ASL
Good outdoor lighting does three jobs at once. It makes your home look its best after dark, it makes paths, steps and driveways safe to walk, and it makes your property a much less inviting target for intruders. ASL Electric is a landscape lighting electrician for Orange County homes and businesses, designing and installing custom low-voltage landscape lighting, patio and outdoor living lighting, and security lighting that holds up to the coastal climate.
Because we are licensed electricians, we handle the whole system: the dedicated circuit and GFCI-protected outlet or transformer location, low-voltage transformers with timers or photocells, wire runs, fixtures and controls. That means your outdoor lighting is designed, installed and protected properly rather than tacked onto an existing circuit and left to fail in the first wet winter.
Outdoor lighting we design and install
⚡Low-voltage landscape lighting
Uplighting on trees and architecture, wash lighting on walls and hedges, and accent lights on planters and focal points, powered through step-down transformers for safety and efficiency.
⚡Path, step and driveway lighting
Lights placed along walkways, stairs and driveway edges so family and guests can find their footing at night, without glaring into their eyes.
⚡Patio and outdoor living lighting
String lights, downlights under covered patios and pergolas, wall sconces and lighting for outdoor kitchens and seating areas, on dimmers or smart controls.
⚡Security and motion lighting
LED floodlights and motion-activated lights for side yards, driveways and entries, including motion floodlight cameras such as Ring.
⚡Exterior wall and entry fixtures
Replacement porch, entry, garage and wall lanterns, including weather-rated fixtures that suit Spanish, Craftsman, coastal and modern architecture.
⚡Repairs and upgrades
Troubleshooting dead zones, failed transformers and corroded connections, and converting older halogen landscape systems to efficient LED.
Signs it is time for new outdoor lighting
Consider an outdoor lighting upgrade if:
- Paths, steps or the driveway are hard to see at night
- Side yards and the back of the house are dark
- Existing landscape lights are dead or flicker
- Fixtures are rusted, cracked or corroded
- An old halogen system uses a lot of power
- You have a new patio, deck or outdoor kitchen
- You want motion lighting or a floodlight camera
- Your home disappears from the street after dark
Why professional installation pays off
Outdoor electrical work lives in the weather. Connections that are not sealed, fixtures that are not rated for wet locations and transformers overloaded by too many lights are why so many outdoor systems fail within a few seasons. A licensed electrician sizes the transformer and wire to avoid dim lights at the end of the run, uses weatherproof connections and GFCI protection, and places controls where they can be reached and serviced.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How we design outdoor lighting
Walk the property, day and dusk
We look at what you want to highlight, where people walk and where it is too dark, and how the house reads from the street, then plan fixture types and locations.
Low voltage for safety and efficiency
Landscape lighting runs through step-down transformers, keeping the fixtures at low voltage, separate from your home's 120-volt system, which is safer around soil, water and people.
LED fixtures that last
LED fixtures last far longer than halogen, use less energy and stay cooler. We choose fixtures rated for outdoor and wet locations, with materials that resist corrosion near the coast.
Timers, photocells and smart control
Lights come on at dusk and go off on schedule automatically, with motion control for security lighting and app or smart switch control if you want it.
Outdoor lighting options compared
Accent and landscape lighting
Best for curb appeal and showcasing trees, architecture and gardens.
Path and step lighting
Best for safety on walkways, stairs and slopes, especially on hillside lots.
Patio and living lighting
Best for using outdoor spaces at night: dining, entertaining and outdoor kitchens.
Security and motion lighting
Best for side yards, driveways and entries, often with a camera, to deter intruders and see who is there.
Planning layers of outdoor light
The best outdoor lighting is designed in layers, the same way a good interior is. Start with safety: path, step and driveway lights so every route to the door is visible, plus light at grade changes and hardscape edges. Add security: motion lights or floodlight cameras covering side yards, the back of the house and the garage. Then add beauty: uplights on a few key trees and architectural features, soft wall wash, and downlights from eaves or trees that mimic moonlight.
Restraint is what makes it look high end. A handful of well-aimed fixtures with warm color temperature looks better, and is kinder to neighbors and the night sky, than a yard full of bright spots. We aim fixtures to avoid glare into windows and onto the street.
Getting the transformer and wiring right
Low-voltage systems lose voltage over long wire runs, which is why cheap kits leave the last lights dim. We size the transformer with headroom for future fixtures, choose the wire gauge for the load and distance, and use hub or loop wiring layouts so every fixture gets even voltage.
The transformer needs a proper GFCI-protected outlet or a hard-wired connection on a suitable circuit, and controls in a location you can reach. Photocells go where they see open sky, not under an eave or next to a porch light that will fool them. These details are the difference between a system that works for years and one that needs constant fixing.
“We had issues with our patio lights not turning on. They came out and explained the problem and proposed solutions. This is our third time using ASL electric and will continue using them for any of our electrical issues/projects.”
What affects the cost of outdoor lighting
Cost depends on the number and type of fixtures, the transformer size, the length of the wire runs and how much trenching or hardscape is involved, whether a new circuit or outdoor outlet is needed, controls such as timers, photocells or smart control, and whether we are upgrading an existing system or starting fresh. We provide a free onsite estimate with a clear fixture plan and price.
How it works with ASL Electric
We walk the property with you, discuss the look you want and plan fixture locations, types and controls.
You receive a clear plan and price before any work begins.
We install the system, then return at dusk or adjust on site so every light is aimed and balanced the way you want.
Outdoor & Landscape Lighting across Orange County
Orange County's outdoor lighting needs vary with the terrain and the coast. In Laguna Beach and Dana Point, homes on steep hillside lots need path and step lighting for safety, and salt air is hard on fixtures, so we use corrosion-resistant fixtures and sealed connections. In Coto de Caza, larger estate lots and long driveways call for landscape and driveway lighting designed for the whole property, plus low-voltage and smart lighting control. Newport Beach homes often combine landscape lighting with patio, deck and outdoor living lighting.
In Laguna Niguel and the hillside neighborhoods of Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, homeowners often want to show off views and mature landscaping while lighting their slopes and stairs. Customers have called us when patio lights stopped working and we explained the problem and proposed solutions before doing the repair. Whether you need a full landscape lighting design or a few exterior fixtures replaced, we install it safely and to code.