Professional DIY Garden Lighting System
Every now and again we come across a range of fittings that deserves to be given extra attention and explanation. This collection of garden lights and accessories features some extraordinary benefits that make it perfect for both professional installations and DIY customers looking for a premium solution.
It is the quick connect system that stands out at first. These sealed plug and play connectors, junctions and drivers make the installation simple, and as the range is 24VDC (Extra Low Voltage) also very safe to use without elaborate precautions.
Added to this the whole collection is made of coastal grade materials that are backed with a 5 year warranty. The fixtures are all available in Solid Copper, 316 Stainless Steel and Sand Black powdercoated over 316 Stainless Steel. The range of fixtures is diverse and allows for a multitude of effects and applications and can be used across the entirety of a project without needing to introduce alternative ranges.
First, we will delve into the range of fixtures and their applications then this article will cover the quick connect system and drivers used to power the system with helpful diagrams as a complete guide for your garden lighting.
Spotlights
Mini Spot 4W – Spike and Surface Mount
A simple spot supplied with spike and surface mount base for lighting small trees, bushes, statues and over features in your garden. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable, Surface Mount and Spike Mount
| Lamp: LED 4W – 216 lumens Beam Angle: 25 Degrees Spot Diameter: 41mm Length: 97mm IP Rating: IP67 Inrush Current: 0.28A |
Spot 7W – Spike and Surface Mount
Standard use adjustable spotlight supplied with both spike and surface mounted base, perfect for larger trees. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable, Surface Mount and Spike Mount
| Lamp: LED 7W – 470 lumens Beam Angle: 45 Degrees Spot Diameter: 56mm Length: 122mm IP Rating: IP67 Inrush Current: 0.47A |
Glare Guard Accessory
Anti-glare hoods are available for both sizes of spotlight and work with spike and telescopic pole lights. These can be added to the light after installation.
Mini Pole Lights
Mini Single Pole Spot 4W
Small scale adjustable spotlight on telescopic pole to elevate light source, great for smaller trees and features. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Mounting Spike
| Lamp: LED 4W – 216 lumens Beam Angle: 25 Degrees Spot Diameter: 41mm Height: Telescopic 200-350mm IP Rating: IP67 Inrush Current: 0.32A |
Mini Twin Pole Spot 2 x 4W
Twin adjustable spotlights on a telescopic pole to elevate light source, great for uplighting smaller trees and features. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Mounting Spike
| Lamp: LED 2 x 4W – 2 x 216 lm Beam Angle: 25 Degrees Spot Diameter: 41mm Height: Telescopic 200-350mm IP Rating: IP67 Inrush Current: 0.52A |
Pole Lights
Single Pole Spot 7W
Adjustable spotlight on telescopic pole to elevate light source, great for larger trees and features as well as downlighting paths and driveways. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Mounting Spike
| Lamp: LED 7W – 470 lumens Beam Angle: 45 Degrees Spot Diameter: 56mm Height: Telescopic 480-880mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 0.61A |
Twin Pole Spot 2 x 7W
Twin adjustable spotlights on a telescopic pole to elevate light source, great for larger trees and features as well as downlighting paths and driveways. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Mounting Spike
| Lamp: LED 2 x 7W – 2 x 470 lm Beam Angle: 45 Degrees Spot Diameter: 56mm Height: Telescopic 480-880mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 1.2A |
Spread Lights
Mini Spreadlight 4W
Mini Spreadlight on a Telescpoic Pole, an indirect light that is perfect for lighting low level planting and washing light across grass and pathway spaces. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Spike.
| Lamp: LED 3W – 60 lumens Hat Diameter: 110mm Height: Telescopic 485-885mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 0.33A |
Spreadlight 5W
Spreadlight on a Telescpoic Pole, an indirect light that is perfect for lighting low level planting and washing light across grass and pathway spaces. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable and Spike.
| Lamp: LED 5W – 80 lumens Hat Diameter: 200mm Height: Telescopic 517-917mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 0.51A |
Bollards
Bollard 360° – Spike and Surface Mount
360mm High Bollard for general illumination for garden, path and driveway lighting. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable, Flange for Surface Mount and Spike for In-Garden Mount.
| Lamp: LED 7W – 310 lumens Diameter: 60mm Height: 360mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 0.66 |
316 Stainless Steel
Solid Copper
Sand Black
Bollard 200° – Spike and Surface Mount
Bollard with a rear cut off, the light can only shine in 200 Degrees to the front of the light. for general illumination for garden, path and driveway lighting. Supplied with Quick Connect Cable, Flange for Surface Mount and Spike for In-Garden Mount.
| Lamp: LED 7W – 220 lumens Diameter: 60mm Height: 360mm IP Rating: IP65 Inrush Current: 0.66 |
316 Stainless Steel
Solid Copper
Sand Black
Drivers
As the Mariner range is 24VDC a Constant Voltage Driver is required to convert mains voltage (230V) into the required low voltage. It is important to note that as the lighting circuit is low voltage it doesn’t require extra safety precautions and the cabling can be run above ground without conduit or extra shielding.
