Landscape Lighting Zone Controllers: 3 Options Compared

A landscape lighting controller with separate zone outputs lets different parts of your property follow different schedules—and, with the right controller and compatible lamps, different brightness settings. You can switch off the trees outside a bedroom at bedtime while keeping the front walkway illuminated, or operate the patio separately from the front yard.

This guide compares three options: the Brilliance Sector Selector, LetZgo AC-LV3ZC and Hinkley 0300WLC. All three require a separate, compatible low-voltage landscape lighting transformer. The controller manages the lighting circuits; it does not replace the transformer.

Our selection advice: choose Brilliance for four app-controlled on/off zones, LetZgo for three dimmable zones with flexible wired automation, or Hinkley for Wi-Fi scheduling with a combination of dimming and switching zones.

Why add zones to landscape lighting?

A single timer treats the entire yard as one lighting group. Zoning gives you control that follows how you actually use the property. Start by deciding which lights should behave together, rather than dividing the yard into equal sections.

• Reduce light outside bedroom windows. Give nearby uplights or accent lights an earlier shutoff time. First correct unwanted glare through fixture aiming, shielding and placement; a schedule addresses when the light operates.
• Separate entertaining areas. Run the patio or outdoor kitchen while guests are outside, then switch those lights off without darkening the driveway.
• Keep selected paths illuminated longer. A front entrance may need a different schedule from decorative garden lighting.
• Adjust the scene. A dimming zone can soften compatible seating-area lighting while a separate architectural group maintains its intended appearance.
• Avoid unnecessary operating hours. There is little reason to illuminate an unused side garden until morning simply because the entry lights need to stay on.

These are group controls: fixtures connected to the same controller output respond together. Independent control of each individual lamp is a different system design.

Brilliance vs. LetZgo vs. Hinkley: zone controller comparison

*The Sector Selector's aggregate rating does not create additional transformer capacity. Follow Brilliance's specified UL1838 system requirements, including its 25A maximum output-current requirement, and all transformer output-circuit limits. **Hinkley's combined controller ceiling is separate from the available transformer load allowance; see below.

Brilliance Sector Selector: four zones with independent on/off schedules

The Brilliance Sector Selector is our choice when the job needs independent switching without brightness adjustment. Its four sectors let you put bedroom-side accents, entrance lights, backyard landscaping and entertaining areas on separate schedules.

The Brilliance Smart App supports an on time, off time and selected days for each sector. For example, set the bedroom-side group to stop at 10 p.m. while the entrance group follows a later schedule. Program both the on and off actions, including the correct day when an off time falls after midnight.

Sunset-to-bedtime control: the app also supports astronomical automation for individual sectors, using the device location to determine sunrise and sunset. Pair a sunset-on automation with a fixed bedtime-off schedule for bedroom-side lighting. Brilliance requires the transformer to remain powered continuously for these automations. See its Sector Selector astronomical timer instructions.

The Sector Selector does not dim lights. If changing brightness is central to your design, choose a dimming-capable solution and verify lamp compatibility.

Brilliance specifies a consistent 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal at the installation location, with signal strength of −70 dBm or better. A separate Brilliance Smart Socket is not required. The controller receives operating power through Sector 1 and uses 5W, which must be included in the load plan.

Good fit: homeowners who like their current lighting levels but want different areas to turn on and off independently.

LetZgo AC-LV3ZC: three dimming zones and flexible automation

The LetZgo AC-LV3ZC zone controller offers independent brightness and operating-mode settings for three zones. It can interface with compatible home automation equipment, irrigation controllers, driveway sensors and motion detectors. Its 5–30V AC/DC control-input rating refers to the automation signal—not the voltage supplied to the landscape lights.

It also works without an external automation system. Set-and-forget dimming follows transformer power. Built-in timer modes switch a zone off 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hours after the transformer turns on. Sensor modes can temporarily raise brightness before returning to the selected level. Other modes accept external scheduling and dimming commands; the installer must match the selected mode to the controlling equipment.

LetZgo is not a standalone Wi-Fi controller. App access depends on the compatible automation system connected to it. Use 12V AC dimmable lamps and follow its magnetic-transformer requirements.

Good fit: an installer coordinating landscape lighting with an existing control system, or a homeowner who wants preset dimming and different shutoff delays.

Elapsed time is different from a fixed bedtime

Suppose a photocell starts the transformer at sunset and a zone runs for four hours. A 6 p.m. start means a 10 p.m. shutoff; an 8 p.m. start means midnight. That can suit seasonal evening use. For a bedroom-side group that must stop at 10 p.m. throughout the year, use clock-based scheduling through a suitable app controller or compatible external automation.

Hinkley 0300WLC: Wi-Fi scheduling with two dimming zones

The Hinkley 0300WLC combines two dimming outputs and two on/off outputs. Current Hinkley documentation specifies four zones total—not four dimming zones. That makes it useful when only part of a landscape needs adjustable brightness.

Use the Hinkley Home Automation App for remote operation and schedules. The app also reports individual-zone and total loading and provides high/low dimming trim. Hinkley lists Alexa and Google Home compatibility.

Watch both load limits: the four individual maximums add to 350W, but the controller's combined limit remains 300W. Hinkley also specifies a 10% transformer-power allowance, stating 270W maximum output when used with a 300W transformer. Apply any stricter transformer instructions and the actual connected-load requirements.

