Safety, functionality, signage, convenience or lengthy evenings on the patio - there are so many good reasons for installing outside lighting. But the installation will be exposed to damp, changes in temperature and even shocks. So several precautions must be taken.

Choose watertight equipment

In all cases, only buy watertight equipment compliant with standard IP23 at least (it is indicated on the box).

Opt for switching on automatically 

Think about movement detectors to switch on your system. The lights are fitted with a twilight sensor. This means that they will no longer work at sunrise and thus will not switch on unnecessarily. More sophisticated models can be adjusted for time, range and sensitivity, which prevents the lights from switching on every time your cat is on the prowl.

If you opt for manual operation with a switch, choose a bipolar model. This is safer as it cuts the current on both wires.

Adapt your installation according to voltage type

In 230 V, you must without fail connect the outside line to a 30 mA differential circuit breaker (like for the kitchen and bathroom). This circuit breaker must only be used for the outside line.

If you decide on 12 V, check that the transformer is designed for outside use. Otherwise, connect it to a socket inside a room and start the wiring to the outside from there.

Bury the cables

• Go round lawns rather than across them.
• Bury the cables 60 cm and even 80 cm deep if they are going under a drive that carries vehicle traffic (20 cm deep is enough for low voltage cables (12 V)
• Cover the cable with 10 cm of sand then a metal 

Connect via the bottom

Always bring the cables in via the bottom of lights, boxes or switches, never on the side.

Regularly inspect the condition of your installation

Replace any defective or damaged equipment without hesitation.