How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl
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How to Install Landscape Lights and Repel Mosquitoes

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Pop Quiz: How can you beautify your yard AND repel mosquitoes at the same time?

Do you give up? Introducing the new NuTone Haven Backyard Lighting & Mosquito Repellent System.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

As a resident of the North Carolina, we fight a losing battle against mosquitoes for a better part of the year. My son and I seem to be especially attractive to those pesky suckers. With the Zika virus in the news, I was thrilled when NuTone asked me to install and review their Haven lights (via a sponsored post.) Today I’ll show you how to install these low voltage landscape lights (similar to most landscape light installation.) At the end of the summer I’ll check back in to let you know how I like them.

Ready to learn How to Install Landscape Lights and Repel Mosquitoes?

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions:

Unpack your Haven Light & Repellent system from the box. Pull out the stake, stem and light to assemble.

Assembling the Fixture:

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Loosen the screw on the stake.How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Loosen the screw on the stem.loosen-screw-on-post

Feed the wires from the light fixture through the stem.How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Pull the wires through the other end of the stem.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl
Loosen the screw on the light fixture base and insert the stem into the light fixture. Tighten the screw.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Feed the other end of the stem into the stake and position the wires into the open slot in the stake.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Tighten the stake onto the stem.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

How to Install the Repellent:

Locate the bottle of repellent. Remove the green protective cap. Attach the locking adaptor cap onto the bottle (make sure the spurs are at the bottom.) Twist the locking cap until secure.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Loosen the screw just below the white shade on the light fixture.
How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Tilt the fixture open to expose inside.
How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Insert the repellent into the light fixture. The wick fits into the hole in the center of the fixture.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Twist the bottle 30 degrees to secure in place.
How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Close the light fixture and tighten the screw.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Repeat for any additional fixtures.

Installing Landscape Lights in Your Yard:

Set the fixtures in your yard and adjust the spacing (leave approximately 10 – 12′ between fixtures.)

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

When you are happy with the layout. Choose a location for your transformer (must be able to plug into a covered GFCI outlet.) Choose a path to connect your lights. (Ideally you’ll want to use the least amount of wire possible.) Run the first line of 12/2 low voltage wire from the transformer and around each light.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Loosely loop the wire around each fixture. It’s best to allow some slack in the wiring in case you have to move anything. Or to prevent connections from coming undone should someone pull the wire. Wrap colored duct tape around this wire near each fixture. This will label your first wire as the lighting wire.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Run a separate 12/2 low voltage wire around each fixture. Do not put tape on this wire.

Loosen the screw in the stake and remove the light fixture. Place the provided cap on each stake.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Hammer the stakes into the ground until they are flush with the soil.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Replace the light fixture into the stake and tighten the screw.

How to Wire Low Voltage Landscape Lights:

Please note that low voltage landscaping light connectors will differ. They are all similar in that there is a connector that has metal prongs to puncture and connect to the low voltage wire cable. The NuTone Haven Backyard Lighting & Mosquito Repellent System requires two separate wires (one for lights and one for repellent.) The Mosquito Repellent-Only fixtures (and most low voltage lights) only require one wire.

Locate the wire that was marked with colored duct tape.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Place some dielectric grease on the wire where you wish to connect the fixture.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Locate one connector. Unscrew the connector. Press the wire firmly (grease side toward the prongs) into the lower portion of the connector (has metal prongs). (I’m not sure if this is necessary or not, but I made sure the negative prong for all my fixtures was on the side that has writing on my low voltage wire cable.)

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Thread the upper half of the connector onto the bottom portion.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Twist the ring until the connector is tight. To help get a good connection. Tug at the wire to help the prongs pierce the wire insulation. Then tighten the ring further.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Squeeze some dielectric grease into both holes on the connector.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Firmly press the lighting wires into the slots.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Repeat these steps to connect the repellent wires to the non-marked low voltage cable wire. Connect all your fixtures to the light and repellent cable wires.

Installing the Low Voltage Transformer and Controller:

Install the controller and transformer near a covered GFCI outlet. For ease of connection, you may want to remove them from the mounting screws during wiring. Make sure the transformer is unplugged.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Locate the light sensor. While pressing down on the green buttons with a screwdriver, press both wires into the green “CDS” slots on the controller. Release the buttons and tug gently on the wires to make sure they are secured.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Cut a 12″ length of 12/2 low voltage wire. Split the two wires by scoring the center with a utility knife. Repeat on the other end.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Remove about 1/4″ from the end of both sides of the wire.How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Attach one end of the cable wire to the transformer. Make sure the screws are tight over the wire ends.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Attach the other end to the “AC 12V” screws on the controller. This will supply the controller with power.How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Connect the light wire cable to the “Light” screws on the controller. Connect the repellent wire cable to the “Repellent” screws.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Time to test your lights! Plug in the transformer and turn it on. Turn on the lights by pushing the light on/off button on the controller. Look around your yard and make sure all the lights are lit.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Turn on the repellent by pushing the “Repellent On/Off” button. Check to see if the green light is illuminated at the base of each fixture.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

If you have any fixtures that are not lit, check that the connections are tightened completely.

If everything is working, program your timer/controller per the instructions provided with the controller.

Burying the Landscape Wires:

Use the garden shovel to dig a trench 6″ deep next to the landscape wire (be very careful not to slice the wire.)

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Press the landscape wiring and connectors into the trench and replace the dirt.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Now stick your tongue out and say “Nah Nee Nah Nee Boo Boo, You Can’t Get Me!” to all the mosquitoes.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

And enjoy your beautifully illuminated yard!

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl
How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

According to the manual that came with the Haven Backyard Lighting and Mosquito Repellant, the repellant will last approximately 215 hours. You control how many hours the repellant is emitted per day which will either extend or shorten the number of days until you need to buy refills.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

I definitely like the look of the landscape lights when they are lit…

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

…and not lit.

How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights (that also repel mosquitos!) | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you have a yard that could use some mosquito protection? NuTone has a stand alone repellant fixture. But, personally I like having the 2-in-1 fixture, because who doesn’t love having an illuminated yard at night.

PHGFancySign

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for NuTone. I was provided with the landscape lights and compensated for my time. I was not told what to write. All instructions and opinions are my own. I have not had time to test these fixtures fully, but will write a review at the end of the summer.

8 replies
  1. Chrisann Sperbeck
    Chrisann Sperbeck says:

    I’m researching using the nutone mosquito repellant system. Can you tell me what you thought of it by the end of the summer you used them?

    Reply
  2. Ivory
    Ivory says:

    Your site have the right name, because you rock! I was able to follow what you did all the way until you got to connecting to tge transformer. I could never do that. I would sat the house on fire. I wish I was as talented as you are. Thank you so much for sharing. By the way, your landscape is beautiful. I love the idea of repellant in the light. I will have to check it out, but get my brother to help me install them.

    Reply
  3. Vanessa D.
    Vanessa D. says:

    Installing low-voltage lights looks quite a bit less complicated than I thought it would be. This might be something I’ll have to consider for my yard – it’s a great way to get exterior lighting without having all the bugs that lights attract on my house.

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] promised I’d give you a follow up on the Haven Backyard Lighting and Mosquito Repellant lights I installed two months ago. They have been working great all summer. The light output is perfect […]

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