Hinkley's Variable Output LumaCORE fixtures are compatible with the switching zones only. For other fixtures, verify the lamp or driver is compatible with the selected output and dimming method before specifying the system.

Good fit: a Hinkley Pro Series installation with two areas that benefit from dimming and two that need scheduled switching.

How to plan a three-zone landscape lighting system

Here is an example of a homeowner's desired schedule. Choose operating hours around actual use, then match the controller and wiring to that plan.

The patio's brightness requirement determines whether an on/off-only controller is sufficient. For LetZgo, exact clock-time schedules require a compatible external control system; its built-in elapsed timers start when transformer power comes on. Label cable runs by their intended group before connecting them.

Zone controller vs. smart transformer: what do you need?

A smart transformer combines a power supply with control functions, which vary by model. These three products are add-on controllers for a separate transformer. If your existing transformer is suitable, adding a controller may let you retain it. For a new installation, compare the complete cost of transformer, controller and any required automation equipment.

Do you need a transformer for each lighting zone?

No. You need a compatible transformer to power the controller and lights, but not necessarily a separate transformer for every zone. One correctly sized transformer can supply multiple zones through an appropriate controller. Larger properties may still benefit from multiple transformers because of distance, load or layout.

The distinction matters when shopping: a zone controller switches or dims low-voltage circuits, while a transformer converts household power to the voltage required by the lighting system.

Check what controls power upstream. If a master timer switches the transformer off at 10 p.m., a downstream zone cannot stay illuminated until midnight. For app-controlled schedules, arrange transformer power so it is available whenever a zone may need it. LetZgo's elapsed-timer modes intentionally use transformer startup as their timing reference, so plan the upstream control around the selected operating mode.

How to calculate the load on each zone

Build a fixture list for each group before selecting the controller. Record the lamp or fixture model, quantity, watts, VA or power factor, and required voltage. Then check the zone rating, controller total, transformer capacity and protected output-circuit limits separately.

Watts and volt-amperes are not interchangeable for every LED load. For an AC load, VA equals RMS volts multiplied by RMS amps. If the manufacturer supplies watts and power factor, VA = watts ÷ power factor. For illustration, a 5W lamp with a 0.625 power factor represents an 8VA load; ten would total 50W but 80VA.

LetZgo specifically warns that lower-power-factor lamps can reach the current limit before their summed wattage suggests a problem. Its quick-start guide recommends lamps with power factor above 0.8. Do not interpret a 120W zone label as permission to disregard its 10A limit.

For the overall supply, use our landscape lighting transformer sizing guide. Size for the maximum intended simultaneous load, include controller consumption and required headroom, and do not rely on dimming settings to make an overloaded design acceptable.

Can you add zoning to existing landscape lights?

Often, yes—especially when separate cable runs already return to the transformer. The important question is whether the fixtures you want to control together can be connected to their own zone output.

If bedroom-side uplights and front path lights share one uninterrupted circuit, an app cannot separate them by location. Creating those independent groups may require new cable or changes to the existing branches. Wi-Fi connects the controller to your network; it does not replace the power wiring to the fixtures.

Have the installer map and label each zone, follow the model's wiring instructions, and use properly sized cable and waterproof landscape lighting connections. Do not join controlled outputs together to increase capacity.

Finish with an after-dark check: operate each group independently, confirm schedules, look for unwanted window spill, and test compatible lamps throughout the intended dimming range. An attractive full-brightness scene does not guarantee satisfactory low-level dimming.

Which landscape lighting zone controller should you choose?

• Choose Brilliance when you want four separately scheduled areas and do not need the controller to dim them.
• Choose LetZgo when three dimmable groups and wired control integration suit the project. Decide whether elapsed timing or external clock-based automation meets your needs.
• Choose Hinkley when you want app scheduling on a compatible Pro Series installation, with two dimming groups and two switching groups.

Need four independently dimmable areas? None of these three products provides that capability in a single unit. Plan a manufacturer-approved expansion or a different control system before purchasing.

Before ordering, send Atlantic Lighting your transformer model, lamp or fixture list, cable layout and desired zone schedules. Those details help us match the controller to how you want the property to look and operate.

Landscape lighting zoning FAQs

Can I turn off lights outside a bedroom while leaving the walkway on?

Yes, when those fixtures are on separate controlled circuits. Schedule the bedroom-side group to stop earlier and give the walkway its own operating hours.

Will a dimming controller work with every LED landscape lamp?

No. Verify both that the lamp or driver is dimmable and that its dimming method matches the controller. Smart RGBW lamps and proprietary fixture systems may have different control requirements.

Do landscape lighting zone controllers need Wi-Fi?

It depends on the controller. Brilliance and Hinkley use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for their app-based setup and control. LetZgo can operate with local dimming and elapsed-timer settings; remote access requires a compatible external automation system. Check the signal at the proposed installation location before choosing a Wi-Fi model.

Does adding a zone controller increase transformer capacity?

No. All connected loads still depend on the available transformer supply and circuit ratings. A controller with a higher aggregate rating cannot increase the power available from a smaller transformer.

Product specifications checked September 24, 2026. Manufacturer references: Brilliance Sector Selector and schedule guide; LetZgo controller, installation instructions and quick-start guide; Hinkley 0300WLC and model specification sheet.

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