Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting

The Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Resource

Archive for August, 2008

Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting

Posted by admin on Aug 16, 2008 under outdoor low voltage lighting

My brother has found one of the best resources for purchasing outdoor low voltage lighting - fixtures and lamps. He’s making these fixtures and light bulbs available on the internet on his web site - low voltage landscape lights dot com - lowvoltagelandscapelights.com.

As a result of his interest in low voltage lighting systems I’ve been looking around the web to see what other resources are available. So far my research hasn’t turned up very much that I feel is ‘really good’ – although there is some.

For instance, I discovered this book about outdoor low voltage lighting, The Landscape Lighting Book that seems to be an incredible resource for anyone that is either in the landscape lighting business or interested in using outdoor low voltage lighting to improve their home and garden’s appearance and value.

There are also a few articles and do it yourself resources around. An example of the kind of article I think is useful is this one from the Journal of Light Construction – 2004. “Well-placed low-voltage lighting circuits can make a home’s surroundings useful, beautiful, and safe!”

This article covers all the bases – Nightscaping concepts, Low Voltage Fixtures, Low-Voltage Lamps, Transformers and Circuits, Voltage Drop, and Plan of Attack.

“Nightscaping,” as the industry terms it, can mean a simple enhancement like putting in a few path lights. Or it can mean a complex scheme for the whole property, with extensive illuminated scenes that involve house features, decks, paths, plants, and sculptures.”

As best as I can tell this article is only available through your local library (which can be accessed for free).

“Mood, safety, and security. Three broad purposes typically anchor the design thinking for a landscape lighting plan.”

I will continue to post examples of resources about outdoor low voltage lighting that I feel are useful and/or helpful articles and resources for anyone interested in adding

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Outdoor Garden Lighting

Posted by admin on Aug 24, 2008 under outdoor garden lighting

Outdoor Garden Lighting

Applying outdoor low voltage lighting to gardens is a specific application of low voltage landscape lighting. Every garden is unique and reflects both the gardener and the particular landscape effects the garden creates. In fact, there are just as many definitions of a garden as their are gardeners.

Most people today refer to flower gardens and not vegetable gardens when they talk about lighting. But gardens can be hedges, or trees, or cactus, or various combinations of any of these.

Janet Moyer, author of a complete resource book entitled, The Low Voltage Lighting Book, has some interesting advice for those people interested in adding outdoor lighting to their gardens. She says,

“We’re vertical animals, so the garden should be lit vertically, not horizontally,” she says. In a recent article published in the Seattle Times about Moyer, the author says, “Because we’re used to sunshine, light shining down from above looks most natural to us. So she is suggesting we attach fixtures above gardens on architectural elements or trees. In this way they aren’t knocked around by kids and pets as they would be if installed at ground level.

She goes on to say,

To help people feel comfortable outside in the dark, Moyer defines a garden’s boundaries, shape and volume with washes of light. She lights pathways just enough so you can see them safely, layering brighter light on the front door for a sense of welcome. And if you’re worried about lights drawing insects to the garden, Moyer suggests placing a bluer light far away from where you relax outdoors. Insects see blue light best, so will swarm to it.

 

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