Wiring and Infrastructure
The lighting infrastructure tools let you document the electrical system supporting your lighting design: transformers, cable runs, junction boxes, and controllers.
These tools place non-light entities that represent the electrical components of a low-voltage lighting system. They appear in plans and can be included in deliverables to communicate the installation design.
Wiring and infrastructure items are documentation elements only — they appear on the plan and in deliverables but do not affect how the scene is lit in 3D or Presentation mode.
Cable Run
Draw a cable route between infrastructure points. Click to start; click to add waypoints; double-click or press Enter to finish. Represents the buried or surface-run cable path.
Junction Box
Place junction boxes at distribution points where cables branch or lights connect to the main run.
Lighting Controller
Place a controller node representing a smart controller, timer, or relay in the system.
Draw cable runs between infrastructure points
Select the Cable Run tool and click to start the route at the transformer or controller. Continue clicking to add waypoints that trace the buried or surface cable path. Double-click or press Enter to finish the run. Cable runs are shown as a distinct line type on the plan so they read separately from garden edges and dimensions.
Name and specify each element
Select any placed infrastructure element to open the Inspector. Use the Name field to assign a reference label that matches your specification schedule (for example, "T-01" for Transformer 1). Fill in the type-specific Details for each element — capacity and voltages for a transformer, controller type, cable type and gauge, or connection count and IP rating. Clear naming and details make the plan self-explanatory during site visits and handover.
Verify the complete circuit on the plan
Review the plan to confirm every light fixture group connects back to a cable run, every cable run leads to a controller or transformer, and all junction boxes are on the correct branch. Use the Layers panel to isolate the lighting layer if other plan elements are making it hard to read the circuit. A clear, traceable circuit diagram saves time during installation and future maintenance.
Place transformers, controllers, and junction boxes before drawing cable runs. Starting with the fixed points makes it much faster to trace logical routes between them without having to reroute cables.
Keep transformers and controllers in locations that maintenance crews can realistically access — near a wall, gate, or service path. Documenting service access on the plan is as valuable as the circuit itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cable runs or transformers affect the 3D lighting in the scene?
No. Infrastructure elements are documentation-only. They appear on the 2D plan and in exported deliverables but have no effect on how the scene is lit in 3D view or Presentation mode.
How do I show which fixtures connect to which cable run?
Visually route each cable run from the transformer or controller through the junction boxes to the area where the fixtures are placed. Naming each infrastructure element consistently (T-01, CB-01, JB-01) and using leader annotations or a legend in the PDF deliverable makes the connections explicit.
Can I place more than one transformer on the same plan?
Yes. Place one Lighting Transformer per power feed. Large gardens often use two or more transformers in separate zones. Name each transformer distinctly and draw its own cable network from it so the zone separation is clear on the plan.
How do I correct a cable run after placing it?
Select the cable run with the Selection tool to reveal its path handles. Drag any waypoint to adjust the route, or use the path edit tool to add or remove waypoints along the run.
What details can I record for each infrastructure element?
Each type has its own Details section in the Inspector: a transformer records capacity (VA), input and output voltage, and notes; a controller records its type and notes; a junction box records connection count and IP rating; a cable run records cable type, gauge, and installation method. Set these so the plan reads as a complete, installer-ready circuit.