[peteg]

I am planning to add lighting next spring to my business. And need suggestions on where to start. I have taken a cast lighting workshop this year but would like to find some more like it. My first project will be this winter on my own yard.
I think it’s not going to be hard to run wire and connect. But timers , working with electricians and also finding out more info on solar will be different. Any help will be appreciated.

GOD Bless The USA!

[Inspired]

Just my opinions:

Look into Vista and FX. FX has some beautiful fixtures and there are some very helpful people working there. I love their Multi-Tap transformers.

Vista isn't quite as flashy, but good quality and a good value.

Consider better wire connections then the standard "spike and clamp" quick connectors that many companies provide. I've never seen any that are really reliable over time. I've been using "King Safety" wire nuts with the silicone paste inside, for about 12 years now. The only problem I've ever run into is when my guys ran out of the larger nuts one day and installed a number of smaller ones (Grrrr).

I've never seen any solar that I like. It's all very weak.

LEDs should be great in a couple more years. Heat kills them here. They might be worth looking into in cooler climates.

Lighting is one of the most satisfying elements of landscaping. Have fun!

Bill

[Fine Edge]

Running the wires and connecting them is something that anyone should be able to do.
Make sure you understand how to design your own lighting plan.
Almost all of our projects now have their own separate lighting design, mostly for our own use.
You're on the right track by taking some seminars on installation. Some of the stuff is pretty basic but you really want to understand voltage drop and how it applies to your wire sizing.
Once we do a quick design and calculations, it makes it a piece of cake to install the system since we know exactly what gauge wire is being run to which fixtures and what tap on the transformer we're using.
Good luck, lighting can be very profitable if done right.

[peteg]

Thank you!