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Message
Tell me about outdoor lighting
Posted on 10/11/22 at 10:35 am
Posted on 10/11/22 at 10:35 am
Would like to install some lighting up against the front of my house along with the back fence line that is totally pitch black.
Did not have the best luck with solar stuff from Home Depot last go around and thinking it's time to go with corded power lights.
Are they pretty easy to install? Any better solar options to look at? The back fence is pretty well shaded by a huge oak and crepe myrtells so prb need electric regardless.
Did not have the best luck with solar stuff from Home Depot last go around and thinking it's time to go with corded power lights.
Are they pretty easy to install? Any better solar options to look at? The back fence is pretty well shaded by a huge oak and crepe myrtells so prb need electric regardless.
13
Posted on 10/11/22 at 11:18 am to STLhog
I would say it's pretty simple if you are patient. Standard outdoor lighting is just a transformer, then run the wires from there to the lights. You can get a transformer that plugs into an outlet and has a photocell on it. Not familiar with solar, can't help you there.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 11:32 am to STLhog
1. Low voltage
2. Don’t buy off Amazon
3. It’s expensive for the good stuff
2. Don’t buy off Amazon
3. It’s expensive for the good stuff
This post was edited on 10/11/22 at 11:33 am
Posted on 10/11/22 at 11:58 am to STLhog
Very easy, just a bit of work and time. I bought a kit from Costco. The hardest part of the work was burying the wire after.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 12:07 pm to STLhog
Solar is crap.
I replaced my solar with VOLT lighting and very pleased.
I replaced my solar with VOLT lighting and very pleased.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 12:53 pm to STLhog
As a few others mentioned, solar is crap. Go with Volt and you can buy it through Costco for much cheaper. Very quality stuff all with lifetime warranties. Its pricy but its a buy once cry once kind of thing. I will say if you want some cheap spotlights to fill in elsewhere there are plenty on amazon for pretty cheap that I have had good experience with.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 12:58 pm to STLhog
Costco
VOLT Landscape Lighting 9-piece Path & Area Light Brass LED Starter Kit $599
The above is foolproof. It is low volt and a 14 year old could install it.
VOLT Landscape Lighting 9-piece Path & Area Light Brass LED Starter Kit $599
The above is foolproof. It is low volt and a 14 year old could install it.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 2:17 pm to Schmelly
quote:
2. Don’t buy off Amazon
disagree. low voltage lighting isn't mechanically complicated. cheap transformers, wire and led lights and you're good to go. i inherited a system and replaced all lights with cheap led's bought in a 6 pack on amazon. make sure you get the quick connect clips. all you gotta do is run line and you can clip lights along it wherever you want
Posted on 10/11/22 at 2:41 pm to lsujro
Good stuff here. Thanks fellas.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 2:47 pm to STLhog
Posted on 10/11/22 at 3:38 pm to STLhog
Have a commercial-grade dual voltage transformer and Portfolio brand LED lights from Lowes. Think mine is about 500W which is way overkill with the LEDs I have for now but plan to run lighting around a future fence. I've done a few installs for others this year and Kichler 200W digital transformers have worked very well and also 12V/15V. I used well lights that I set in landscape pavers with a 4" hole bit on my SDS hammer drill.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 4:59 pm to STLhog
Go with the LED system 120VAC system, more expensive but they last forever! 6 years on mine, have not replaced one light!
4 lights and transformer/photo cell: about 175bucks....
5 star recommendation
4 lights and transformer/photo cell: about 175bucks....
5 star recommendation
Posted on 10/11/22 at 9:10 pm to Schmelly
quote:
It’s expensive for the good stuff
FX RS series uplight is a fantastic uplight. You can find them used on Amazon for about $50.
I’ve considered some Volt fixtures but haven’t pulled the trigger (want to uplight some rear yard columns not in a flower bed, so i want an in-grade light pointed up that’s lower than lawnmower blade height).
OP:
Get a rough estimate of the length of the cable you want to run. get a rough estimate of the number of fixtures you want. 3-7 (all of mine are 7) watts per bulb.
Add up the total wattage and the estimated total length (a large T shape or a loop plugged in on both ends can be helpful) and throw the numbers into an online voltage drop calculator to decide how thick of a cable to buy.
Posted on 10/11/22 at 9:25 pm to STLhog
Also you can search “landscape lighting Tigerdroppings” and find a few threads. That’s where I learned what to do.
This post was edited on 10/11/22 at 10:35 pm
Posted on 10/12/22 at 8:18 am to STLhog
Home Depot has transformers and the new lights just literally clip into the wire, it’s so easy to do now.
Hampton bay has a 4 light set for I think around 125 dollars, you can set up 8 lights for around 300-350
Hampton bay has a 4 light set for I think around 125 dollars, you can set up 8 lights for around 300-350
Posted on 10/12/22 at 8:37 am to LSU-MNCBABY
VOLT lighting is GOAT
Posted on 10/12/22 at 12:28 pm to STLhog
Installing lighting fixtures can be as easy as you want to make it. Home Depot has a decent selection of lights that are easy to install. You want to look for lights that come on a wire and not solar. The reason why is the lights don't get direct sunlight and the batteries won't last. How much labor you want to put into this is up to you. You can spend a little bit of time and wire them up with an extension cord or a transformer from a garage door opener. You can also spend a little more and get a 220v power outlet installed and then run the lights off of that. There are a lot of options for you with this project. The wire lights will cost you less and the 220v lights will be more expensive and require more labor. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish and how much time you are willing to put into it will determine which lights you use.
Posted on 10/12/22 at 2:01 pm to STLhog
VOLT Lighting is definitely the way to go. The fixtures are heavy, solid brass - not that thin, flimsy metal on fixtures from big hardware chains.
VOLT LED lightbulbs are guaranteed for life, but most started to fail after around 5 years. We found it easier to buy inexpensive replacement LED bulbs from Amazon instead of going through VOLT customer service to return burned-out bulbs.
VOLT LED lightbulbs are guaranteed for life, but most started to fail after around 5 years. We found it easier to buy inexpensive replacement LED bulbs from Amazon instead of going through VOLT customer service to return burned-out bulbs.
Posted on 10/12/22 at 2:51 pm to WB Davis
quote:
We found it easier to buy inexpensive replacement LED bulbs from Amazon instead of going through VOLT customer service to return burned-out bulbs.
Why is that? Do they make it a hassle to get replacement bulbs or?
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