Smart lighting planning in the garden: Experiences

Hello everyone,

I am looking for suggestions and ideas for garden lighting design in terms of electrical engineering and the possibilities that (smart) devices now bring with them.
The situation is as follows:
According to the schematic representation in the picture, we have a switch in the house that runs via a cable outside to the garden. Otherwise, we have "normal" outdoor lighting in the form of some lamps around the house – however, this switch with the "flexible" cable is not yet in use and is intended specifically to additionally illuminate the garden and/or the terrace. Against this background, some empty conduits have also been laid in the garden to get power to various points (as shown in the picture). There are now (for example) 4 lighting groups behind this cable. The type of lamps (LED strips, string lights, etc.) is still variable and therefore only to be considered exemplarily.
In the simplest case, a cable is laid through the empty conduit and the end consumers are directly connected to each other – as a result, the entire garden lights up at once as soon as the switch is operated.
However, since at time A only lighting group 3 and at time B lighting group 2 (or corresponding combinations of 1, 2, 3, and 4) should possibly be switched, I am looking for ways to implement this accordingly.
Control via mobile phone and/or separate remote control would be okay.

I am very grateful for your help!
Of course, I will be happy to answer your questions.

The type of lamps (LED strips, string lights, etc.) is still variable and should therefore only be considered as exemplary.
In the simplest case, a cable is laid through the empty conduit and the end consumers are connected directly to each other – as a consequence, the entire garden lights up at once when the switch is operated.
However, since at time A only lighting group 3 and at time B lighting group 2 (or corresponding combinations of 1, 2, 3, and 4) may be switched on, I am looking for ways to implement this accordingly.
Control via mobile phone and/or separate remote control would be okay.

Hello,
I have installed various actuators of the brand "Shelly" in my system.
If you have WLAN coverage at the corresponding points in the garden, you can make your garden smart at a cost of about €10 per switch.
Control via app (even without cloud) or via Alexa ("Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree outside"). Works absolutely flawlessly.
But caution: This is a gateway drug, you always want more afterwards ;-)

Regards, Ralf

You install an actuator on each lighting group, which is then connected to the power cable and can be switched. The easiest way is to use one of the many wireless protocols. Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi. Pick one.

Hello everyone,

Thank you very much in advance for the quick answers and the associated help!

[*]Unfortunately, WLAN coverage is not available everywhere - we may need to intervene again via repeaters
[*]Possibly a very stupid question: I assume that a normal earth cable would suffice for the wiring (3x2.5mm² or similar) - there are no special requirements for thicker/proprietary cables or similar.
[*]Do the actuators work independently of the consumers behind them, i.e., could an old string of lights from 1990 also be switched with them, or are there any requirements for the consumers behind? Otherwise, I have read a lot about Philips Hue/Paulmann, but it seems to me that this is not necessary.
[*]I assume that I press the switch in the house, causing current to flow over the entire line, and depending on the on/off status of the respective actuator, the respective lighting group is on/off. I have revised the picture again - I hope I understood it correctly.
[*]Is there an overview somewhere of these actuators including advantages/disadvantages (especially for outdoor use)?

Thanks a lot!

WLAN coverage is unfortunately not available everywhere - we may need to adjust again using repeaters

Please do not use a repeater, but an outdoor access point.

WLAN coverage is unfortunately not available everywhere - we might have to make adjustments again using repeaters

You could also place all your WLAN actuators at the sub-distribution point. Is there WLAN there?

Possibly a very stupid question: I assume that a normal ground cable would be sufficient for the wiring (3x2.5mm² or similar) - there are no special requirements for thicker/proprietary cables or similar.

Or directly 5x2.5. Then you can even switch your three tree spotlights individually with the WLAN technology in the distribution box.

I assume that I press the switch in the house, thus power flows through the entire line and depending on the on/off of the respective

That’s one way to do it. Or you install a bypass and the garden has power permanently. Then put a Shelly under the switch. Depending on how you program it, you can make it a main switch for everything off and still be able to turn everything back on with your phone.

Is there an overview somewhere of these actuators including advantages/disadvantages (especially for outdoor use)

First define exactly what you want, what you can do, and what infrastructure you already have, such as Homematic, Alexa, etc. Even a FritzBox offers various smart home features that would all be sufficient for this. Then you can be helped. Such general questions are difficult.