatherproof box near the back wall. Electricians pull a dedicated circuit, or they tap a safe feed with proper protection. Surge protection on that circuit matters in storm country. Many controllers link to Wi-Fi, so they set watering to local weather. You save water, and plants do better.
Outdoor audio, Wi-Fi, and cameras
Running speaker wire in conduit keeps the wire safe from shovels and pets. For Wi-Fi, some homes need a PoE outdoor access point mounted under the eave. Electricians can set up a GFCI protected outlet and a clean cable path for the network line. For cameras, power and data routing should keep holes small and sealed. The side benefit is less visual clutter.
Security lighting that does not scream
Motion floods can be tuned so they do not trigger for every moth. Place them at corners and over side gates. Try wide but soft light. You can also link them to path lights. When motion hits, path lights bump to a higher level for a few minutes, then fall back. It is less jarring.
Smart control that keeps things simple
Smart can feel like extra work. It does not have to. Start small. Use a dusk sensor so lights turn on when it gets dark. Add a timer so they shut off at a set hour. If you like control from your phone, add a smart switch or a smart transformer.
| Control type | What it does | Good for | Pros | Tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual switch | On and off at the wall | Single zone near the door | Simple, cheap | Easy to forget |
| Photocell | Turns on at dusk, off at dawn | Path lights | Hands off | Seasonal changes affect timing |
| Timer | On and off at set times | Accent lights, holidays | Predictable | Needs updates seasonally |
| Smart plug or switch | App control, schedules | Small zones | Flexible, voice control | Needs Wi‑Fi and updates |
| Smart transformer | Controls multiple lighting zones | Landscape lighting | Scenes, dimming, sunrise/sunset | Higher upfront cost |
Start simple. A dusk sensor and a basic timer cover most yards. Add smart gear only where you want fine control.
LEDs use far less power than old halogen lamps. A 5 watt LED path light replaces a 20 watt halogen for most paths. Ten lights save about 150 watts while they are on. Run them four hours per night and you save roughly 18 kilowatt hours per month compared to halogen. Not life changing, but it adds up over a year.
Planning the layout without guesswork
You can sketch your plan in an hour. Walk the yard at night. Note where you squint or feel uneasy. Mark those spots. Sit in your favorite chair and look at what feels dark or flat. That view needs a gentle wash or a single accent. Do the same at the grill and near steps.
Load and voltage basics
- Count fixtures and pumps by wattage. Add 20 to 30 percent headroom.
- For low voltage lighting, size the transformer to the total load with margin.
- Keep wire runs short. If you must run long, use thicker cable to reduce voltage drop.
- Split large zones into two runs so far lights do not look dim.
Low voltage at 12 or 15 volts is common for beds and paths. It is safer and easier to expand. Line voltage at 120 volts is better for hardwired floods, outlets, and gear like pumps. Both can live in the same yard if kept separate and done cleanly.
Materials that handle coastal weather
Jacksonville sees salt air, rain, heat, and the odd storm that tests everything. Ask for:
- Brass or powder coated aluminum fixtures. They age well.
- Stainless steel fasteners.
- UV resistant cable ties and gaskets.
- Weather resistant boxes and in-use covers.
- Conduit where mowers or shovels roam.
It seems like small stuff. It is what keeps your system from corroding or failing early.
Permits and code details that matter
Rules keep people safe. A licensed contractor knows them and works with local inspectors. Here are common burial depths many homes follow. Always ask your contractor what the local office requires for your site.
| Wiring method | Typical burial depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UF‑B cable direct burial | 24 in | 12 in allowed for 20A or less with GFCI in dwelling yards |
| PVC conduit with THWN conductors | 18 in | SCH 40 underground, SCH 80 where exposed |
| Rigid metal conduit | 6 in | Strong but harder to work with |
| Low voltage landscape cable | 6 in recommended | Keep out of mulch where possible |
Other basics a pro will handle:
- GFCI protection for outdoor outlets and certain lighting circuits
- Weather resistant receptacles and covers
- Wet location rated fixtures and boxes
- Bonding for pools, spas, and nearby metal parts
- Drip loops and sealed penetrations at the house
If a device sits outside, assume water will try to find it. Seal penetrations, elevate gear, and use the right covers.
