Garden Lighting and power

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Hi,

I will be getting electrics guy to do the final installation but I need to know what wiring to buy so my hard landscaper can lay.

I already have armored cable routed from mains PCB to garden area.

Now do we route this around the garden so that mains can be powered from anywhere. And potentially future proof. What wiring is need for recessed walkover lights in paving stones I assume armored cable is too thick here.

my requirements are:
- I want led lights in both my back and front patio area and along pathways. And may be lights along back and front of garden
- Power to a couple of water fountains ideally with separate switch
- power point in shed
- Power to bollards but I'm not sure where around the garden at this stage

At minimum I would want 1 switch for lights and another for fountain. This switch should be located within the house. What would I require for this ? and what can I install during soft and hard landscaping to future proof.
 
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The electrician will need to specify the cables, so you best bet for future proofing is to get a load of this ducting..

http://www.draindepot.co.uk/index.asp?m=&cat=3&scat=13

... and bury lengths of it from the house to wherever you think you'll need power.

It should be buried at least 450mm deep and have yellow warning tape buried on top of it. Avoid sharp bends, make sure the drawstrings stay in place for use later and take a few photos before the trenches are filled so the electrician can see that it's been done properly. Also label the ducts or make a map for future reference.

E2A - If it makes the layout easier, you could run 1 or 2 large (110mm) ducts from the house to centrally placed inspection pits and the smaller (63mm) ducts from there to your various locations.
 
thanks for all the advice the conduct seems like a good idea.

What do I need to wire under the pavers ?
also I assume landscaper will need cut outs so ideally I would need to purchase the lights now.
 
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thanks for all the advice the conduct seems like a good idea.

What do I need to wire under the pavers ?
also I assume landscaper will need cut outs so ideally I would need to purchase the lights now.
The most important advice given is that you need to speak to your electrician before you start the work.
This work will invariably require a new RCD protected circuit from your Consumer Unit (PCB?) and that requires notification to your Local Authority Building Control before you start work although your registered electrician can sort that aspect of the work out for you.
 
What do I need to wire under the pavers ?
also I assume landscaper will need cut outs so ideally I would need to purchase the lights now.
The size of the cable will be dependant on the position and loading of the lighting. Therefore you need to design the layout of the lighting and the components you'll be using, before you start thinking about circuit design, and both need to be completed before starting any physical work.

All too often the lighting is left as a last-minute consideration. This is not just a criticism of garden design but of everything from new kitchens to house builds. If you say to an electrician you want lighting in a room and nothing else then even if you've a bare shell you get one pendant in the middle of it.

I understand you are thinking ahead but you need to go back one step in the process and design the lighting before you design the lighting supply.
 

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