When something goes wrong with your body, you call a doctor. When something goes wrong with your light switch, who do you call? You should call an electrician. These professionals are basically doctors for your electrical system. They can fix faulty wiring, address issues with light switches, run new wires, and address problems with circuit breakers. You should not attempt to fix electrical issues yourself, as doing so can be dangerous. Instead, rely on these trained pros.
Read more about electricians and their work on this website. If you spend an hour or two reading, you will emerge feeling better-acquainted with the electrical systems in your home.
Outdoor lighting helps your property stay safer. Lights discourage vandals and they illuminate your walkway and reduce trip hazards. You'll probably want lights near your entry, along the walkway, and around your patio or deck, especially if your deck has stairs. You can probably install solar lights yourself, but you'll need the help of an electrician to install lights powered by electricity. Here's how a residential electrician might install your outdoor lighting.
Walkway Lights
If solar lights won't get enough sun to charge up fully, it's better to use lights that connect to electricity. Your electrician may recommend low-voltage walkway lights. These require a transformer to step down the power and they run off of a power cord.
You'll need an outdoor GFCI outlet for these lights. If you don't have one, the electrician can install one in a convenient location. They'll also need to install the transformer on a pole or wall of your house near the new outlet. The wires from the transformer can be placed on top of the ground if you want since these are low-voltage lights, but a more permanent method of installation is to bury the wiring in a trench. The wiring may need to go in a conduit first to protect it from getting wet.
Pole Lights
A pole light is installed in a similar manner except the electrician will probably hardwire it to your electrical system rather than use a cord. This is similar to how entry lights are installed. The wiring passes through the wall and is hardwired to the electricity. A switch may be added too if the lights don't operate automatically.
The wiring from your house to the pole light is buried in a trench since it is 120-volt wiring like your indoor outlets. This keeps the wire out of the way and protects it from animals and the weather. The wire will probably be encased in a conduit for protection.
The residential electrician needs to dig the trench from your house to the pole light and then fill it back in once the light is installed and tested. The electrician can use these two methods to install outdoor lights where you want them.
If you have a sunny place in your yard, you can use solar lights there since all you have to do is push them into the ground in a place that gets full sun all day. Solar lights are convenient, but they may not work well enough to give you the illumination you need all night.
To learn more, contact a residential electrician in your area.