Doing a remodel and having two new decks added to the house. We've purchased lights that are embedded into the floor of each deck. We've had them before and love them, so why reinvent the wheel.
What equipment would you use to turn them on and off? They're not dimmable and white only. Since it's outside, I need a GFI plug by code. I don't think they make a reasonably priced mains wired smart plug for that? So My initial thought was to use a couple of wall warts and have them install the plug in a water tight box. I'm interested in who has done this before. We're in Iowa, so we get all 4 seasons. We see some pretty cold wind chills also, so whatever I do has to be able to withstand the elements better than I do.
Where are you planning on putting the transformer, inside or outside? You could always switch the power before the line goes outside to the lights, either the low voltage line after the transformer or the high voltage line before it. That would eliminate the problem of waterproofing and dealing with the cold.
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Are you open to drill a new hole and filling it with duct seal? If so you can put the transformer inside and use Zooz relays to control zoning. I have 12 zones on 1 transformer using 3 Zooz's
old pic only has some connected, they are all used now)
I need to add another to control the deck and back yard, but that is on hold till fall (too many projects)
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Are they LV. I have one singular ( 500 watt ) LV transformer that runs all the LV lights. When I redid my driveway I ran a conduit under and now all LV run off one outlet / one transformer. As for the GFCI, you only need one inline to power the downstream regular outlets. If they’re on a separate breaker, you can even use a GFCI breaker and regular smart outlet in the box that powers the LV transformer as long as upstream there is a GFCI in the circuit. All my GFCIs are inside and power the outside outlets. Your local code might vary, but I’ve not encountered a requirement that the GFCI be at the outside point of use.
If you're going to do long runs of DC, just make sure you have high enough gauge wire. Voltage drop is a lot more significant for DC than it is for AC. That's why your transformer is usually right before the first light. For example, if your lights are 12v and require 5A of power, at 50 feet you loose 3v with 18 gauge wire but only 0.8v with 12 gauge. So, don't cheap out on the good stuff when it comes to cabling for them.
There is a big advantage to using only low-voltage outside though. The wire can be direct buried and isn't required to be run inside a hardened conduit (at least in the US).
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If you are going to put wall warts outside, consider these that someone recommended here in the forums, and which I used to put a Zen16 outside to control fireplace lights. Several sizes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009RX5GI2/
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A couple options.
You can replace the GFCI outlet with a plain outlet, and use a GFCI or combo GFCI/AFCI breaker in the panel. That way the whole circuit is protected. This is a good option if you have multiple outlets that need GFCI and they aren't wired so the first outlet can protect everything downstream. (I.E. the GFCI outlet is the last on the string)
I like the idea above to put all that low voltage stuff somewhere like a basement or garage. Much neater install. Probably the easiest in some ways too, that wiring should all be fairly exposed in both areas so easy to make new runs or add things as needed.
Depending upon your wiring, and wanting to change things, you might be able to add a switch inside by your entry door. Change a single gang box to a double, fish a new wire, and then you can use almost any switch you want. No different than a living room lamp having a switched outlet, except you will be using a GFCI.
I have a GE outdoor plug that goes into a GFI outlet that controls my landscape lighting. The low voltage transformer plugs into the GE outoor plug and powers the lights. The biggest challenge I had was being able to connect it to my hub (at that time Wink) because 1) It was on the outside wall and 2) the transformer box became a sort of "faraday box". A Z-wave repeater on the inside wall close to it fixed that problem. Been working for over 3 years now... I'm in North Texas so weather is not as extreme but we do have some cold spells 
NIce .. bookmarked
this is exactly the problem. The plug will need to be GFCI because I have no more room in my box for a breaker and so they'll be adding on to an existing run. Each on opposite sides of the house. It's not going to be a pretty thing. Or organized. It is what it is. Also, there's not an external outlet to tie into. Long story, but in short, the builder took a lot of shortcuts and left us with a lot to fix. the house was built in 1994, so code was different back then.
I have this GE ZWave plus outside plug that I use for switching on Christmas lights in the winter and temporary yard lights in the summer. It also acts as a repeater for the Z-Wave mesh to control lights in my shed.
Worked flawless for the last year exposed to the elements all year round!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Z-Wave-Plus-Outdoor-Wireless-Smart-Lighting-Control-14284/303010917
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Is that true all over? What about New York State?
@marktheknife Yes you can use LV direct bury in NY (see code for correct uses). I use direct bury for Low voltage lighting, and POE. Much easier than trenching conduit. Rent a direct bury installer and your done in less than a day.
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I believe below 55 volts is LV and you can run it about anywhere. All our outside LV is just under mulch. In 3 homes in 25 years it’s never been a problem.
I am in the process of redoing my deck right now and I am putting in 30 x 12vdc lights. Each is 0.6W so a total of 1.5A.
I am going to run them of the W output of a zen31 so I can dim them.
We are going to have two x four foot sections of railing on the upper deck with glass panels that have a lighting option. I’m going to use the RGB output of the same zen31 to control a led strip.
The zen31 is rated for 10A and a max of 6A per channel so it should not be a problem.
Docooler 10PCS 32mm Outdoor Waterproof LED Deck Light Kit Landscape Recessed Lighting for Step Stair Yard Garden Patio Warm White https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N8TAX4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y02mFbGM1EJH4
