Landscape Lighting, LED and Electrical Theory Questions

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Baz

I agree Jeff.

When I do my design work the first step is to establish up lighting. Then secondary (as you said) is down lighting (path lights) for safety or to highlight garden features, etc.

In a perfect world you have a balance of up and down lighting.

But I've also had situations where we only had a few up lights and left it at that. Every situation is different.

Tree lights (attached to branches) can be very cool as well. I have a client who had a huge Oak branch that extended across his crushed coquina driveway. It had Ressurection Fern growing on it too. We stuck a tree light on it shining horizontally across the front of the branch as you drove past it. You should see that sucker at night.

I also have some fiber optic lights but that's another whole discussion!

All that landscape "stuff", especially plants are way above my pay grade. There are so much to learn. I do know this, when its done "right" by guys like you, someone can walk out into the dark, with all yard lights in operation, it should feel soft and comfortable without anything harsh and overdrawn attention to any one area.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Hahaha! Thanks for the encouragement, Jeff!

[look 171]

David, I think you misunderstood me. I was talking about attaching wires to the tall wall in the back, not the capped wall up front. This way, its out of the way of the the gardener, kids or anyone else.

[chocolatelab]

Yikes I hate hijacking but....

Baz, the well lights I'm replacing are the plastic ones that have taken years of abuse from lawn mowers and weed wackers.

I am going to call them about some of the spots that have broken. Good tip thanks you.

They installer used the HUB systems and i am noticing that all the inline fuse systems have been removed. Going to trying reinstall those.

Id like to go LED but the cost is huge. the PAR36 equivalents are a fortune.

[daepp]

I'm still unclear about transformers. If you have, for example, a 300 watt transformer, but you now only have 80 watts worth of fixtures attached to it, are you still "burning" 300 watts, or does it ramp down its consumption because of a big decrease in load?

[Por_sha911]

How about digging a narrow trench across the bottom of the trees and set the lights in concrete flush with the ground? The wires can be in conduit in the trench.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by daepp

I'm still unclear about transformers. If you have, for example, a 300 watt transformer, but you now only have 80 watts worth of fixtures attached to it, are you still "burning" 300 watts, or does it ramp down its consumption because of a big decrease in load?

A 300w transformer will use more electricity than a 150w transformer but the real culprit for consumption is the amount of wattage of all your bulbs.

150w transformers are only $50.00 BTW. Here's the one I have been using:
150 Watt 12V Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Transformer | eBay

[daepp]

Here are a few shots of existing stuff - but before you judge remember I'm a rank amateur

My night photography isn't very good either - but I wanted to get an idea of what the $15 4 watt LED's I bought would be like:





These king palms have new home deport LED's - 1 each - I think theyre too white, yes? And need two each?


Another shot of the LED's - too hot? Everything else in the photos are DIY halogens from 20 to 35 watts

[Baz]

Looks great, David!

I've found it very hard to get decent pics of landscape lighting. You almost have to take the pics at dusk with just enough sunlight afterglow left to help illuminate the subject but not too much that it takes away from the visual impact of the lighting itself.

[Rtrorkt]

who sells a wifi enabled transformer allowing control of landscape lights from a handheld device?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

who sells a wifi enabled transformer allowing control of landscape lights from a handheld device?

I have a client set up with an X10 remote system controlling 4 transformers for 4 areas of his property.

I bet there are other remote control control systems others can suggest but this x10 is very economical and works pretty good.

The Source for X10 & X10 Pro Genuine Products

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by daepp

In my personal opinion: I would avoid spots for this application due to the fact that you have so many trees (which is basically a hedge). I would reserve spots for trees where the trees are isolated. For this area, I would put in 2 or three mushroom head ground lights that focus the light towards the ground. This would also highlight your brick-capped retaining wall.

I have some mushroom head ground lights on my front walkway that create a 10' circle of light. It's perfect lighting that is not overkill (avoiding creating the airport effect). Then I have tree lights similar to your palm trees. I use 20w bulbs in the ground lights which produces a lot of lighting per fixture.

I recently purchased some LED landscape lights that are "wall wash" lights. These are 35w/50w and are designed for lighting up a wall. I think one might be good for your right corner which would light up some of the trees as well as the wall & gate to the right.

[daepp]

Thanks for the info Tidy!

It's funny you mention wall wash (as did others earlier). I installed what I already had and am not happy with them. Trying to uplight these trees/hedge has not been as good as I'd hoped. I have now re-aimed them to hit the wall, but I haven't photographed that change. Here's where I'm at since the last photos:





These have been changed to LED:



And this is just the glow from my ceegarr


I do not know how to properly photograph these - they actually look better in real life. Next shots will be of "wall-wash" - and if that doesn't work out, then maybe the mushroom lights. Do you have a shot of one?

ps Thanks again Baz and everyone else.

[Hugh R]

Older thread 18 watt CFL's.

Outdoor Lightiing