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Low Voltage And Solar Powered Landscape Lighting
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Published: May 10, 2007
Painting landscapes and architecture with light for aesthetic beauty or safety is not new to the human experience. Man's first effort at landscape lighting is still with us in the form of the ever popular Tiki Torch. Lighting technology has progressed beyond wicks and flames to include a wide variety of electric options that enable homeowners to highlight desirable features of landscaping and architecture.
The key to successful lighting is to create a focal point and design around it. Successful landscape lighting design portrays an artistic nightscape showing beautiful features of a home and garden while concealing lighting fixtures. Lighting can reveal and accent the beauty of a landscape in the nighttime and it can also enhance the safety of residents and guests. Successful lighting design integrates these purposes utilizing specific types of lighting and light fixtures.
Effective landscape lighting is accomplished by employing specific lighting strategies. Up lighting and down lighting is direct lighting of natural or man made objects that is typically directed away from where people would be viewing. Walk lighting provides low level illumination to steps and walkways to provide a safe pathway. Specialty lighting is most often installed in walls or on surfaces and is used to expose vertical structures through up lighting, down lighting, or even by using lighting within a feature such as within a pool, pond, or fountain.
Lighting fixtures are available in a variety of styles, materials, and finishes can accommodate the strategies of a landscape lighting design. Lighting systems may be purchased that operate on a different power sources. For examples, lighting systems can run on 120 volt AC current, the same as most household appliances. Using 120 volt systems, however, requires a substantial investment in trenching and conduit to ensure safety. A less expensive option is a low voltage landscape lighting that utilizes a 12 volt DC system. Low voltage landscape lighting only requires connection of a transformer to a 120 volt outlet.
An environmentally friendly choice is solar powered landscape lighting, which in most instances does not require any wiring to a power source at all. Solar powered landscape lighting has a built-in solar panel that stores electrical energy in a battery throughout the day and then uses the power at night. In order to place a solar landscape lighting in an area that is shaded during the day, a solar panel must be placed in a sunny area and a wire must be run to the light.
Lighting fixtures must be hidden or must blend with the daytime environment as well as provide the correct type of illumination at night. Common varieties of fixtures used are Bollard landscape lighting, Pagoda landscape lighting, and Malibu landscape lighting.
Bollard landscape lighting and Pagoda lights are most commonly used for walk lighting. Bollard lights are set inside posts designed to blend into the landscape. Bollard lights shine out on a pathway through a vent that may restrict the light pattern or allow it to shine in 360 degrees around the post. Pagoda lights are customarily set on low poles like a lantern and shine downward in 360 degrees. Pagoda lights are often decorative and are used as accents to the landscape.
Malibu landscape lighting is commonly used for up lighting areas or to shine on special features such as a fountain, tree or fence. Malibu landscape lighting may also be used for walk lighting. Special feature lighting can be set into walls or under eaves or inside fountains or can even provide down lighting from within a tree.
Control of the lighting is another consideration and modern electronics provides a variety of options from simple switches to automatic timers, photo controls, and computerized remote controls. It may be desirable to control some lighting with an automatic sensor that only turns on the light when it detects movement. Automatic controls may need seasonal adjustments, as the hours of sunlight change.
Landscape lighting can highlight beautiful landscaping and architecture at night, and it can extend the functionality of a yard after the sun goes down. It is important to design landscape lighting that supports desired activities and which artistically highlights the beautiful features of a home. Whether planning simple or sophisticated lighting designs, there are resources available to help ensure that the results exceed expectations.
Sources:
Way, Jason. "History of Tiki Torches. "Outdoor.com.2006. 11 April 2007.
http://www.outdoordecor.com/LearningCenter/Torch es/History_of_Tiki_Torches.html
Low voltage Outdoor Lighting.Landscape-America.com. 2005-2007. 11 April 2007.
http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/ligh ting/low_voltage_lighting.html
Outdoor Lighting Considerations. Landscape-America.com. 2005-2007. 11 April 2007.
http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/ligh ting/better_lighting.html
Landscape Lighting Ideas to Showcase Your Home. American Lighting Association. 2007. 11 April 2007. http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/about_news_de tail.php?id=35.
Bollard and Pagoda Lights at Deep Discount. Arcadian Lighting.11 April 2007.
http://www.arcadianlighting.com/bollard-and-pago da-lights.html.
