Anyone who has installed a light fixture inside a home knows it can be a fairly complicated job, requiring comprehensive tools and usually the expertise of an electrician.
Outdoor lighting, particularly low-voltage and solar-powered lights, is a different story. In some cases, installation of such systems is as simple as pushing a stake into the lawn. And, usually, the systems are much less expensive to buy than a standard 120-volt system. They also cost less to run. What makes low-voltage systems accessible to the do-it-yourselfer is the fact that 120-volt household current is diminished to just 12 volts of power. Such power is not only harmless, but faces no municipal code requirements. Hence, there is no need for an electrician or for concern about electric shocks.
”These products are geared to be installed by the home handyman,” says Phil Kinzer, marketing manager for Spring Grove-based Intermatic Inc., which manufactures low-voltage outdoor lights under the name Malibu. ”There is no need for the standard electrical components of conduit pipe or circuit breakers. Just some time and a few simple tools are all you need.”
Outdoor solar light systems are even simpler, and work much like a flashlight with sun-energized batteries powering the small lights.
While both systems are easy to install and operate, they will not provide glaring illumination to a home`s exterior.
”Low-voltage lights were never meant to be bright enough to play basketball by,” says Kinzer. ”But they do offer security and safety. You can use them to light up a walkway enough to prevent any mishaps. And they will also provide enough light in an area to discourage intruders. But they are meant to offer mostly an aesthetic touch.”
”Because of the lights` simplicity and inexpensiveness, they`re a great way to enhance your yard`s landscaping,” says Jerry Armstrong, a landscape expert and owner of the Village Green Plant and Garden Center in Chicago.
”You can easily experiment with them to create all sorts of ambience, from illuminating trees to creating dramatic effects on walls or decks,” he adds.
Low-voltage systems
While not as simple as solar lighting, low-voltage systems are usually much less expensive (anywhere from $50 to $100 for a kit with several lights) and are much easier to find.
Low-voltage systems usually include a series of light fixtures, a cable a bit thicker than an extension cord, and a transformer or power pack.
The lights come in many styles and offer numerous features. Some have transformers with programmable timers that you can set to turn the lights on and off. Other systems feature a photoelectric eye that automatically turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. And still others simply have a manual on-off switch.
Before purchasing a system, decide how many lights you want and where they will go. Also consider whether you want to include lighting on decks, patios or porches.
Roughly measure the space between the farthest light and where you would plug in the transformer.
You`ll also need to determine the length of the system to choose the right gauge of cable. Smaller 16-gauge wiring is recommended for runs of less than 100 feet, while larger 14-gauge is recommended for up to 150 feet and still larger 12-gauge is recommended for systems that run up to 200 feet.
You`ll also need to determine the wattage of the lights in order to choose a transformer that`s large enough to power the system. For example, if you would like to incorporate 10 lights at 11 watts each, you`ll need a transformer that has an output of at least 110 total nominal wattage (TNW). Transformers run from 25 to 300 watts, Kinzer notes.
To simplify the buying decisions, most manufacturers package kits that contain the right balance of lights, cable and transformer power. But you can also buy pieces individually.
Once you have purchased a system, the first step is to hook up the transformer to an AC outlet. An outdoor outlet is simplest, but you can also use an indoor outlet if you drill a small hole through the closest exterior wall to run the cable through. If you want to use a photoelectric sensor, however, you`ll have to install a separate unit outside.
This cable is hooked to the transformer, usually with a couple of screws, and then routed along the chosen path.
”To extend cable under sidewalks or fences, use a pipe or a garden hose to make a channel underneath the sidewalk or fence,” says Kinzer. ”Then place a piece of conduit pipe through that channel and fish the wire through the pipe and out to the other side.”
