What voltage do landscape lights use?
Most people aren't well versed in the importance of voltage regulation and what's best to use for different purposes. Suppose you're planning on using decorative and functional lightings for your landscape, it is highly recommended to opt-in for 12-volt landscape lights for various reasons. Lower Voltage Landscape Lighting such as 12-Volt lights is ideal for outdoor environments mainly because it is susceptible to damp locations without affecting performance. Dampness plays a massive role in selecting optimal lighting for an area as it could gravely affect its performance over time. Various benefits of using low voltage lightings for landscape use are the convenience of easy installations compared to higher volts, requiring transformers to regulate voltage. 12 Volt Landscape Lights require less effort, efficient performance, and minimal maintenance, making them excellent for landscape lighting use.
What are the common types of landscape lighting fixtures?
Landscape Lighting plays a considerable role in how your outdoor landscape will look, feel, and sets a certain vibe that you're trying to go for. What's good about low voltage outdoor lighting is that you don't have to know every type of complex option out there. To achieve your desired outdoor space, you must know the essentials and the most common type of landscape lighting fixtures.
Path Lighting
One of the most functional fixtures you'll ever need for a nice glowing outdoor space is illuminating certain areas with Path Lighting. These fixtures efficiently produce a spread of light that will enhance the overall look while also serving as a security piece for safety, especially at night.
Directional Lighting
If you want to highlight a particular space or area in your landscape, illuminating them with a Directional Lighting Fixture is an excellent strategy. Unlike Path Lights, these fixtures will focus on complimenting a particular spot and provide a higher beam of light than its surrounding area.
Step Deck Lights
Another easy way to level up your lighting game is by incorporating step deck lights into your pathways and stairways. Not only do they promote safety, but it also does a great job of providing subtle luminance and elegance to your whole outdoor space.
Pond Lighting
Have a pond at your landscape? This poses an excellent opportunity for you to upscale your whole outdoor space vibe by illuminating them with pond lighting. These fixtures create a magical glowing effect that looks exceptionally well at night.
Transformers
While we are aware that transformers are not a lighting fixture, it certainly plays a massive role as the heart of your outdoor landscape lighting. Not only does it help regulate voltage for safety purposes and make sure that your fixtures are working at their optimal state. It also provides easy programming for you to control your lighting on demand.
What are the components of a landscape lighting system?
Landscape Lighting Design requires you to formulate a plan to smoothly execute them properly, considering aesthetics, functionality, and safety. The best way to do this is by being aware of the main components of a landscape lighting system.
This landscape lighting system consists of low-voltage fixtures that illuminate and enhance your whole outdoor space. Another essential component is the transformers used to regulate the wattage used for all your lighting fixtures, keeping their efficiency. And last but not least are the cable wirings that connect your lighting fixtures and the transformer to keep them all safe and secured with the main power supply.
Are LED lights suitable for outdoor use? How long do LED landscape lights last?
If we're talking about lighting fixtures that are best suitable for outdoor landscape use, no doubt LED Landscape Lights are by far the best option you got for many reasons. First and foremost, if you're looking to illuminate outdoor areas, especially at night, you're going to have to look for much brighter lighting options such as LEDs.
Secondly, LEDs are known for their energy-saving properties, making them efficient and effective for more extended use without using too much electricity, unlike other alternative options. Another thing about LED Landscape Lighting is that they will instantly turn on instead of traditional lighting fixtures that take a long time to warm up before completely turning on their light.
Last but not least, for people who are asking how long LED lights last, you should expect them to work optimally and last up to 25 years. Meaning you wouldn't have to worry about replacing them any time soon and should be able to enjoy their many benefits for a prolonged period.
Is landscape lighting expensive? How much does landscape lighting cost?
Landscape Lighting doesn't have to be expensive. You can indeed find affordable fixtures without compromising the quality and performance. Landscape Lightings at Best Pro Lighting range from $25 - $40, which is quite reasonable considering how they would upscale your outdoor landscape instantly.
Suppose you're starting from scratch and planning a remodeling for the whole landscape lights. In that case, it is helpful to know that the average landscape lighting project could cost from $1500 to $20,000, which may vary depending on how spacious your outdoor space is and other miscellaneous costs.
How do you install landscape lights?
Landscaping Installations could make or break your whole Outdoor Space. Neglecting particular factors such as proper, improper wiring, or fixture placements could be detrimental and cause you future problems. Nevertheless, understanding a few simple guidelines on landscape installations is crucial for the success of every landscaping project.
Set an outline on what look you're trying to go for. Searching online for landscaping design ideas is an excellent way to find inspiration.
Arrange the lighting fixtures and place them exactly where you want them. Do this while considering that you already have a set plan on how you want to put your landscape lighting fixtures.
Mount your transformer near an outlet at your house. Make sure that they have more than enough wattage to support all your lighting fixtures.
