How to Install Garden Lights?

Installing garden wall lights is easiest when you treat it as a small electrical project: choose the right location and rating first, then make a weatherproof electrical connection, and finally verify the beam direction and switching control. Below is a practical installation workflow written from an outdoor lighting manufacturer perspective, aligned with common field practices for wall-mounted exterior fixtures.

Plan The Layout Before You Drill

Start with the lighting purpose and beam shape, because that determines placement more than aesthetics.

1. Define the job of each fixture

• Wayfinding: guide people along paths, steps, and entries with consistent spacing.

• Security: reduce dark pockets near doors and gates with wider coverage.

• Accent: wash walls, plants, or textures with controlled up-down beams.

2. Choose mounting height and spacing

• Many installers place wall lights around door or pathway zones at roughly 1.5 to 1.8 meters from finished ground level so the light distributes well without glaring into eye level.

• For repeat fixtures along a wall, spacing is commonly based on beam angle and lumen output. A simple starting point is 2 to 3 meters between fixtures, then fine-tune on site.

3. Confirm the environment rating

• For exposed gardens, rain splash, and frequent cleaning, select a higher ingress protection grade. IP ratings describe dust and water protection, and a higher second digit means stronger water protection.

Prepare Tools And Materials

Typical tools and consumables include a drill, level, screwdriver set, wire stripper, voltage tester, suitable anchors, exterior-grade sealant, and cable glands where required. For outdoor fixtures, also prepare moisture protection items such as approved junction boxes and gaskets.

From a reliability standpoint, the most common field failures come from water ingress at the cable entry or poor sealing at the wall plate, not from the light engine itself.

Follow Electrical Safety And Local Rules

Before any wiring work:

• Shut off power at the breaker and verify the circuit is de-energized with a tester.

• Use an appropriately rated outdoor cable and junction method for wet locations.

• Where required, install a protective device appropriate for outdoor circuits, such as ground-fault protection. Electrical safety agencies highlight ground-fault protection as a key risk reducer in outdoor and damp environments.

If you are not licensed for fixed wiring in your region, use a qualified electrician for the final connection.

Install The Mounting Plate And Waterproof Entry

1. Mark the height and level line

• Hold the mounting plate against the wall, align it with a level, and mark screw positions.

2. Drill and set anchors

• Use anchors matched to the wall type. Masonry, brick, and concrete typically need expansion anchors or plugs rated for exterior use.

3. Create a clean cable entry

• Route the supply cable through a protected entry point.

• Keep a drip loop where possible so water does not travel along the cable into the fixture.

4. Dry-fit the fixture

• Confirm the plate sits flush and the fixture cover closes without pinching wiring.

Make Weatherproof Wiring Connections

For most wall lights, you will connect:

• Live

• Neutral

• Earth or ground

Best-practice points:

• Use terminals and connectors rated for outdoor temperature cycling.

• Keep copper conductors clean and fully seated.

• Tighten to the specified torque where provided.

• Ensure the earth connection is continuous, especially on metal housings such as die-cast aluminum bodies used in many Outdoor Wall Lights.

If your wall light includes a photocell or motion sensor model, follow the wiring diagram for line and load routing so the sensor actually controls the lamp output.

Seal, Assemble, And Aim The Light

1. Seal the back plate perimeter

• Apply a thin, continuous bead of exterior-grade sealant where the back plate meets the wall, while keeping any designed drain points clear.

2. Check gasket seating

• Make sure the gasket is not twisted, stretched, or partially outside the groove.

3. Mount the fixture body

• Attach the light body to the plate, then tighten evenly to avoid warping.

4. Confirm beam direction

• For up-down wall lights, stand at typical viewing positions and adjust orientation to avoid glare toward walkways and seating.

Test And Verify Performance

After restoring power:

• Confirm the light turns on and remains stable.

• If using photocell control, cover the sensor briefly to simulate darkness.

• If using motion control, walk through the detection zone and confirm switching response.

LED Wall Lights in the 6W class commonly target several hundred lumens depending on optics and driver design, so use real on-site brightness perception and spacing adjustments rather than relying only on wattage.

Common Installation Mistakes And Fixes

• Flicker or no start

• Re-check live and neutral polarity, terminal tightness, and driver compatibility.

• Water inside the fixture

• Inspect cable entry, gasket compression, and wall plate seal line.

• Glare complaints

• Raise mounting height slightly, rotate the fixture, or choose a beam pattern better suited to the façade.

• Uneven lighting along a wall

• Reduce spacing or switch to a higher-lumen option for longer throws.

Why KORS outdoor wall lights Make Installation Easier

KORS focuses on outdoor lighting manufacturing with structured quality control and international certifications such as CE, RoHS, and ETL, which helps projects standardize fixture specifications across different sites. The factory profile also highlights dedicated R&D and production capacity, supporting stable lead times and consistent assembly details that installers value on repeat projects.
For project buyers who need consistent exterior wall light families across phases, KORS also supports OEM and ODM customization, helping align mounting, finishes, and control options with the same installation logic.

Conclusion

A clean garden wall light installation comes down to three outcomes: safe power isolation, a weatherproof connection path, and correct placement for the intended lighting job. When these are done well, the fixture will look better, last longer, and require less maintenance.

For project planning, specification support, or selecting the right outdoor wall light types for your site conditions, contact KORS with your installation environment details, mounting height, and control preference. Our team can provide guidance on fixture selection, installation notes, and customization options for consistent deployment across your exterior areas.