In message , p.k.
writes
paulwilks wrote:
I'm thinking of putting garden lighting in my garden in a couple of
months when I can afford it, but I'm thinking of installing the cable
now. What outdoor electical cable should I use and transformer with in
mind installing around 8 spot lights at 20 watts each.

Best method is to run 240v armoured cable around the garden and take supply
points off that to individual or 2/3/4 way outdoor transformers or to light
units withe theri own transformers.

It might be 'the best', but it certainly wouldn't be the easiest. The
cable would need burying deeply enough (maybe 18 inches if the ground is
or would likely to be cultivated) or fixing securely out of the way to
walls etc. At each 'point' the cable will need terminating at some sort
of junction box or enclosure, which would require fixing to something,
with all the joints having to be made - ok but SWA is a bit more faffy
than plain cable. ND IF I was goign to the effort of running SWA I'd
probably wan to terminate it at it's own way in the consumer unit.

TBH, if I was running SWA all round the place it's be maybe easier to
just use mains fittings and forget the LV stuff.

Personally I'd try to just use LV lights and minimize the mains cable
used, for ease of use and speed of installation, much depends on where
the lights are to be in terms of distance from house or other mains
electrical supply.

Note as well that I would imagine (without checking) that this would
come under the new Part P of the building regs, which says that most
electrical work carried out on dwellings either require building regs.
approval or has to be carried out by an Electrician who can 'self
certify'. You may or may not consider this important to consider of
course.......

Part P has been much discussed over on uk.d-i-y, I commend Google Groups
to you here

--
Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds
urg Suppliers and References FAQ:
http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html