Start connecting your lighting systems to your main runs. Ensure that all your wirings are safely secured and properly placed to avoid short circuits and other problems. Using hubs is an excellent option to keep all your wirings managed and keep them from moisture or corrosion.
After setting up all the wiring connections, it's time to test if your lighting systems are perfectly working. Power up your transformers, walk around and see if there's any problem you need to get fixed or faulty wiring connections so you can make proper adjustments.
Now that you made sure that every lighting fixture is working completely well and wirings are appropriately connected, you may now enjoy your well-lit outdoor landscape space!
Where should landscaping lights be placed?
One of the best things about landscape lightings is that you have the opportunity to channel your creative juices in finding different ways to light up your outdoor space. Exploring some of the most commonly used strategies should help you in where and how you should place your landscape lights.
In front of Outdoor Decorations
Place directional lighting towards a fixture or object that you want to get featured at your outdoor space. This lighting does an excellent job of highlighting particular things in your landscape to enhance your whole outdoor scenery. Add personality to your outdoor space by illuminating your favorite features in your landscape.
Behind Fixtures to create a silhouette
Silhouette lighting should be part of your landscape lighting system strategies if you're feeling a little bit creative. How you do this is by simply hiding a lighting fixture behind the object you're trying to use for the silhouette. Aim to light them against the wall, which creates a subtle glow behind your plants or figurines and pulls off a silhouette effect.
Place them under your walls for uplighting
Uplighting is another simple yet elegant way of lighting up specific areas of your outdoor space. Creating an up light glow is ideal for featuring wall structures and objects while adding to your landscape's aesthetic design.
Mount them at an elevated spot for downlighting
One of the most common ways of illuminating your place is through mounting landscape fixtures at the top to achieve a down-lighting effect. You could be using directional lighting to accomplish this, whether for security or decorative purposes.
Pathways and Walkways
Path Lighting Fixtures doesn't just add security for your outdoor walkways, and it also provides a lovely vibe for your guests while they're navigating through your landscape. The good thing with path lighting is that they cover a much wide spot, allowing you to place them slightly far from each other to light up the whole area efficiently.
Use step deck lights at the stairway
Adding step deck lighting to your stairways will give your landscape the edge it needs. Not only will it secure your safety, but it also adds an elegant vibe to your outdoor space.
Place your lighting on ponds, pools, or fountains
Another excellent spot to place your low-voltage landscape lights is at your ponds, pools, or fountains. Using submersible lighting fixtures allows you to achieve a mystical glow that would make a stunning appearance for your outdoor landscape, especially at night.
How far apart should you place landscape lights?
In most cases, placing your lighting fixtures 6-8 feet apart from each other should be enough to ensure that your outdoor pathways and walkways are well lit. However, the distance might vary depending on different types of lighting. For example, a traditional path lighting fixture has a broader spread, efficiently illuminating a wider area. Unlike directional bullet lighting, which serves a different purpose and could be placed side-by-side depending on the look you are trying to achieve.
Nevertheless, considering that you make sure that all your wirings are precisely connected, you don't have to abide by any rules in terms of spacing as it all depends on your preferences on how your outdoor landscape should look.
What is a good wattage for outdoor lights?
Finding a good amount of lighting wattage for outdoor space allows you to enjoy an appropriately lit-up landscape. Watts is a unit of power, and it determines how bright a particular landscape light can go. Maximum brightness isn't always the best as it could cause glare which could be counterintuitive to the purpose of your landscape lighting. Meanwhile, landscape lightings that are too dim may not also serve their purpose effectively. That is why knowing the suitable wattage for particular areas helps you find the perfect amount of wattage you'll have to go for when it comes to an outdoor landscape. LED Landscaping Lights are commonly used for outdoor purposes as they are much more efficient in energy consumption, better performance, and easier to maintain. With that being said, 25 watts or lower for LED Landscape Lights should be excellent to give you the best results for your outdoor project while avoiding unnecessary glares from higher wattage options.
Indeed, there's also a place to use higher wattage options ranging from 80 to 100 watts, as they are ideal for general outdoor lighting and security purposes. Sticking to a single range of watts for all your led landscape lights is unnecessary. You could certainly mix and match, use a higher wattage for darker and broad spots of your landscape, and lower watt options for other areas.
What are the best landscape lighting and the best material for outdoor lighting fixtures?
Not every lighting fixture is made the same, and some may not have enough quality to withstand time, especially if you're using them for outdoor purposes. Searching for higher quality material fixtures ensures that your landscaping lights would not falter their performance despite various weather conditions.
Fortunately, Best Pro Lighting offers a wide variety of Landscaping Lights made from heavy-duty cast aluminum with either powder-coated black or brass finishing, making them ideal for sustaining its performance and longevity. Whether you're looking for the best low voltage landscape lighting, low voltage patio lights, or any lighting fixture, you'll find it here online at Best Pro Lighting.
