LIGHTING Testing the line
While Fischer’s sound advice about recordkeeping and planning resonates with many lighting contractors, ar- riving on-site with no idea where the installing contrac- tor buried the lighting system’s wire is often unavoidable. “A lot of systems we service we didn’t install, so we
don’t know what we’re getting into,” says Matt Car- li, COLD, lead designer at Moonlighting Landscape Lighting Systems in North Charleston, South Carolina. “Te first tool we reach for is our wire tracer.” A landscape lighting wire
locator is a dedicated tool de- signed explicitly for detecting wire underground. A transmitter clips to the wire that needs to be traced, and the receiver, a dan- gle or a wand, scans the ground and sounds an alert when it’s near the buried wire, typically between 6-12 inches below the surface. Pricey premium units include depth finding and GPS. When they locate the wire
don’t know where the failure is, a multimeter accelerates the process of locating breaks and bad connections.”
Digging in
A trenching tool is another common component of a landscape contractor’s toolkit. While handheld manu- al shovel-type versions are found on most trucks, many contractors use powered versions to bury lighting wire. Contractors can invest in dedicated motorized tren-
“HAVING AN ACCURATE PLAN TO WORK WITH MAKES LIFE A HECK OF A LOT EASIER TO
ORCHESTRATE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
runs, the problem is only some- times evident. Tat’s why a quality multimeter is found in most toolkits. A multimeter or voltmeter tests low-voltage cur- rent by becoming part of the circuit and allowing current to flow through the meter. Tis is handy for determining whether a lighting circuit delivers power to each lamp, for example, a looped set of landscape lights. Quality, pro-caliber meters aren’t cheap, but they pay for themselves in the time they save troubleshooting lighting issues, “Often, with older systems that we didn’t install, there’s no documentation on where the wire runs are located,” says Andy Vande Hey, CLVLT, the president of Vande Hey Company in Appleton, Wisconsin. “If you
Honorable mentions
Wire cutters and strippers are essential tools too important to contractors not to re- ceive an upgrade, says Andy Vande Hey, CLVLT, president of Vande Hey Company in Appleton, Wisconsin. “Quality brands are just better performing than other lower-cost versions. They’re built with better components, don’t dull prematurely, and are easier on your hands.” Screwdrivers, hex keys, pliers and sockets make up the bedrock of any pro’s tool-
kit. However, Heinrich Fischer, CLVLT, COLD, and owner of Sundown Designs-NY, Fairport, New York, advises owning both U.S. and metric sets of these tools. Some manufacturers use imperial measurements and others use metric, and some tools don’t necessarily fit into the other’s fixtures and components. “It’s critical to have both sets to perform your job,” he says. “For example, does an
oddball figure require a star bit? And what happens if you don’t have one on you?” Ladders should get special notice, as hobs will require you to go vertical to access
or install lighting components. Be sure the ladder is versatile and will safely and effec- tively deliver you where you need to reach. Worker safety is of paramount importance. Therefore, every tool bag should in- clude a basic first-aid kit, suntan lotion, safety glasses, dust mask and gloves.
22 Irrigation & Lighting June 2023
DURING THE OPERATION AND THE TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO COMPLETE IT.”
chers, some of which feature chainsaw-like blades that will dig down 12-18 inches. However, Vande Hey sets up a landscape bed edger with an 8-inch-by-2-inch blade that he uses to trench or utilizes a trenching attachment with his sod cutter. Both work effective- ly and slash the time it takes to trench by hand. “We did a time study a few
years ago with a 50-foot trench, and we can literally do that in five, maybe 10 minutes [with a motorized trencher],” he says. “If you’re doing that same work with a shovel, now you have a wider trench, and once you get the wire down, you have to back-
fill it. So, you’re looking at an hour or so to dig it by hand. You can’t expect your guys to be doing that all day. “It’s a fraction of the time,” Vande Hey adds. “Tere
are variables like soil condition and rocks, but in nice light soil, you could do 50 feet in about five minutes.”
Portable power
Handheld power tools are a job site necessity. Te pros gravitate toward battery-powered models due to their flexibility, portability and ability to interchange the re- chargeable battery packs across several tool platforms. Karl Lundberg, CLVLT, COLD, owner of Fishers, Indiana-based Luminocity, relies on the vibratory power of his battery-powered hammer drill to drive lighting fasteners into mortar, concrete, brick and stone. When compared to a standard power drill, there is no question. “Before the hammer drill, we used to draw straws to see whom the unlucky sap was going to be who had to use the drill,” he says. “Te drill was heavy in your hands and just awful. Once we upgraded, we almost fought over who would use it. When you use the hammer drill, it’s like a hot knife through butter.” Lighting pros pride themselves on the neat and clean appearance of their work. Tat’s why Vande Hey swears by his portable router equipped with an edge guide. “So many times on a pergola or pavilion, you have wire that goes up the sides,” he says. “Some codes require conduit, while others with low-voltage wire just say you can tack it to the side. I hate seeing that wire, so we’ll route a channel and tuck that wire inside. Ten we seal it in with caulk that matches the pergola or pavilion, and that wire virtually disappears.”
irrigationandlighting.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
