Garden lighting question - connector boxes + cable recommendations

I have 6 x IP66 rated garden lights (mains powered) to install in a garden, and plan to run these off a spur (with a FCU fitted) from the downstairs ring main.

It is a small square garden, and the lights will be positioned in flower beds by the left and right hand garden walls (ie. 3 lights per side). Was planning to run had mains cable along the garden walls and to attach to each light via waterproof connector boxes. Each light comes with approx 1M cable already attached).

Looking to keep costs realistic.

I have a couple of questions regarding suitable cable and outdoor connector boxes that I would appreciate your help / recommendations on :

Cables :
In one online video I saw armalite heavy duty cable was used, another one had HiTuff cable housed in a flexible conduit.
Given there’s only 6 lights what do you recommend ? I don’t wish to bury the cabling, just have it sat on the surface in the flower beds amongst the plants.


Waterproof Junction Boxes and Glands :
Based on the cable choice above, what waterproof junction boxes and associated glands do you recommend?
I have seen Wiska boxes online - presume it’s just a case of right gland size for the mains cable diameter ?

Also, is it ok to use using standard connector blocks inside the Junction boxes to connect the cables? Any additional treatment needed ie. once connected cover in resin to waterproof?

Genuinely appreciate your help - Many thanks in advance

I would not want 240v cables in my flower beds unless it was SWA or in steel conduit. I would use 12v or 24v lights myself.

MiltonPFC said:

I don’t wish to bury the cabling, just have it sat on the surface in the flower beds amongst the plants.

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To have cables sat on top of flower beds is an accident waiting to happen, even Armoured cable should be buried to prevent accidental damage. You'd be best off bringing each cable down the wall burying it deep and bringing it up at the light point but it needs to be protected.

I prefer Winston's Extra low voltage option but it sounds like you already have the lights.

Yes have already purchased the lights - needed mains powered as I required higher wattage / more powerful lights to light up trees, etc

This is one of the videos I watched ref installation .... hence my suggestions above ... and if you agree etc ?


cheers

Agree with others that I always use 12V in garden.
Saves issues with spades and me/kids/dog pulling cables out of connectors.

The 3W COB lights that I use happly light large trees, and you can get 5W versions:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=12V+COB+outside+lights&ref=nb_sb_noss

SFK

MiltonPFC said:

.... needed mains powered as I required higher wattage / more powerful lights to light up trees, etc

Click to expand...

Car headlights, not to mention 20-50W LED 'worklights' etc. don't need 'mains' to produce a lot of light!

Kind Regards, John

Temporary installations allow for TRS cable laid on the surface with Dri boxes for connections to the final appliances.

Your setup is not going to be temporary so draping long lengths of mains cable in the flower beds is not going to be adequate.

IF your garden is small enough that the 1 metre cable from each lamp reaches the fence then you could fix SWA to the fence as a radial circuit with multiple (outdoor) sockets or suitably rated adaptable boxes. You could use conduit and singles for a similar scheme.

Or you could be sensible, bin off the mains lights and use some ELV LED stuff instead- with the bonus (if it floats your boat) of colour-changing trees as well as the inherent reduced risk of injury from ELV systems.

Whatever you decide to do (including ELV), the outdoor stuff must be fed via an RCD. If the RFC you are spurring from is already fed by an RCD then fine , if not then you'll need one.