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McKinney, Texas’ #1 Electrician
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Benefits of Landscape Lighting
Properly installed landscape lighting offers many benefits for your home or business. Using outdoor landscape lighting can enhance the beauty as well as the safety and security of any home.
- Affordability: Landscape lighting costs little to install and power.
- Safety & Security: Strategically placed low voltage lights provide low levels of equally distributed illumination, whereas high voltage floodlights create dark shadows and unseen areas. Illuminated walkways help prevent pedestrian accidents, and outdoor lighting is the number one crime deterrent at night.
- Beauty: The soft glow of landscape lighting accents the unique landscape and architectural features of your home which adds beauty and ambiance to the outdoor living areas.
- Useability: Illuminating the outdoors with low voltage lights provides the ability to enjoy outdoor living areas safely and comfortably long after sunset.
- Ease of Use: Landscape lights are easy to operate and require very little maintenance. You can turn your outdoor lights on and off via a switch or, for added convenience and safety, use the timer function to have the lights turn on and off automatically at specific times.
Operating Landscape Lights
Landscape lighting systems can be controlled in several different ways.
- Photocells: These systems will detect when the sun has set and turn the system on, and then turn it off when the sun rises. (On at dusk, off at dawn).
- Timers: Programmable to turn the lights on and off at specific times of the day.
Photocells and timers can also be used together, for example, to turn the system on at dusk and to turn it off at a specific time. Since it gets dark at a different time every day we recommend installing the photo cell/timer combination. This lowers your energy costs while eliminating the hassle of constantly trying to remember to adjust your timer.
Types of Landscape Lighting
There are four types of landscape lighting, all of which provide numerous lighting effects. Which type you choose depends upon the area to be illuminated and the desired effect.
- Solar Lights: Solar powered lights are the easiest to install because there is no electrical wiring involved thus no cords to restrict the placement of the lights. Solar lights are typically mounted on a standard 8" stake which is pushed into the ground. On the downside, solar powered lights provide the least amount of illumination and the light tends to have a blue tint.
- Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Lights: The newest option, LEDs are the most efficient, use less power and have extremely long life span. However, they are not as bright as conventional light bulbs and the illumination they provide can have an unnatural look. The initial purchase price is more expensive but the increased cost is offset over time by their low running cost.
- Line Voltage Lights: 120-
volt lighting systems require the use of conduit to protect the wires and an electrical junction box which must be hardwired to the electrical service panel. If not properly wired, these lights are not safe. Per NEC and local code, the conductor must be buried in an underground trench. 120- volt light fixtures are not as energy efficient as other choices. - Low Voltage Lights: 12-
volt lighting systems are less expensive to install and maintain, and they require a fraction of the energy required by high voltage lighting systems. They are more difficult to install than solar lights because they require underground wiring; however, their illumination is far superior. These lighting systems require a GFCI circuit or GFCI receptacle which makes it an ideal choice for outdoor lighting near water such as a swimming pool or fountain.
Landscape Lighting Design Techniques
There are many techniques to landscape lighting that achieve different effects. The techniques you use should depend on the area to be illuminated and the desired effect.
- Pathway Lights: An attractive way to illuminate sidewalks, steps and garden pathways for safe passage.
- Uplighting: The positioning of a light to shine upwards, creating focal points in the landscape with shadows and silhouettes.
- Downlighting: Lights that shine down to illuminate objects below. Whenever possible, downlights used in landscaping applications should be hidden to reduce glare.
- Moonlighting: An effect created by positioning lights high in trees to simulate light reflected from the moon. Positioned and installed properly, moonlighting is very elegant and dramatic.
- Cross Lighting: Highlights a focal point on a particular object or group of objects. A three dimensional look can be achieved through the use of multiple lights aimed from different angles.
- Shadow Lighting: Illumination from the front and below an object to project interesting shadows on the wall.
- Silhouette Lighting: A dramatic lighting accent produced by illumination from behind and below an object which results in a sharp contrast between the lighted object and its background.
- Accent Lighting: Lighting that highlights a specific object, small area or architectural feature.
Additional Landscape Lighting Tips
- Light fixtures should be grouped into zones or clusters of 2 to 6 fixtures with a maximum of 240 watts.
- Fully shielded fixtures work best to produce glare-
free lighting. Partially shielded fixtures can be installed in taller, deeper shrubbery where the extra light emitted can also backlight. - When highlighting a tree or architectural interest, 2-
3 lower wattage light fixtures can create different angles instead of one high wattage fixture. This will reduce glare and soften the overall light. - Try to mix your lighting techniques to include uplighting, pathlighting, moonlighting, downlighting and wall washing.
- Use only well lights in your lawn to reduce damage from lawnmowers. However, well lights should not be used for fast growing trees because the light fixtures are difficult to move.
Installing Landscape Lights
Landscape lighting options and installation requirements can be very confusing! Calculating voltage, laying out circuitry; take the guesswork out of the process by using a Licensed Master Electrician or Electrical Contractor to install your landscape lighting.
Nisat Electric can help you create a custom landscape lighting system to achieve the effect wish to accomplish. This includes determining proper placement of the lighting and completing the necessary electrical wiring.
Before you hire someone to complete electrical work in your home or business, please take a few minutes to read Reviews from Nisat Electric customers as well as electrician licensing regulations and Nisat Electric's Licensure in the State of Texas.
Call Nisat Electric at (214) 536-
Landscape Lighting Guide
The addition of landscape lighting to homes throughout North Texas has increased dramatically the past few years. Homeowners appreciate the ability to customize the appearance of the outside of their home at night and enjoy the many benefits landscape lighting offers.
- Benefits of Landscape Lighting
- Operating Landscape Lights
- Types of Landscape Lighting
- Landscape Lighting Design Techniques
- Additional Landscape Lighting Tips
- Installing Landscape Lights