Budget, timeline, and what to expect
Prices vary with yard size, distance from power, and fixture quality. Here is a general feel so you can plan. These are ranges, not quotes.
| Project item | Typical range | What affects cost |
|---|---|---|
| New outdoor GFCI circuit with 2 outlets | $400 to $900 | Distance to panel, trenching, wall type |
| Low voltage transformer and 8 to 12 path lights | $900 to $2,000 | Fixture quality, wire distance, terrain |
| Tree uplighting, 4 to 6 fixtures | $600 to $1,500 | Beam control, access, tree size |
| Deck or pergola lighting package | $700 to $2,200 | Hidden wiring paths, dimming, materials |
| Irrigation controller power and surge | $250 to $600 | Location, routing, enclosure |
| Pond pump outlet with in-use cover | $300 to $700 | Distance, GFCI, post or wall mount |
Ways to keep cost under control without hurting quality:
- Phase the work. Start with a transformer, a few path lights, and one accent.
- Have the contractor install empty conduit paths for future zones during the first visit.
- Choose durable fixtures, but fewer of them. You can add later.
- Keep transformers and control gear close to power to reduce trenching time.
- Use LED from the start. It cuts load and maintenance.
Most small projects wrap in a day. Larger layouts with trenches, decking, or permits can run two to four days. Weather can shift things. I know that is obvious, but rain really slows digging and sealants.
Safety and resilience in storm country
Coastal storms hit hard. The goal is not perfection. It is a system that shrugs off wind and water, or at least fails safely and recovers fast.
Surge and grounding
- Whole home surge protection at the main panel
- Point of use surge on irrigation and lighting controls
- Bonding and grounding verified during install
These steps protect gear during lightning activity. They are not a promise. They reduce risk and save time later.
Generators and what to power
If you keep fish, a pond pump matters during outages. You might also want the fridge on. Electricians can add a transfer switch or an interlock kit so a portable generator runs key circuits. Label the panel. Test it once a season. It sounds boring. It works when you need it.
Hurricane prep checklist for yard circuits
- Unplug low voltage transformers if flooding is likely
- Secure loose fixtures and posts
- Shut off noncritical outdoor breakers before a major storm
- After the storm, do not reset GFCIs until outlets are dry
Picking the right pro in Jacksonville
Licensing, insurance, and local experience matter. Salt air and storm cycles change how outdoor gear ages. Ask for photos of past outdoor work, not just indoor panels. Look for clean conduit runs, neat terminations, and labeled zones.
Good questions to ask during a site visit:
- Where will you mount the transformer and why
- How many zones will you build and how much spare capacity
- What fixture brands do you trust for coastal weather
- How do you handle voltage drop on long runs
- What is the plan for surge protection
- How will you route around tree roots and irrigation lines
I like bids that list fixture counts, beam types, wire gauge, and control method. Vague bids often hide shortcuts. Clear ones make it easy to compare apples to apples. If two bids differ a lot, walk the yard again with both contractors. You will learn quickly who sees the site well.
Case snapshots that show what changes
Small patio, big payoff
One ranch home had a dark concrete pad out back. We added a single smart switch near the slider, a 150 watt landscape transformer on the side wall, six path lights to the gate, and two downlights under the eave. Total install time was six hours. The owners started eating outside three nights a week. They later added two step lights. That was it.
Pond with plants and a pump
A homeowner built a small koi pond. The pump cable ran across grass. Not safe. The fix was a proper GFCI outlet on a post, with conduit down to a safe depth, and a dedicated 15 amp circuit. We added a surge protector to the controller and two low voltage spotlights on nearby grasses. It looked calm, and the cable mess was gone.
