Why You Should Choose Solar Powered Outdoor Lighting

Whether you need to light up the path to your front door, set up some kind of romantic ambiance on your back porch or deck, or even emergency security lights, you should really consider solar powered outdoor lighting. Solar outdoor lighting can come in a wide variety of different styles, from lights that are lamp posts for the driveway, to fancy string lights for the deck, and just about anything in between.

There are many different reasons to choose solar powered outdoor lighting, as an alternative to conventional outdoor lighting systems. At the top of the list is the fact that they are powered by small photovoltaic cells that absorb the energy from the sun and convert it to low voltage electricity. This means that you never have to use your power to make them work. They store the energy in small built in batteries, releasing it when the sun goes down. Depending on the actual model, and the kind of bulbs used, you will have continuous light for up to ten or twelve hours.

Because they are self contained, solar powered outdoor lighting will still come on, even in a power outage. No more coming home at night during a storm and not being able to see up your walk, or struggling to find the right door key. They even have security outdoor lighting with solar power. Motion sensitive solar lights are even offered. No more worries about your security lighting going out during a storm either.

Solar powered outdoor lighting has other advantages as well. Because they don't need any external power source, they can be used anywhere you might need a little extra outdoor lighting. There are lights that can be set up in the garden, on the back porch or patio, and even far away in the yard. There is no need to run a power cord, or keep it from getting messed up in the weather.

Most of all, buying solar powered outdoor lighting saves the planet. These lighting systems use the power of the sun, the most renewable natural resource. They don't draw any power from your home, so you won't have to worry about higher electric bills. They don't put out any exhaust, so they don't harm the environment.

Many of these outdoor solar powered lighting systems are completely affordable, and fully self contained. You can buy stake lights, which go directly into the ground wherever you need them. They have small solar panels in the top, and release the energy at night automatically. Many now use high intensity but low energy LED bulbs, extending use time dramatically. These just need to be place where they can absorb the most sun over the day. Other solar lighting systems use a separate panel, mounted where they will get the most sunlight during the day. These are good for the porch or patio, with the panel mounted directly on the roof or a post.

When it comes to using solar powered outdoor lighting, there are some things you should consider. For walkways, poorly lit stairs, and dark entries, you should use the post, hanging, or wall mounted lights. These lighting products will light these areas the best. When it comes to ambient outdoor lighting, there are string lights, as well as a variety of different, unique styles to choose from. There are solar powered lights that look like candles, others that are in fun shapes, like rocks. These give off a soft inviting glow, and used in groups can offer a soft atmosphere.

Uses and Style of Garden Lighting

For dramatic style and effect garden lighting has become almost an art form. Knowing where to put subtle lighting as opposed to dramatic lighting can create effects that can lead to awe inspired compliments.

Inexpensive solar lights placed at the garden's edge or within flower bedding can illuminate the beauty of the blooms and give the garden depth. Solar lights are also environmentally friendly. They can also be moved easily until you find the right configuration for your space.

String lighting added to tree limbs can give the tree an eye catching appeal especially in winter months when it is barren of any leaves.

Floating solar lights added to a pond or swimming pool give an ambiance to a well lit garden. There are several styles available including balls and lily pads.

Up lighting placed at the base of a tree or structure such as a statue can give a dramatic effect as well as add security to the area.

Down lighting placed on the eaves overhang of a house can give not only security but highlight the bushes, shrubs, and plants that surround the home.

Recessed lighting can illuminate from the ground up and can give safety to walkways, stairs, and accent smaller plants from beneath.

Overhead lighting can be used to provide a focal point on a patio or deck to a table or seating area; and/or, container garden that you have used to define the space.

When placing lights among plants be sure to consider how much (if any) heat the lights might create. Some plants may not be able to tolerate heat producing lights. Check with your nursery or lighting specialist if you are not sure about the correct lighting for specific garden areas.

Motion Sensor Outdoor Lighting - Types and Installation Tips

Looking for information about motion sensor outdoor lighting?