If you`re adding lights to a deck or porch, you can sometimes fish the cable up through the boards, Kinzer says. Otherwise, a small hole can be drilled to bring the wire up and cable clips can be used to hold it in place. Once the cable is laid out, you can begin connecting it to the lights, an easy procedure that usually requires only a screwdriver. Most systems feature fast-lock connections, in which the cable is simply snapped onto the lamp, avoiding splicing or soldering.
Then turn on the system to make sure all the lights are properly connected.
Next, dig a small trench, a few inches deep. Place the cable in the trench, and gently tamp down the cable with a blunt stick. Fill the trench with dirt or sod.
You can also hide the cable above ground, under foliage or brushes. Just remember where it is when you`re raking the yard or doing garden work.
The light fixtures are usually attached to a spike and if the ground is soft, they can be pushed into place. If the ground is hard, dig a small hole and secure the light pole with gravel or dirt. There also are clips to attach lights to exterior walls, decks and porch rails.
Because most of the cables are self-sealing, you usually can change the position of the lights without fear of shorting out the system.
Solar power
Solar lighting systems are more expensive than the low-voltage lights, ranging from about $19 to around $100 per light. But once they are hooked up, there are no electricity costs because the sun provides the power.
During the day, a photovoltaic cell converts sunlight into electricity, which is stored in a rechargeable battery. When the sun goes down, a photoelectric sensor turns on the light.
Because these lights have no wire, most solar systems are installed by simply driving in a spike. Or they can be permanently attached to a deck or railing with screws.
Most solar lights resemble the smaller low-voltage lights. But there also are larger and brighter solar floodlights and security lights, which, via motion detectors, offer strong illumination for short periods of time.
One model is Siemens` ”Sensor Light,” which includes two solar panels, a battery, a motion sensor and a 75-watt fluorescent bulb. During the day, the panels charge the battery. At night, when someone walks in front of the light, it turns on for a short period of time.
Because you don`t have to worry about running conduit pipe and electric lines to the light, it can be installed just about anywhere. The light retails for about $100.
The drawback to solar systems is their limited power capacity. A few of the bigger lights will run for a maxiumum of 2 1/2 hours. Smaller pathway lights will run for 3 to 12 hours, depending on their bulb wattage.
Lighting styles
Both low-voltage and solar-powered outdoor light systems feature a number of types of light fixtures.
For example, walkway lights throw a small circle of light that can be broadened or shrunken by raising or lowering the light. They are used for aesthetic, safety and security reasons. Prismatic, mushroom and tier models offer a variety of walkway lighting effects.
Floodlights illuminate a large space, much like a car headlight.
Another option is well lights-cylinders buried in the ground that illuminate upwards. They usually are used to light up trees or gardens and offer little illumination for safety.
Globe lights offer diffused illumination and are good for around pools, ponds and other recreation areas.
Hanging fixtures are usually used only for decorative purposes and cast ambient light on a home`s exterior.
High-efficiency bulbs can greatly increase the amount of light. For example, two different single-lamp, wall-mounted, low-voltage systems available at the Earth Day Store, 10 S. State St., feature high-efficiency fluorescent and high-pressure sodium bulbs. The fluorescent system has a 27-watt bulb that puts out the same amount of light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb. The high-pressure sodium bulb is a 50-watt bulb that produces illumination equivalent to a 250-watt incandescent bulb.
Maintenance on both the low-voltage and solar systems is fairly easy. Keep the fixtures clean and remove any foliage that may block the lights. Some systems may require lubrication to avoid corrosion (check your owner`s manual). And replace bulbs as soon as they burn out to prevent additional wear on bulbs further down the line due to output fluctuation.
AC alternatives
While low-voltage and solar systems offer easy installation, they do not feature the variety of styles and brightness levels of a standard 120-volt system, says Thomas Hoyne, an electrician with Chicago-based T.J. Electric.
”If you are considering an elaborate lighting system, including one that offers conduits for speakers and phones, you will probably need to have it installed by an electrician,” he says.
Such systems are much more expensive and can run from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, he says.
