Garden Lighting

If you have considered installing your own landscape lighting but think it is too difficult, I am here to show you that it is not. Landscape lighting can be super simple to put in if you have a plan. A solid plan is a needed part of any landscape lighting installation. Low voltage landscape lighting comes in several different types and before you begin planning you should pick which one you want to go with.

THE TWO TYPES OF OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

The first kind of landscape lighting is cabled, electric landscape lighting. In order to install this you will need to have an available outlet outside you home. Each of the lights is connected along a chain of shielded electric cable. Planning for this setup you must consider both the lights and the cord they are connected to. Before you place any of the lights I highly suggest outlining your front or back yard, depending on where the lights are begin installed. Draw out and measure an equal distance between each of the lights then plot them out within your yard. You want to make sure that you have enough cable and room for the cable behind the lights.

Advantages of using the electric landscape lighting system are that you can turn it off and on when you want, it always has power, and you can get more powerful lights for the system. The wired systems are usually cheaper as well.

The other type of landscape lighting system is a solar system. A solar system takes the sun rays and charges up all day long then turns on when the sun goes down. These systems are very easy to install and do not require nearly the plan that the wired system has. In addition it is very easy to move the lights if you do not like where they are. There is no maintenance for this system and it is very easy to maintain. If any component breaks it can be easily replaced.

The advantages of the solar system are how easy it is to setup and how easy it is to adjust. It can also be fixed very quickly if there are any problems with the components within the system. The major disadvantage is that they generally are more expensive and are not nearly as bright as an electric system. In addition this type of landscape lighting requires about 8 hours per day of sunlight to be fully charged, so if you live in an area with little sunlight it can be tough to keep the system up and bright.

As you can see there are plusses and minuses to each system so consider your location before you decide.

Choosing The Best Kind of Outdoor Lighting

If you own a garden you probably already have some form of outdoor lighting to illuminate the garden and your house. If you do not yet have outdoor lighting it is well worth your while making this modest investment.

Outdoor lighting allows you to enjoy the pleasures of relaxing in your garden after dark holding a party, a barbecue or simply taking a stroll all require such illumination. Lighting can also add to the attractiveness of your property, and it is much more pleasant to arrive home along a well lit driveway. Another important benefit is the security that comes with having the area around your house well lit. Unwelcome visitors prefer to operate in conditions of complete darkness, and if your garden and house are well illuminated they are likely to seek out another target. Another security option that has become very popular is to have lights that are turned on by a sensor whenever someone approaches your front door.

Today there are so many outdoor lighting options available so that you really are spoiled for choice. From imitations of old gas street lamp standards at one extreme to the most modern solar powered lighting systems at the other end of the spectrum; you should have no trouble finding a method of lighting that matches your tastes.

You can also now have a real choice in the source of power for this lighting. The most popular choices for outdoor lighting systems are low voltage systems powered by a transformer and solar lighting. Low voltage lighting systems only require twelve volts of household current, but setting up such a system is likely to require digging a trench and laying cables as well as the wires for the light fittings.

Freedom from the need to lay wires and use transformers has been a key factor in the growing use of solar powered lights. They draw their power from solar panels that are usually mounted on the tops of the light fittings. Up until a few years ago solar lighting was less powerful than low voltage lighting but recent technological developments have greatly improved the quality of solar lighting and there is also the big plus of getting free energy.

If you live in one of the areas of the world not abundantly blessed in sunshine you might not have sufficient power gathered from the sun during the day to power your lights over all the night and so the low voltage lighting might be your only practical option.