Discovering Outdoor Lighting
Setting up low voltage outdoor lights can be a fun DIY project! It’s a simple way to make your home, yard, and outdoor areas more beautiful, safe, and secure. To get started, let’s explore some basics. This guide will help you choose the right lights for your yard, garden, deck, dock, or patio.
What Makes the Best Outdoor Lights?
Kings designs, makes and sells top-notch products in the outdoor lighting field. They have in-house engineers and lighting experts who use the latest LED and control technologies. That’s why they boast an average customer rating of 4.9 stars. Their fixtures use premium internal components and are made of solid brass or copper. Unlike competitors’ aluminum fixtures, which may be cheaper upfront, King’s fixtures age beautifully without paint or powder coating that can wear off, peel, or corrode. Our products are built to last a lifetime, making them a professional-quality choice for your home.
Types of Outdoor Lighting
Line voltage (120V) is typically found in common household electrical outlets. This type of outdoor lighting usually requires a licensed electrician for installation and is commonly used in commercial, security, or municipal settings. On the other hand, low voltage (12V) lighting is a safer and more common choice for residential use. It poses little risk of electrical shock and allows wires to be buried directly in shallow trenches, making it a suitable DIY project.
Components of an Outdoor Lighting System
A lighting system consists of several key components. The fixture, which houses the light source, directs light to the desired area. A 12-volt lighting system also requires a low voltage transformer to convert line voltage current to 12-volt AC. Finally, wires and wiring connectors carry power from the transformer to the fixtures in your yard.
Common Types of Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
- Spotlights, such as outdoor solar spotlights, highlight specific features in your landscape.
- Flood lights, with a 60-degree beam angle or wider, illuminate broad areas with a single fixture.
- Path lights guide along walkways and pathways, or illuminate large flower beds with ground vegetation.
- Hardscape fixtures are low-profile and highlight architectural features.
- In-ground lights hide the light source, used for up-lighting.
- Underwater lights are designed to be submerged in fountains or ponds.
- Downlights are spotlights or flood lights oriented downward.
- Specialty lights are for specific tasks, such as bistro lights or decorative area lights.
Fixture Classes of Outdoor Lights
- Integrated fixtures have a built-in LED board, requiring the entire fixture to be replaced if one fails.
- Lamp-ready fixtures take bulbs, offering more customization and easier bulb replacement.
Important Outdoor Lighting Terms
- Beam spread or angle determines how wide the light spreads.
- Color temperature, measured in Kelvin, determines the warmth or coolness of the light.
- Lumen output measures brightness.
- Wattage is the energy used by a fixture.
- Efficacy compares power consumption to light output, measured in lumens per watt.
Mounting Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
Depending on the location, fixtures can be mounted using ground stakes, surface mounts, gutter mounts, or other specialized mounts.
Choosing the Right Mount for Your Outdoor Lights
When it comes to mounting your outdoor lights, you have several options to choose from. For most situations, a simple ground stake will suffice. However, if that’s not suitable for your desired location, you can explore surface mounts, gutter mounts, or other specialized mounts that cater to specific needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the best landscape lighting for your home and yard can greatly enhance their beauty, safety, and security. By understanding the basics of outdoor lighting, selecting the right fixtures, and knowing how to install them properly, you can create a stunning outdoor environment that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Whether highlighting key features in your landscape or illuminating pathways and walkways, the right outdoor lighting can make a significant difference in your outdoor space. If installing landscape lighting is difficult for you, you can contact an outdoor lighting contractor in LA.
