How To Choose Between Low Voltage And Solar Deck Lighting For Safety And Convenience

October 9th, 2011

Part of the decision making game, when planning any deck lighting design, is whether to go for solar deck lighting or low voltage deck lighting options. Each has there merits and supporters. Each has there advantages and disadvantages over the other. Now I am not here to definitely tell you to choose one over the other. That would be insulting your intelligence. Instead let’s have a look at some of the basic principles and let you make your own choice based on the facts.

Safety Of Deck Lighting

The safety of your deck area should be your number one consideration. For a start there is the welfare of you, your family and visitors to consider. Secondly you have to think about meeting the various building code requirements. Finally there is your liability and your insurance coverage to satisfy.

Now many home owners out there worry about this and especially the chance of any outdoor solar deck lighting failing. By failing that usually means the fear of the solar powered deck lighting running out of their charge that has been built up in the daylight hours. Now this would be rare, providing the panel was exposed enough, but it could happen. Low voltage deck lighting does not have this worry, except in the event of a power cut.

The Costs Of Installing The Deck Lighting Option You Choose

Let’s consider a new installation. If you go for a low voltage deck lighting installation, then things are a lot more costly and complicated. There is the issue of voltage drop to calculate and account for. Then there is planning all the wiring and where it will go safely. Finally you have to think of what type of low voltage transformer you will choose and where you will site it. All of these tasks are a job for any experienced and certified electrical contractor, who will cost money. All of the equipment will also cost you extra cash from your budget.

With solar deck lights there is none of these issues and costs. Installation is very simple and the chances of being denied approval or insurance are a lot lower. After all if you have no wiring there is no chance of electrical shock, short outs or fire.

The Costs of Running Low Voltage And Solar Deck Lighting Fixtures

This is a complete no brainer. The calculation is very simple. Deck solar lighting is free to run. That’s an easy fact, powered as it is by the sun. Not even the Federal or my State government has found a way to charge me for using the sun yet. On the other hand, although lower voltage and power drain than your main house electricity, low voltage outdoor deck lighting still costs money. When you add up all your fittings over the course of one, two or five years, it is still money you might prefer to have rather than spend on lighting.

A Solution To The Power Problem In Deck Lighting

My solution is simple and really marries the two power options together. For critical areas of safety or for security, install a limited low voltage deck lighting arrangement. This could consist of outdoor wall lights and maybe some of the step lights that you will need on your deck build by law. By reducing the amount, then you simplify the amount and costs of wiring, transformers and avoid voltage drop problems. You also get the peace of mind you need over important areas. If you keep things small in this portion of the deck lighting low voltage fittings are not such an issue to you or your insurers

Then for the rest of the deck lighting solar powered options can be easy used without the worry. This will give you more flexibility overall and allow easier extension at a later date.

Of course this is just my take on the whole argument, but I think it s a sensible and practical approach to what is a much debated problem when building a lighting design for a deck in your back yard or garden.

For a more detailed look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the various options when installing deck lighting you should look at some of my earlier posts such as:

The Pros & Cons Of Installing Low Voltage Outdoor Deck Lighting
The 3 Big Disadvantages Of Using LED Garden Lighting

The 3 Big Disadvantages Of Using LED Garden Lighting

October 5th, 2011

LED lighting has advanced in leaps and bounds over the last few years. In fact it is the go to technology for most garden and party lighting today. So when you are looking at LED garden lighting your need to bear in mind not only the considerable advantages, but also its disadvantages in some situations. There are three main areas of risks you need to consider as follows:

The Initial Costs Of The Lights

This is not a major factor when you look at the purchase price at most LED garden lighting suppliers. The gap on this is minor at the moment, but needs to be considered all the same when looking at the whole life cots of any outdoor lighting installation of any kind. LED bulbs are more expensive when you weight them up per lumen against similar incandescent or halogen bulbs and tubes.

But this really only refers to replacement costs. Now it is rare not to get the full life from any LED deck lighting fixtures. In fact they can last 10 times longer or more than other bulbs. But if you do have to replace them they will cost more.

Performance In Certain Temperatures

LED lights and bulbs love the cold. In fact LED garden lighting systems actually perform better the colder it gets on the whole. This is one of the effects of their solid state technology. But in hotter weather they may have their limitations. Above 25 degrees centigrade it has been noted that performance can suffer. At even higher temperatures, they have been known to fail completely. This is rare, but it could happen.

So if you live in a very hot area such as Texas or Utah then consider options for your deck lighting ideas carefully. Often times, the best bet is to actually go find someone with LED garden lights and find out how they perform. This will give you a clue as to whether you should choose them or not.

They Might Actually be Bad For The Environment

LED garden lighting is often praised for the reduced amount of electricity they take to perform their lighting tasks. This is a good green benefit, especially if you are using low voltage LED garden lights. But is it counterbalanced by one of their other great properties.

You see what LED deck lighting is good at, is delivering high and more intense quantities of light from a smaller source and for less energy input. But we have to remember that light pollution is pollution in itself and reference to the International Dark Sky Association guidelines is needed. The intense blue light from cool white LED bulbs do cause more light pollution than other sources.