Landscape Lighting. Malibu. 2007. Intermatic, Inc.11 April 2007.
http://www.malibulights.com/inc_division_lv.php? action=division&did=1&pid=0.
The key to successful lighting is to create a focal point and design around it. Successful landscape lighting design portrays an artistic nightscape showing beautiful features of a home and garden while concealing lighting fixtures. Lighting can reveal and accent the beauty of a landscape in the nighttime and it can also enhance the safety of residents and guests. Successful lighting design integrates these purposes utilizing specific types of lighting and light fixtures.
Effective landscape lighting is accomplished by employing specific lighting strategies. Up lighting and down lighting is direct lighting of natural or man made objects that is typically directed away from where people would be viewing. Walk lighting provides low level illumination to steps and walkways to provide a safe pathway. Specialty lighting is most often installed in walls or on surfaces and is used to expose vertical structures through up lighting, down lighting, or even by using lighting within a feature such as within a pool, pond, or fountain.
Lighting fixtures are available in a variety of styles, materials, and finishes can accommodate the strategies of a landscape lighting design. Lighting systems may be purchased that operate on a different power sources. For examples, lighting systems can run on 120 volt AC current, the same as most household appliances. Using 120 volt systems, however, requires a substantial investment in trenching and conduit to ensure safety. A less expensive option is a low voltage landscape lighting that utilizes a 12 volt DC system. Low voltage landscape lighting only requires connection of a transformer to a 120 volt outlet.
An environmentally friendly choice is solar powered landscape lighting, which in most instances does not require any wiring to a power source at all. Solar powered landscape lighting has a built-in solar panel that stores electrical energy in a battery throughout the day and then uses the power at night. In order to place a solar landscape lighting in an area that is shaded during the day, a solar panel must be placed in a sunny area and a wire must be run to the light.
Lighting fixtures must be hidden or must blend with the daytime environment as well as provide the correct type of illumination at night. Common varieties of fixtures used are Bollard landscape lighting, Pagoda landscape lighting, and Malibu landscape lighting.
Bollard landscape lighting and Pagoda lights are most commonly used for walk lighting. Bollard lights are set inside posts designed to blend into the landscape. Bollard lights shine out on a pathway through a vent that may restrict the light pattern or allow it to shine in 360 degrees around the post. Pagoda lights are customarily set on low poles like a lantern and shine downward in 360 degrees. Pagoda lights are often decorative and are used as accents to the landscape.
Malibu landscape lighting is commonly used for up lighting areas or to shine on special features such as a fountain, tree or fence. Malibu landscape lighting may also be used for walk lighting. Special feature lighting can be set into walls or under eaves or inside fountains or can even provide down lighting from within a tree.
Control of the lighting is another consideration and modern electronics provides a variety of options from simple switches to automatic timers, photo controls, and computerized remote controls. It may be desirable to control some lighting with an automatic sensor that only turns on the light when it detects movement. Automatic controls may need seasonal adjustments, as the hours of sunlight change.
Landscape lighting can highlight beautiful landscaping and architecture at night, and it can extend the functionality of a yard after the sun goes down. It is important to design landscape lighting that supports desired activities and which artistically highlights the beautiful features of a home. Whether planning simple or sophisticated lighting designs, there are resources available to help ensure that the results exceed expectations.
Sources:
Way, Jason. "History of Tiki Torches. "Outdoor.com.2006. 11 April 2007.
http://www.outdoordecor.com/LearningCenter/Torch es/History_of_Tiki_Torches.html
Low voltage Outdoor Lighting.Landscape-America.com. 2005-2007. 11 April 2007.
http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/ligh ting/low_voltage_lighting.html
Outdoor Lighting Considerations. Landscape-America.com. 2005-2007. 11 April 2007.
http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/ligh ting/better_lighting.html
Landscape Lighting Ideas to Showcase Your Home. American Lighting Association. 2007. 11 April 2007. http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/about_news_de tail.php?id=35.
Bollard and Pagoda Lights at Deep Discount. Arcadian Lighting.11 April 2007.
http://www.arcadianlighting.com/bollard-and-pago da-lights.html.
Landscape Lighting. Malibu. 2007. Intermatic, Inc.11 April 2007.
http://www.malibulights.com/inc_division_lv.php? action=division&did=1&pid=0.
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