backyard lights

[capnamerca]

We're in the middle stages of a backyard remodel, and sometime next week the contractors are coming out to put up our patio cover - just a nice extension, anchored to the back of the house, shingled roof, finished-out inside cieling, cieling fan, outlets, floodlights, etc. It'll be about 15' by 10' or so. What we're thinking of doing is having them leave us a few pigtails out of the light fixtures, down by one of the support beams, so that if we wanted to, we could run some sort of low-profile backyard lighting system, perhaps to the back corners of our lot - it's not a big lot, but the corners stay pretty dark, and it'd be nice to have 3-5 lights out there. Anyone have experience with a lighting system? A light is a light is a light, but I'm wondering which ones are truly "outdoor" lights, and are durable, look good, last a long time, etc.

 

[brntorng]

If these are intended to be always-on (dusk-to-dawn with an appropriate sensor) security lights I suggest sodium fixtures. They're very energy efficient, provide relatively soft warm light, and the bulbs last for ~10 years. The downside is they take perhaps 30 seconds from the time they're turned on until they reach full brightness. This makes them appropriate for security, but not necessarily for general use when you may want immediate light. I definitely prefer them to the mercury vapor fixtures (also efficient and slow turn on) which I find too "cool" for my liking.

 

[Luke Duke]

i before e except after c

 

[MilkmanDan]

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[Thunderhoof]

Go low voltage if you are going to do it yourself.

It might be a little more expensive starting out (you'll have to buy a transformer as well as the fixtures), but there are real advantages to this setup.

First, you don't have to get the wiring down 18" underground.

Second, the wiring doesn't have to be in conduit.

Third, your kids, or weedeater, or your pets can chew through the wiring and not ever get shocked.

If you go this route, I recommend fixtures from Hadco:
www.hadco.com/Hadco/Home.aspx

We use their fixtures 200 feet underground in an environment more corrosive than salt air at the coast. We've had them in for over a year now with no problems.

If you have questions about making a LV system work, PM me. It's a little intimidating at first, but it's really really simple once you get into it.

 

[brntorng]

I obviously didn't read your request very well. I was thinking general lighting for security, but that's not what you want. So, yes, low voltage lighting is the way to go. If you want to reduce energy use, you can find LED bulbs for many of the regular 12V fixtures.

 

[BA93]

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[brntorng]

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[l00p]

I think the Mercury lights hum.

 

[geezerhorn]

Check LED's lots of options (color) low voltage and long life. Google exterior LED fixtures for info.

 

[brntorng]

Using LED bulbs isn't a bad idea if you can find fixtures you like. Even if you can't, you can get replacement LED bulbs that fit standard 12V sockets. However, I've checked into it and discovered that you're unlikely to recover the increased cost of the LED bulbs through energy savings. Incandescent landscape bulbs just don't burn enough energy to give you much of a chance to make up the incremental initial cost of the LEDs--at least for now. LED bulb technology continues to improve and costs continue to come down. On the plus side for LEDs is that you probably won't ever need to replace the bulbs. Oh, and don't fall for the solar powered LED fixtures. I've yet to see any that worked worth a darn.

 

[DallasTexasEx]

I'd like to see some before and after pictures of this project!