Electrics for garden columns

[angelboy]

I'm just about to start building a brick gazebo and for the four columns I wanted lights on two faces.

Should I be building some conduit inside the columns as I'm going up? I've already cast the foundations but I'm just about to come up to the DPC in the next few days.

If so what type would be the right stuff?

 

[Taylortwocities]

How are you planning to run the lighting cable to the columns?.
What voltage are the lights?
What sort of cable were you thinking of?

 

[angelboy]

I'm waiting for the electrician to come over to tell me what I need but I'm thinking about using LEDs all round.

The front columns will have at least two, possibly three low voltage lights. Maybe three down lighters on each of the three beams (front/left/right), a pendant light in the center and then either two lights on the back wall or on the back columns.

I want to be able to control the lights from the house as well as from the gazebo.

Well beyond me really.

Have you any suggestions?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm waiting for the electrician to come over to tell me what I need but I'm thinking about using LEDs all round.

Don't do any more building until he's been.

I've already cast the foundations but I'm just about to come up to the DPC in the next few days.

Be aware that you'll probably have to cut through the slab or footings for the cables.

low voltage lights.

I'm sure you mean extra-low voltage. In which case think about where in the gazebo you could put a weatherproof enclosure to house the power supplies - often having them remote from the lights doesn't work.

Maybe this sort of thing built into one of the piers?

Maybe three down lighters on each of the three beams (front/left/right), a pendant light in the center and then either two lights on the back wall or on the back columns.

I'd strongly suggest making provision for a socket as well. Could go inside the enclosure.

Have you any suggestions?

While you're waiting for the electrician, if it's obvious where the cables would have to leave the house, or garage etc, start digging a 500mm deep trench.

 

[angelboy]

Luckily, I should be able to dig under the ring beam as it's only 225mm deep - it's only taking the edge of the raised patio so it's not as deep as the rear wall footings or the pads for the columns.

The cabinet looks fine to build in somewhere.

I am planning to connect up a shed/summer house as well as having additional power and light in other, not built, buildings. We're a long way off getting a live supply to the bottom of the garden but I just want to make sure I'm building the electrics in now. There's no point in having visible cables/conduits everywhere if they can be designed and built in from the start.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Then definitely get an electrician engaged now, and draw up some rough plans of what buildings you will have where, and what will be in them, what sort of loads etc. For example a hot tub and sauna at the end of a 200' garden needs very different cabling than LED fairy lights on a patio canopy.