Installing Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting Kits

A nocturnal animal may be able to navigate a darkly lined street, but for many people, the absence of light can be an accident waiting to happen. Most properties have at least some illumination to guide residents, pedestrians and drivers, but sometimes it is not enough. Homeowners worried about the price of installation and electricity have the economical option of installing low voltage outdoor lighting themselves. Easy to install and adjust as needed, this type of low-maintenance system does not require an electrician and saves on energy costs.

Just as complete darkness may be dangerous, so are monstrous outdoor flood lights which distract drivers, eat up energy bills and annoy the neighbors. In contrast, low voltage systems use up far less energy while serving several purposes. In addition to safety at night, fixtures highlight landscaping or architectural details at the owner’s discretion. Appropriate for spotlighting gardens and yards, lights are commonly found on patios and decks routinely used for evening parties or outdoor dinners. Ponds or lakes may be illuminated for dramatic effect while dark zones are brightened to dissuade thieves. Fixtures can line hedges, fences, driveways, pathways or any area that must be navigated.

Light It Up

Do-it-yourself installation is a no hassle job, which is why many homeowners are turning to this alternative in recent years. Pre-packaged low voltage outdoor lighting kits come with a transformer power supply, a weather-resistant cable and varying amounts of bulbs. Items are also sold individually, to be combined as needed.

The power supply and cable connect to a grounded outdoor power receptacle. When electricity is transmitted, the 120-volt current is reduced to 12 volts. Most transformers on the market are also equipped with auto-timers, so power can switch off at pre-set intervals. This ensures that walkways are lit even when a resident is not home and energy is saved when light is not required.

Halogens range in brightness from 4 watts to 50 watts. Pre-packaged kits come with a specific amount of bulbs. Additional lights can connect to the system as long as the total wattage is served by the transformer’s maximum capacity. So for example, if a transformer is 100-watts, no more than 25 four-watt lamps or two 50-watt lamps can be attached. Although an additional transformer may be purchased, it is recommended to buy a larger transformer at first, and add lights as desired.

Light It Right

Any arrangement is greatly affected by where each individual lamp is placed. Haphazard lines, zigzags or clusters are just jarring. Fixtures that are greatly spaced apart without reason, or those that miss the edges of pathways, are equally disorienting. For correct design applications, here are a few outdoor lighting ideas.

Intense flood lights should be used as architectural accents, not in packed groups. Lights for walkways and pathways should be evenly distributed; generally, a 20-watt bulb placed every ten feet. For planted areas, lights require powder coated finishes in colors that blend with greenery. Leave enough cable available so fixtures can move later if necessary. Finally, the further a bulb is from a transformer, the dimmer the bulb will be, so stay within the prescribed range. Kits should include this information.

With thousands of handcrafted and attractive outdoor lighting fixtures on the market, there are enough options to match any home’s exterior and garden décor. From antique to modern, simplistic to ornate, there is a style for all residences. Kichler outdoor lighting is especially known for its concept of transforming interior design standards into practical yard and garden lighting fixtures. The leading manufacturer has a wide collection of bronzed and brushed products to choose from.

Safe for children and pets, low voltage outdoor lighting is a relatively inexpensive way to provide evening security and highlight landscaping. Remember that transformers do not plug into standard outlets with extension cords. Always use a grounded outdoor power receptacle and enjoy the nightlife.

Illuminate Your Yard With Outdoor Lighting

If you have a backyard area that you spend time in for relaxation, you might consider using some outdoor lighting to enhance your surroundings. There are many different styles of lighting available for outdoor use. You will find some decorative outdoor lights created especially for use in your outdoor garden areas. These items add a interesting touch to your garden, while also providing light to illuminate your yard in the evening.

Some garden lights are constructed of copper to allow the piece to weather naturally over time. Weathered copper outdoor lighting fixtures around your garden can add a touch of old English to your yard. This look is what many strive for in their gardens.  The stressed copper against bold green ivy makes for a beautiful back drop in any yard. Garden lights are also available in solar light styles as well as low voltage outdoor lighting. Many of the solar styles come equipped as LED outdoor lighting. LED light bulbs are much more energy efficient which makes better use of the limited daily power usually available with solar outdoor lighting.

The solar types of lights are also available as outdoor wall lights. These fixtures come as self-contained units that include the collecting panel that stores the energy from the sun. Most lights in this design will have an illumination period of about eight hours. They are usually designed to turn on automatically when dusk falls. Placing the wall fixtures by your home’s entrance is a good way to provide the light you need to see as well as adding security to your home’s exterior. For outdoor decks, the solar styles are also available as lights you can add to the posts of the deck.

The solar outdoor light is also available as a spotlight style.These large single lights can also be placed in or around your garden to create a dramatic effect in the evening. The spotlight design can also be mounted on a garden fence to create a different type of highlighting effect. This large light is often used to illuminate outdoor decorations during specific holiday periods. The bulb is available in several colors including blue, white and red.

A large spotlight is an ideal way to provide security to the front of your home when placed in your front yard area. Motion sensor outdoor lighting is available and is a great way to deter unwanted guests around your home. Many outdoor lights are available today that feature a motion sensor detector which can signal your light to turn on whenever there is movement within a certain range of the light. Any unwanted guests that approach your home will have a nice surprise when they get lit up as they get closer to your home. Any reputable security company will tell you that motion sensor outdoor lighting is one of the most cost effective ways to protect your home and deter criminals. Most of the large home centers will have a large assortment of outdoor lighting for you to choose from.

A variation on the wall light is the ceiling style. The outdoor ceiling lights can come in a few different designs including the classic round style. These fixtures need an overhead roof to place them in, so they are usually located at the front door area of a home where there is a roof section they can attach to or a outdoor covered patio in the rear of the home. There are standard outdoor ceiling lights that hang down from the ceiling as well as flush mounted and of course the ever popular outdoor recessed lighting. Recessed lighting for the outdoors has been gaining popularity since they are so unobtrusive and they do a great job of lighting up your outdoor space.

In this category you will also find the ceiling fan styles of lights. These are the large fans with wood blades that come with a center light. This style is often used on a long front porch area, where several units can be attached. The upside to this is you have a ceiling fan for air circulation on those hot summer months. Either style will provide great outdoor lighting wherever you need to illuminate outdoor areas around your home.