Family path plus grill zone
A family wanted a safe route from the back door to a detached garage. We ran a low voltage path loop, added a motion sensor near the garage, and tied both to a timer with a dusk sensor. The grill zone got a small downlight and a weather resistant outlet. They told me the kids stopped tripping on toys, which sounds trivial. It is not trivial at 9 pm when you are carrying groceries.
Maintenance that keeps things looking fresh
LEDs last, but the outdoors is rough. Plan a fifteen minute check now and then.
Seasonal quick checks
- Wipe lenses with a soft cloth
- Re-aim fixtures after mowing or storms
- Trim plants that block light
- Test GFCI outlets and reset if needed
- Clear leaves from around transformers and boxes
Plant growth and light shift
Plants move. That perfect uplight on a trunk may hit leaves by mid-summer. Slide the stake back a foot. Swap a narrow lens for a wider one. Small tweaks keep the scene balanced. I sometimes leave one area a little darker than the rest on purpose. It gives the eye a place to rest.
Prevent damage from pets and lawn gear
- Ask for conduit at fence lines where dogs run
- Keep stakes a few inches back from mower wheels
- Use metal guards near string trimmer zones
Wildlife and neighbor friendly lighting
People worry about light spill, and for good reason. You can have safety and still respect the night.
- Use warmer light near beds and water
- Pick shielded fixtures and louvered step lights
- Point lights down or across, not up into the sky
- Dim accent lights after bedtime with a schedule
If a neighbor mentions glare, thank them and fix the angle. It is often a one minute change.
DIY versus pro work
There is room for both. Many people enjoy installing a few low voltage lights. It teaches you what you like. When you want new circuits, outlets, pumps, or code work, bring in a licensed electrician. They will do the digging and the details faster. They also stand behind the work. I think that is worth it for anything beyond a small kit.
A starter plan you can try this week
- Walk the yard at dusk with a notepad
- Mark three areas: safety, comfort, and beauty
- Pick two to three fixtures for each area
- Decide on control: dusk sensor plus timer is a strong start
- Call a local pro and ask for a short site visit
- Phase the install if budget is tight: path first, then accent, then deck
Many gardens only need a handful of circuits and a clean layout. The rest is taste. If something looks too bright, dim it. If a corner feels neglected, give it a small wash. Try not to chase perfection. Aim for a yard that feels good most nights.
Q and A
How much power do I need for a small yard?
Most small gardens run under 300 watts of landscape lighting with LED. Add a 15 amp circuit for outlets near the grill and a pump if you have one. A contractor will confirm by counting loads and distance.
Do I need a permit for outdoor outlets and lights?
New circuits usually need a permit. Fixture swaps do not. Local rules vary. A licensed contractor will handle the paperwork.
Is low voltage lighting safer?
Yes. It is safer to install and to adjust. It still needs proper connections, waterproof splices, and the right transformer.
What color temperature should I pick?
2700K looks warm and natural on plants and stone. 3000K looks a bit cleaner near modern patios. You can mix them. Warm near seating, slightly cooler for tasks.
How do I avoid glare?
Use shielded fixtures, lower mounting heights, and careful aiming. Keep beams off windows and eyes. Louvered step lights and hat-style path lights help a lot.
Can I add smart control later?
Yes. Start with a photocell and a timer. If you want scenes and dimming, swap in a smart transformer or a smart switch later.
What about storms and outages?
Add surge protection, mount gear above grade, and keep connections sealed. If you need a pond pump to run during outages, ask about a transfer switch for a portable generator.
Will lighting bother birds or insects?
Use warmer light, aim down, and dim late at night. Shielded fixtures reduce sky glow and help wildlife.
Can I dig my own trenches to save money?
You can, if the contractor agrees. Follow depth guidelines, keep runs straight, and leave slack at each end. The electrician will pull wire and make safe connections.
What if I change my mind on fixture locations?
Plan for change. Ask for extra capacity in the transformer and conduit paths to future spots. Moving a stake or adding one run should be simple.
