Guide to Outdoor Lighting
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Guide to Outdoor Lighting
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Use Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Kits to Add Drama to Your Home
Low voltage outdoor lighting got its start in the early 1950s, when a contractor in California was asked to install some lights for a client's lawn. In those days, most outdoor lighting ran on 120 volts, and used expensive fixtures. However, this contractor had an idea. Fashioning some 12 volt fixtures out of an assortment of household items, including juice cans, mayonnaise jars and tractor head lights, he powered the system with car batteries. Unbeknownst to the contractor, the client was expecting then President Eisenhower and his first lady as guests. The Eisenhowers are said to have been so impressed with this makeshift lighting system that they promptly ordered one for their vacation home. Of course, these days you can install your own outdoor lighting without using quite
as many mayonnaise jars. However, most low voltage outdoor lighting One thing that has really helped lighting kits get ahead is a shift in the way lights are designed across the industry. Previously, only the lights were intended to be seen. The fixtures were hidden or low profile. Today's fixtures, on the other hand, are meant to be seen. You can find them in all styles, including whimsical styles like animals and flowers, as well as classic and contemporary fixtures. However, even though attractive fixtures are available, it's still important to make sure that your lighting is high quality. A pretty fixture that doesn't properly illuminate isn't doing its job. Expense has gone down, too. Even a novice can install six to eight path lights, a floodlight and a wall fixture for three to five hundred dollars. Not sure what lights to get or where to locate them? Try out ideas by shining a flashlight in the areas that you're thinking about illuminating. You can move the light around to see what various effects look like. Remember that for most outdoor lighting, you'll need to install wires in conduit, so pay attention to the location of driveways, patios, and other hard to move objects when you decide where to locate your lights. Some outdoor lighting can be monotonous. To avoid this, mix up types of lights and
fixtures. Don't go overboard – too much can lead to chaos. However, a little
variety can improve most landscaping, and this applies to low voltage outdoor lighting
Improve Your Home's Appearance and Safety Using Outdoor Wall Lighting Some Benefits of Outdoor Motion Lights
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kits to
date have been low quality and tended to break down after only a short time.
Solar lights have seemed like a good option, but their actual performance often
falls short of the ideal, especially if you live in an area that doesn't get
much sun. Fortunately, in the past few years, technology has permitted great
improvements in the field of low voltage outdoor lighting. Better fixtures are
now available for less money, and longer lasting bulbs are easy to find.
Installation has gotten much simpler, too. This means that low voltage outdoor
lighting is really starting to catch on.