Most people in the market for motion sensor outdoor lighting usually have security concerns as a motivation for implementing this integral component of a home security system. This landscape lighting component is typically used to illuminate outdoor pathways, front porch lights, fences, gates, stairwells and driveways as a deterrence against crime, theft and other feared mischief.

Motion sensor outdoor lighting works off a pretty simple premise: the fixtures turn on when motion is detected (sensed) and turn themselves off after a fixed period of time. In order for the sensor to turn on, an object merely needs to move through the signal of the sensor. Once this occurs, the signal emitted from the fixture reflects back to the sensor, thereby turning the light on.

Pre-wired outdoor lighting kits are available at most home-improvement stores that make the installation process a fairly simple do-it-yourself project. Many of these motion sensor outdoor lighting systems also contain a feature that allows the user to manually operate the fixtures. Most fixtures accept flood light or halogen bulbs, both of which are widely available at home super-stores and inexpensive to replace. You can even find solar powered lights for motion sensor outdoor lighting.

What all this means is that incorporating motion sensor lights into an overall home security system can be a rather cost-effective way to ensure light is always available in strategically mapped areas of the property.

Types of Motion sensor lights

Motion sensors come in 2 main varieties - active and passive sensors. The majority of lights used in an outdoor lighting system employ a passive sensor to detect motion.

(i) Active sensors - work by emitting energy (i.e. light, microwaves or sound) into the environment for the purpose of detecting movement within its field of range. When an object comes into range of this energy emission, the energy is reflected back, triggering a response. The response ranges from setting off an alarm, turning on lights to opening an automatic door.

The most common example of where an active sensor is employed is in the opening and closing of garage doors. When a body or vehicle enters/breaks/interrupts the beam emitted by the sensor, the door will either open or close. If a body enters the sensor's range when the door is coming down, the door will automatically reverse its course.

(ii) Passive sensors - or Passive Infrared sensors (PIR), work by detecting infrared energy (infra refers to being below a human's ability to visually sense, and red refers to the lowest color humans can see). More specifically, passive sensors detect abrupt changes of infrared energy and measure the wavelengths of these changes in micrometers. The human skin emits infrared energy in the 9-10 micrometer range. So most motion sensor lights implemented in landscape lighting systems are set to bracket this range.

Just make sure the detection threshold is not set at too low of a number. Should this happen, you may find yourself with lights that turn themselves on by the appearance of cats, raccoons and other small animals. Day temperature and wind-blown branches and debris can also trigger the sensor's response should the detection threshold be set too low.

What passive infrared sensors actually measure is a change of temperature within its field of range. The average human skin temperature is roughly 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius). When a person passes through the sensor's energy field, his or her body temperature is generally higher than that of any other object within its range. This change in temperature is what triggers the response of the detector. For this reason, sensors should not be placed near a venting system. Hot air from vents and cold air from air conditioning can cause the sensors to detect a change in temperature and produce the undesired response of turning the light on.

Installation Tips

As stated above, the installation of motion sensor outdoor lighting can be a do-it-yourself project. If this happens to be one of your first home-improvement projects, or your first time working with outside lights, there a few simple, but important key points to understand.

If your outdoor lighting kit requires to be hooked up to a power source, it's imperative to shut down the part of the fuse box that controls power to the area you will be working in. To make things even safer, seriously consider turning off power to the whole house and either locking the fuse box or covering it with masking or electrical tape (with instructions to leave the power off) to prevent it from accidentally being turned back on by someone else in the house.

Once you know that you are safe-guarded against the misfortune of electrocution, you can move on to the important matter of where to position the fixtures. In addition to keeping the fixtures away from air vents, they should be positioned facing away from windows (sunlight reflecting from the windows can trigger the sensor's response).

Make sure the fixture's openings are securely fastened to prevent air currents or bugs from entering the sensor area and triggering an unwelcome response. On top of all this, make sure the area covered by the passive infrared sensors corresponds to the actual area it covers.