The solution is to look for the Dark Sky badge of certification on LED garden light fittings and fixtures that comply with their guidance. Of course using LED solar garden lights in your plans will also help offset any light pollution issues from an ecological perspective.

These three disadvantages of LED garden lights themselves, to my mind anyway, do not out weigh the considerable advantages that using the best LED garden lighting brings. But depending on your individual circumstances and outlook, they may need to be considered when buying and installing LED lights for garden landscape planning. You need to carefully weigh up the specifications of the LED garden lighting for sale and consider if it is within your range of tolerances and personal outlook environmentally.

The Pros & Cons Of Installing Low Voltage Outdoor Deck Lighting

September 30th, 2011

It doesn’t mater what the weather, if you have a deck, then you know how good it is to sit and enjoy it. Outdoor deck lighting makes that experience so much better. It extends the time you can relax and enjoy or have fun with friends and family into the evenings and night. In fact I think that autumn is almost as good a time to sit and enjoy my garden as summer is. The changes that come over the tree, plants and animals are fascinating to watch, especially late on in the day.

Outdoor Deck Lighting -Step By Step – 1 2 3

But I have already got my outdoor deck lighting all sorted out. But what about if you are still considering where you should go with yours? I know it took me a while to get things figured in my mind. The choices of power, style and placement were just too much information at the time. So my advice when you want to design your deck lighting ideas into reality is to take it one step at a time.

That’s what this article series is about. I’m just going to throw some simple outdoor deck lighting ideas out there for you. Chew them over and see what really runs up your flap pole.

There will be 3 articles about deck lighting choices. I will be in some interesting links to LED, 12v and solar deck lighting ideas I have seen on Amazon and 1StopLighting as well. These are my personal choices, but you might want to do your own research which is cool.

Low Voltage Outdoor Deck Lighting Fixtures

This is the traditional fail safe route followed by many. Outdoor low voltage deck lighting has been around a long time and probably will still be around in 20 years or more. It is generally reliable unless you have a power cut. It has also evolved itself to incorporate new LED technology so it doesn’t get left behind.

So what do low voltage lighting user like about this deck lighting method? Well there is the reliability. There is still a lack of trust in solar power. Will it run out of charge for instance, at a vital moment? No lighting on steps or your security lights could be a bit of a problem. Now to my mind if you have the panels set up in the right spaces and you are aware of solar deck lighting limitations then there should be no problems.

However there is something in the make up of humans that we like to be 200% sure about things we don’t understand, fear or don’t trust. It’s a bit like the problem the electric car has in the public eyes. My solution is to have the old 12v deck lighting in critical areas such as steps and outdoor grill areas and then cheap outdoor deck lighting in other spaces.

Advantages Of Outdoor Low Voltage Deck Lighting

1. Control

Low voltage outdoor deck lighting has is it is very controllable. You can hook it up to the transformer and then set it on a timer, or even dim it as necessary to change the mood.

2. Safety

Low voltage outdoor deck lighting does lose out on its charge and fade away. It is only if you blow a fuse or get a power outage that you will have problems. From my experience I can only remember about once or twice when I have experience a full blown outage or power cut. So your decking area is going to be well lit and safe for your kids and visitors alike.

3. Reliability

This is old school technology fitted and updated with modern twists. It is proven to work reliably in a lot of different conditions and circumstances. Flick a switch and it works, simple as that.

With the advent of LED outdoor deck lighting fittings, any issues with normal bulbs have disappeared as well

Disadvantages of Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting

1. Inflexibility

Low voltage outdoor lighting for decks has to be well planned. Once it is in and the deck area finished it is hard and problematic to expand. Yes there are some peripheral items that can be added, but it all involves a lot of cutting and routing. Plus you have to wire the new ones in and connect them up. If you are a great DIY person then you will be rolling around in hog heaven. Otherwise it is the costs of a contractor.

2. Installation Costs

Even if you are going to do it yourself, you will still have to invest in the low voltage transformers, wiring, fittings, possibly tools, and crimps and so on. If not then you will have to assess some contractors for the job and hope they are value for money. I am no electrician so calculating voltage drops and safe wiring is beyond me.

Add to that the hassle of actually getting it certified as a safe installation. You might need those certs. For building inspectors, or more importantly your house insurance company.

3. Running Costs

Okay so low voltage lighting does not suck up electricity like an oven or an air con unit. But over the course of a year it does add up. Now you have to balance that up against how much power costs in your area of course. Another point is that is not very green. Not everyone’s scene I know, but it is important to some and you should be looking at ways you can avoid being destructive environmentally.

So Is Buying Outdoor Low Voltage Deck Lighting Worth It?

Well I would say yes and no. Now before I get my fanny full of splinters from this fence I’m sitting on, let me explain. I still think they are a valid and in some areas necessary part of your whole deck lighting design plans.

BUT:

Mix them in with other types of outdoor deck lighting to balance off their down sides.

Pre-plan them in critical areas or for your core deck lighting needs.

Save some money in the long term by using solar outdoor deck lighting in less critical areas and if you expand the system you have on your deck.

So no, low voltage deck lighting fixtures are not dead by any stretch of the imagination. They have adapted well and offer a necessary addition to your outdoor deck lighting design and requirements.

The Outdoor Lighting Guide

Not Just Outdoor Fairy Lights!