Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design - a PDH Online Course for Engineers and Surveyors

Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design

Course Outline

The Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design Course is a set of definitions, theories and practical guidelines which are helpful and necessary in the design of a low voltage landscape lighting system for both residential and commercial properties. The student should be able to master this course in 3-5 hours dependent on experience with electrical systems.

This course is divided into 6 sections each addressing one of the following topics:

Section 1 - Definitions and Theory
Section 2 - Types of Lighting Fixtures and Techniques
Section 3 - The Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Plan
Section 4 - Transformer Selection and Placement
Section 5 - Implementation Tips
Section 6 - Cost Estimating and Budgeting

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

This course will allow the student to:

Create a landscape lighting layout
Calculate voltage drops over a given line length
Determine the correct wattage fixture for a given application
Determine the maximum number of fixtures on a particular wire run
Determine the correct transformer for a lighting layout
Determine the correct number of transformers for a given lighting layout
Determine what types of lighting fixtures to use at each location
Determine what type of bulb to use in each fixture
Determine the correct location of each light fixture in a layout
Determine the size wire to use for each main or auxiliary run
Determine the number of separate house circuits necessary to power a particular landscape layout implementation
Generate a material list for a given landscape layout design
Determine the cost of a particular Low Voltage Landscape lighting system

Intended Audience

This course is intended for Architects and Engineers that want to add Landscape Lighting to the lists of services that they offer or just want to become more knowledgeable in an area of design that they may be required to review or supervise. This course might also be useful to landscape design professionals desiring to expand their list of services. Since this course is limited to low- voltage lighting techniques and equipment, no electrician license is required to perform this work.

Benefit to Attendees

Familiarity with terms used in Landscape Lighting
Ability to perform or manage low voltage landscape lighting projects
Add the ability to provide another architectural element to customers
Increase revenues and potentially profits for the lighting contractor

Course Introduction

Landscape lighting has been recognized as a key element to the architectural aesthetics of a home or commercial property. Where previously lighting was used merely to light a pathway to let you see where you were walking, it is now used for safety, security and to enhance the beauty of structures and garden elements. It also enhances the value of properties by creating nighttime curb appeal and increased evening utility of the home's exterior features. This course will enable the designer to layout an effective and attractive lighting scheme and to select the proper elements for plan implementation.

Course Content

The course content is in a PDF file Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design. You need to open or download this document to study this course.

Course Summary

Introduction to Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Design is a set of definitions, theories and practical guidelines helpful and necessary in the design of a low voltage landscape lighting system for both residential and commercial properties. It gives theory, practical examples of lighting layouts and real market examples of products available for plan implementation. Numerous links are provided below and in the body of the course to sites where more specific information on products may be obtained.

Related Links and References

The following publications are excellent references on this topic:

The Art of Outdoor Lighting: Landscapes With the Beauty of Lighting by Randall Whitehead
The Landscape Lighting Book by Janet Lennox Moyer

The following links provide product specifics for Low Voltage Landscape lighting:

http://www.intermatic.com/?action=div&did=1 Intermatic Malibu® Landscape Lighting
FX Luminaire Inc. FX Luminaire Lighting Products
HADCO Lighting HADCO Lighting Products

http://www.residential-landscape-lighting-design.com/ Residential Landscape Lighting & Design

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.