Christmas Outdoor Lighting - Set Up the Lighting Systematically

Outdoor lighting is an indispensable part of the Christmas festivities. It is the Christmas outdoor lighting that brightens the entire neighborhood and enlivens the spirit of the celebrations. However, setting up the lighting can get annoying and frustrating if you don't go about the task systematically. Adopt a step by step approach and you will see that the task can be accomplished in a matter of minutes.

Step #1: Chalk out a plan

An electric plan detailing the layout of the Christmas outdoor lighting plays a very important role. You will have to first figure out the electrical points that you can use. You should also have clarity on the types of lights you want to use and how you want to lay them. Setting up a proper plan with all points considered is half the work done.

Step #2: Consider all the safety factors

Check the lights you intend using for Christmas outdoor lighting. Ensure the cables are not faulty. The electrical wires should neither be broken nor torn. Make sure you clear up the twigs and other dried leaves that can increase the chances of a mishap.

Step #3: Bring out your toolkit

Pliers, screwdriver, hammer, measurement tape and extension cords and the most important tools needed to set up Christmas outdoor lighting. Check to see if you have the relevant hooks to prop up the lights. Using just about any clip will not suffice. There are clips that are exclusively designed for this purpose. Ensure you have them handy. Do not forget the ladder and the hooks to hold the lighting in place.

Step #4: Set up the hooks and clips

Now it is time to bring out the plan your have sketched out and place the hooks and clips in relevant places before setting up the Christmas outdoor lighting. Make sure there is sufficient space between them. They should be places such that the lights don't dangle in between. They should do the perfect job of holding them in place. One feet gap between each hook should do fine.

Step #5: Bring out the lights and test them

You are now nearer to completing the task. Bring out the vintage Christmas lights or any other type of light you intend using and lay them straight. Detangle them and ensure there are not breakages in the wire. Test them to see if all the lights are in the working condition. Eliminate bulbs that are broken and fix split wires.

Step #6: Put up the lights and check functionality

It is now time to set up the Christmas outdoor lighting as sketched out in the plan. Secure them finely using the hooks and clips. Finally, power them on and check to see if they are working fine.

Illuminating the House Exterior Using the Outdoor Lighting

Having outdoor lighting is seen to offer plenty of benefits for the homeowners. Most of the people will install exterior lighting fixture, specially in poor lighted sections of the property in order to heighten security measures against theft. But many makers have now improved the designs of these fixtures to make them more than just additional protection pieces. Because of this, the exterior lightings have grown to be vital aspect of the styles and overall appearance of various homes since they provide illumination and extra ornaments. There are different spots where you can place the lightings depending on your preference.

The outdoor lightings are available in a wide variety of designs and sizes to be able to meet the needs of several people. In the event that you pick the most suitable lights, it will be possible to bring warmth, beauty and a statement of hospitality right in your own home by just adding them. During nighttime, the soft glows that radiate from the lightings can create a desirable visual impact into the house. Through the lighting fixture, you will also be able to drive away unwanted creatures from getting near your property, such as skunks and squirrels. The most important thing to remember is to find the ones which truly match your requirements.

Among the many types of these fixtures, the wall mount outdoor light fixture is probably the most widely used in most homes. The reason behind this is that wall mount lights provide more emphasis on the architectural design of your house and offer great functionality once you set them up on the opposite sides of the door. The emitted illumination can bring in a relaxing ambiance outside, especially when they reflect into the wall structure. On the other hand, the pendant style is also a wonderful choice which you can easily affix onto the ceiling and just let them freely hang while supplying more vivid lights. Some other styles that you may choose include the post light, ceiling mount and the hanging ones.

There are several things that you need to think of in order to find the cheap outdoor lighting that will suit you. You can visit the home improvement section of a department store so that you will be able to personally inquire from the sales attendant about the best lights. Otherwise, it is possible to look for the most suited ones over the internet wherein you can come across different online retailers offering these at sensible costs. Choosing the right lighting allows you to easily update and beautify the current look of your house without shelling out a huge amount of money. Your option should truly complement with the exterior designs.