Drivers are available as either hard-wired or pre-fitted with a 3-Pin Plug to simply plug into a convenient power outlet. The drivers are IP67 rated meaning that are suitable for use in exterior locations and are rated to be exposed to the elements. Never bury the driver directly.
How to select the correct driver
Selecting the driver required is straightforward, one driver will be required for each circuit of fittings. To select an appropriate driver requires you to be aware of the Current requirement of the fittings.
Do not select a driver based on the wattage of the light fixtures. When first turned on the LEDs will draw a higher current (referred to as Inrush Current) and it is essential the driver is large enough to cope with this.
Simply add the values of Inrush Current for each fixture on the circuit and select a driver with a higher Amperage value than this total.
For example:
A circuit will consist of 3 Mini Spikes in a garden bed and
1 Telescopic Spotlight lighting a larger tree at the end of the garden
3 x Mini Spike @ 0.28A ea = 3 x 0.28A = 0.84A
1 x Single Pole Spotlight @ 0.61A
= 0.84A + 0.61A = 1.45A Total
Cross reference the driver chart and we select a 40W Driver with a 1.67A capacity
Tips for selecting and using LED Drivers
- Locate driver as close to fixtures as practical to minimise run lengths
- Locate driver as centrally as possible in larger installs
- Conceal drivers behind plants or landscape features, under decking or within sheds
- If the circuit is longer than 50m or the Amperage is within 5% of maximum amperage select the next highest available driver. If this is not possible split the circuits up
- If lights are flashing or strobing this indicates the driver is not of sufficient capacity
- If a circuit is of significant length or involves a large amount of fixtures please consult us or a registered electrician
What Drivers are Available
Drivers are available in two types – plugged and hard-wired.
All of these drivers are exterior grade (IP67).
Plugged types have a 3-Pin Plug on the Primary side and a Quick-Connector on the Secondary making them perfect for a DIY install.
Hard-wired drivers are available in higher wattages and do not have either a 3-Pin or Quick-Connect Plug. These are readily adaptable to work with a Quick-Connect system on the secondary side via use of a Quick-Connect Feed Cable or a 2-Way IP68 Junction. However a registered electrician is recommended to connect these drivers to a 230V supply (either 3-Pin plug or hardwire).
Click on the specs for the driver you need to be taken to the product page
Plugged Driver – IP67 Rating
| Input Voltage | Max Ouput | Output Current | |
| 24V 75W | 240V | 75W | 0-3.15A |
Hard Wired Drivers – IP67 Rating
| Input Voltage | Max Ouput | Output Current | |
| 24V 40W | 240V | 40W | 0-1.67A |
| 24V 75W | 240V | 75W | 0-3.15A |
| 24V 150W | 240V | 150W | 0-6.25A |
| 24V 200W | 240V | 200W | 0-8.34A |
| 24V 320W | 240V | 320W | 0-13.33A |
Connectors and Extensions
A full range of connectors, sockets and extensions are available for the Quick-Connect system. Additionally there are IP68 Junctions available that can be used to quickly and easily adapt cabling and non-Quick-Connect fixtures into the system. These are simple way to complete a cable join preventing the need to solder and heat-shrink.
Feed Cables
Extension Cables
Sockets
Junctions And Cable
Junctions are glanded IP68 cable junctions with screw terminals inside and a great way to further extend a system with either 24V fixtures outside the Quick-Connect range (for example ingrounds, more powerful uplights, deck lights and pond lights). These junctions require very little specialist tools (appropriate spanners and a small slotted screwdriver should suffice) to use.
Ensure you maintain cable colour polarity when making these joins.
Loose cable is of use with Junctions and to extend cable runs longer in situation that would be Impractical with Quick-Connect Extensions. Be aware in certain in some scenarios a Quick-Connect may be required to be removed and have cables spliced, or use an additional Quick-Connect Feed Cable
Junctions
IP68 Cable Junctions with Screw Terminals
2-Way Junction
3-Way Junction
Cable
Cable type is H07RN-F 2×1.5mm Round Double-Insulated cable (Brown/Blue)
