Low Voltage Landscape Lighting By Jeff Halper At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

As low voltage landscape lighting technology has evolved over the years, it has come to enjoy a position of prominence in many aspects of outdoor lighting. Its decorative enhancement of certain types of landscape forms is unsurpassed. Its cost-savings potential is much higher as well because it is much cheaper to operate than high voltage equipment. Low voltage lighting is also much safer for homes with children and pets because there is insufficient charge in the wire to deliver a serious injury or lethal shock.

Traditionally, standard landscape lights were made from tungsten filament lamps. Although primitive, the color temperatures they emit are perfect for bringing out the rich tones in masonry, wood, stucco, and home architectural keynotes. In the world of landscape lighting, incandescent lamps are still prized because they can be dimmed to create different moods and lighting effects. The problem with these lights is they burn out very quickly. Even though they are the least expensive fixtures in terms of front end costs, they typically have to be switched out annually due to short lamp life. This makes them expensive both to operate and to replace.

Low voltage landscape lights offer a much more cost effective means of illuminating the landscape. Most require only 12 volts to operate and represent only marginal power costs. This makes them ideal luminaires for certain landscaping features whose aesthetic is magnified by continuous illumination. They are cheaper to install than high voltage incandescents because they do not require conduit to house their wiring. However, there is a downside to this. Low voltage wire, because it is buried without a protective covering, can be easily cut with a shovel by anyone working in the lawn or in the garden. It is always best to have a professional install low voltage landscape lighting to minimize the risk of equipment damage.

A popular location to install low voltage landscape lighting is around any public gathering area characterized by relaxation and subdued conversation. Outdoor fireplaces are normally illuminated by low voltage lighting, both around the structure of the fireplace itself, and around the patio seating area. Arbors with trellises and outdoor kitchens are ideal locations to install low voltage landscape lights because the wires and fixtures can be hidden in the structures themselves. This often has the effect of making the structures themselves appear luminous, and adds a magical touch to any backyard where gatherings and public events are commonly held.

Although less intense than high voltage lighting, there are many applications where low voltage lighting is not only adequate, but preferable from a decorative standpoint. Some landscape features need only a touch of light to bring out their color and unique proportions. Garden pathways appear vibrant and inviting throughout the night. Fountains become multicolored as underwater light refracts through thousands of prismatic water droplets. Urns and garden sculptures take on entirely new proportions as light and shadow wrap around the contours of their surfaces.

Low voltage landscape lighting is almost always the preferred form of lighting for smaller landscaping features. Such elements as address markers, planters, columns, decorative walls, and even small rocks can all take on new dimension and color when illuminated with the right lighting levels at precisely calculated angles of incidence. Ideally, the fixtures themselves should either be completely hidden from view, or they should feature an ornamental design that will compliment the surrounding aesthetic. Although inexpensive and safe to install, it is better for homeowners to let professionals install low voltage landscape lighting in order to minimize the possibility of wiring being cut at a later date.

If one or more portions of the landscape require more intense lighting than the typical low voltage fixture provides, there are two options that can meet this requirement. One is a newly-developed 10,000 hour lamp that delivers a much brighter light without requiring additional power. This light cannot be left on all night like standard low voltage lights, however, or it will only last for approximately two years. Much better overnight lighting can be achieved by low-voltage mercury vapor tree lights, which have a lamp life of approximately 5 years when used from sundown to sunup.

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