Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting
If you’re looking for outdoor lighting for your home, it’s likely that you can’t find a simple and straightforward way to do it these days. Between the choice of solar or LED or freestanding or any other choice, it seems the industry is trying to make this complicated. Well look no further for an all-inclusive guide to the advantages of low voltage outdoor lighting.
Low voltage lighting in your landscaping is a relatively new idea, but with the recent environmental movement it is becoming more and more popular. Low voltage lighting uses a 12-volt current and is safe and easy to install by yourself. Some systems you can buy will already have a light clamped to the power cable, others will not and you’ll have to do that on your own. Whichever system you get, be sure that the teeth of the clamp cut through the insulation on the wire or the light will fail to work properly. If you have to affix the lights yourself, then once this is done you merely attach the stake and thread the wires through it to the main power source.
Any low voltage outdoor lighting system you get will have a transformer with it. You can use this to schedule the times during the day you want your yard to be lit. Most will have four, six, and eight hour settings. Some of the more sophisticated systems will have a photocell built in, so it can detect on its own whether it’s night or day. This is nice if you’re away from home a lot, as your lights will essentially work themselves.
Low voltage systems come in cable-powered and solar-powered systems. Keep in mind the solar powered are more expensive and may not be as reliable since they require eight full hours of direct sunlight. Most systems come with 50 feet of cable but additions are always available if you need it. Low voltage lighting is a great way to ass lighting to your landscape without the added cost.
Subscribe to the comments for this postSolar Pond Lighting
Putting in a pond during a landscaping project is a popular choice these days. Ponds can be a relaxing place to spend some time at the end of the time. They can attract birds and frogs to your yard, in addition to any fish you may add.
And that is just during the day. At night, it can become the perfect spot for a small little party. But how do you light a pond with solar lighting? The options are nearly limitless.
You may be wondering why solar pond lighting is the best option and the truth is that it may not be the best for you. There are a lot of advantages to solar power, besides having no additional power cost. Solar cells are very small and discreet these days, not to mention portable.
So if one area of the yard is getting more sun on a particular day, move the cells there until they’re needed. Solar lighting is also perfect for use around water. With no electricity, there is no danger of damaged wiring electrocuting someone. The lights used to power the solar lighting are equally efficient and they will almost never need to be replaced.
One of the greatest ways to highlight your yard with solar pond lighting is floating lights. These come in a wide variety of colors and shapes to fit your style. You can find solar lighting that look like a clear bubble on the surface or a lily pad that glows. Or if you are a fan of ornaments and art in your yard, there is a huge array of solar-lighted accessories for you.
If you can a wizard with a glowing crystal ball, you can get it solar powered. Or if you prefer a more subtle approach, you can merely use solar lighting to light the pathway to your pond. This will allow any visitor easy access to this wonderful and soothing backyard feature.
Options For Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
What is the use of spending extraordinary amounts of time redesigning your yard if no one can see it? You’ve worked very hard to create the perfect yard, showing it off with the right lighting is the next logical step. There are a lot of options you have when choosing outdoor lighting fixtures, so it’s best to have some information before making a decision.
You should make your choose for outdoor lighting based on a few different things. First consider your personal needs, you may only need limited lighting along the walkway to your door. Or you may need exterior lighting all along the yard and perimeter of the property, and your choice of lighting will change. Secondly, consider your style and the style you’ve chosen for your landscaping. The lighting should blend in seamlessly, not stand out like a sore thumb.
Probably the most useful outdoor lighting is solar power. Granted it will be among the most expensive up front, but the money you save on an electric bill will more than make up for it. Solar lighting will also give you the ability to put in the lighting quickly. You won’t need to run any wires or worry about electricians. The solar lights will also be able to be easily moved from one place to another, you could even take them inside if you wanted to. The only time this wouldn’t be a good option is if you live somewhere that gets little to no sunlight during the day, there would be no way to charge the batteries in the lighting fixtures.
Low voltage lights are probably your next best bet. The bulbs used will give you plenty of light but without the normal expense. The biggest downside is needing to take the time to hire an electrician to run all the lines. LED lighting is being used for outdoor lighting fixtures more and more. But a lot of lighting experts will admit that it isn’t the greatest for outdoor lighting. It still is an option if you choose to take it.
Designing Outdoor Lighting
If you took the time to landscape your yard, it’s a good bet that you took a lot of time and consideration in designing that yard. The same consideration should be taken in designing the lighting that will accent that landscaping. Also keep in mind that if your selling your home, correctly designing outdoor lighting can increase the home’s selling appeal.
Uplighting is a popular option with outdoor lighting for a good reason, its subtle. Uplighting can create a very soft glow of light all around your property and never reveal where the light is coming from. You can also use it to highlight certain points of your yard like the home or a garden and call special attention to it. There is a similar version of lighting called moonlighting. This only lights the treetops but creates a similar effect.
It is an essential safety issue to have well lit walkways to your home. Path lighting comes in any style and variety you light, but isn’t quite as subtle as uplighting. Closely designing outdoor lighting is important here since you don’t want to be responsible for any visitors to your home injuring themselves on a dark walkway. If you design the lighting exactly right its still possible to use uplighting for your paths, but you’ll have to be especially careful that it gives off enough light.
Another thing to consider is a programmable system or an automated lighting system. This will allow you to determine how the lights are used based on your schedule. The lights can be programmed to turn on automatically at a certain time of day and turn off at a certain time. This can be great if you go out of town, as it will give the appearance that you are still there. This can be a great safety tool. Another option is a motion sensor system on the lighting system. That way you use the minimum amount of energy, as the lights will turn on as needed and turn off after a few minutes
The Right Outdoor Home Lighting Options
Many people are budget conscious when improving the looks of their home. Lighting is an area where you can get by on a budget and not have your results look cheap. Lighting your home properly is a very important consideration as outdoor home lighting adds security and style to any residence. Outdoor home lighting is a great way and is essential to ensure safety around your home.
There is no shortage of styles and fixtures when it comes to lighting the exterior of your home. Whether you choose low voltage fixtures, solar powered fixtures or traditional outdoor home lighting, fixtures are available in styles form traditional to contemporary.
Outdoor lighting design is often not considered when planning your landscaping but is an essential element in creating an inviting and aesthetically pleasing look to your home. Exterior wall lights are usually installed in garages, porches, entryways, and sides of houses; where stronger light is called for. Making your home look like a luxurious palace is really easy with the proper lighting.
Choosing a professional to install your lighting would be advised if you are not familiar with electrical requirements. However many low voltage systems are designed for the do it yourselfer in mind. Again, little costs can produce a dramatic effect on your property.
Energy cost will be determined by what kind of fixtures and bulbs you choose for your home lighting project. Keep in mind a softer light often looks more attractive than lighting your home like a football stadium and is far less costly
