Landscape lighting can be a game-changer for your home. With just a simple switch, you can transform your yard from Nightmare on Elm Street to Some Enchanted Evening. Strong lights, usually powered by a 120-volt current are used to illuminate large areas like driveways or decks. A professional technician should wire them directly to your circuit box and the cables should be buried at least 18 inches below ground. These lights are also preferred for security purposes especially with motion detection. When less light is enough, low voltage(12-15v) fixtures are used. Lights like accent lights, small floodlights, and path lights. They are generally small, use less energy and less obtrusive, and are far less worrisome when in wet locations. They can be installed yourself and can be plugged into an outdoor receptacle. The wiring does not require any special tools, nor do the cables need to be buried. Solar-powered lights are yet another option, dependable on exposure to the sun. they are best used to light up paths that can receive sunlight throughout the day. You can find many stores in Denver for commercial landscaping.
Planning for Outdoor Lighting
Plan your ideas out on a piece of paper. Draw a footprint of your house on a scale of ⅛ and sketch all major landscape elements, including fences, decks, trees, paths, driveways, and garden beds. Include the location with outdoor receptacles as well. List down the places you’d like to illuminate and decide which fixture will do the job best. Try using various lighting techniques. Avoid using overly bright lights which could blind your visitors or neighbors. Plus, avoid using lights in very close proximities giving it a runway look.
Types of Outdoor Lighting Fixture
Entry lanterns or sconces: a 120-volt light posted beside doors. They are usually shielded with things like frosted glass etc. to prevent glare.
Recessed light: they provide enough light but are hidden 120-v lights usually installed in eaves of decks and garage doors. Small, low-voltage lights can be used to light stairs, posts, railings, and built-in-deck furniture.
Floodlights: they are usually used to light up wide expanses such as driveways, stoneworks, or trees.
Path lights: Usually low-voltage fixtures, used to light up the pathways by casting pools of light on the ground. They can also be used as path guides with few alterations in the shield.
Spotlight: Similar to floodlights but instead of highlighting wide, broad expanses it throws narrowed light on one specific object.
In-ground Light: 120-v or low fixtures buried in the ground covered with a gasket lens. They can be slightly angled to throw a beam on a tree or wall.
Hanging or pendant light: Fixtures that are frequently used as entry or porch lighting. Low-voltage lights hung on trees, pergolas, and arbors have become the new in-demand items.
Installing Low-Voltage Lighting
Add up the fixture wattages and purchase a transformer that can hold slightly more voltage than total, so you can add a fixture or two later if desired. If you want to install your transformers indoors, upgrade your transformer to a commercial-duty transformer. Pro-quality transformers, usually double the cost, will allow you to adjust wattages in a multi-line system Sudden voltage drops cause unevenly lit fixtures and bulb burnouts. Draw possible case runs, and choose the option with the least amount of cables. Follow the directions of the plans for the gauge you’ll need. If your cable runs do not exceed 100ft then you can easily use a 16-gauge cable. If your runs are longer you’ll require a 12-14 gauge cable.
Connect the cables and lay them out according to your plan. Avoid installing any of your fixtures within 10 feet of the transformer to prevent it from getting too much voltage and burning it out. If any help is required you can call concrete repairs in Denver. Before purchasing the cables, observe the effect of lights at night and move them if necessary. Once satisfied, bury the cable a few inches in the soil or anchor it with tent pegs.
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