It is important to opt for the outdoor lighting which has a matching color with your home. Once you have a traditional motif in your home decoration, the lighting fixture with vintage finish such as bronze, brass or iron can produce an elegant style. Meanwhile, the shiny brass and chrome types are perfect choices for modern houses with sleek style. The right size of the lights should be properly selected so that you can obtain the ones which will not look too tiny or too large in the place where you intend to position them. With this, lighting up your outdoor area will be uncomplicated and costs effective.

Outdoor Lighting With Led Lamps

Most of the talk about LED lamps has focused upon indoor application. But the fact is that you can use such bulbs both indoors and outdoors. There is a good deal of logic in placing LED bulbs outside wherever possible, unless you particularly enjoy climbing ladders on a regular basis to replace flood lights.

Security that Lasts

If you have gone to the trouble of installing security lights such as motion sensitive flood lights, you want them to light quickly and brightly every time. CFL bulbs have a warm up period, which makes them a poor choice for this application. LED bulbs come on instantly, and they can handle repeated cycling with ease. Available in a variety of styles, with or without solar panels, LED security lamps offer both safety and affordable convenience.

Light up Your Paths

A majority of currently available LED pathway lights require a cord, but a few are now available with solar panels attached. The energy draw from an entire string of lights is minimal, costing only pennies a day. The bulbs will never need to be replaced and only you will know that you are being energy efficient while decorating your property attractively.

In addition to standard pathway lights you can also access a variety of ornamental lighting that is designed to use LED bulbs rather than incandescent. Sconces, stepping stones and garden lights are all designed specifically for LED lighting.

Christmas Lights

You could hardly fail to notice how LED bulbs are taking over the Christmas lighting experience. Some stores even offered discounts for people who were willing to bring in their old incandescent strands. Not only can you now afford to go “all out” when decorating, since the cost of powering the lights will be significantly lower, but when one bulb burns out, the rest of the strand will stay lit. Imagine setting up your holiday lights without having to try and figure out which bulb is the faulty one!

LED lamps are economically superior, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate mercury dangers and can be used just about anywhere; they just make good sense.

Garden and Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Garden and outdoor lighting can extend the use of the garden into the evening, as well as providing the reassurances of safety and security for the outside areas of the home. In recent years fashions have moved away from garden lighting being limited to the single halogen floodlight set high on the rear wall of the home, throwing a uniformly bright illumination over the garden, or the functional bulkhead light fixed to the side of the front of the home's front entrance, but when fitted with a suitably adjusted sensor, these lights will still have an important role to play in an outdoor lighting system for home security reasons. Preferences however, have moved towards a more planned lighting system for the garden.

Once away from the house, an important first consideration is t he electrical supply to the lighting system. Mains voltage lights will need to be run through armoured cables to each light and run back to the consumer unit in the house. This will need the skills of a suitably qualified and certified electrician. The alternative is to install lights using a low voltage system running from a transformer in the house.

To illuminate garden paths or the edges of gardens, fixed bollard lights can be placed at intervals along the paths, and if the paths or garden allows it, perhaps including a taller lamp-post. These are available in such modern styles as chrome with glass lenses or in the traditional Victorian "gas lantern" style and they will give a lower, more comfortable, but still fairly general level of illumination than the main halogen light. One or a number of lamp-post lights can also provide for a more elegant lighting of the garden's dining or relaxation areas.

Favourite feature shrubs and trees can be high lighted with the use of movable spike spotlights, which can be easily moved from time to time to give some variety in the garden lighting. Trees and trellis features can be highlighted with nets or strings of smaller bulbs. Ground lights set into the lawn in a line can be used to lead the visitor's eye towards a garden feature, or when they are set just above the ground, can be swivelled to give a more directional light.

Solar powered lights with combined rechargeable batteries are also available. They come in a range of styles and can be used close to the house for zero cost illumination well into the night.

In recent years many of these styles of garden lights have become available as environmentally friendly, low energy lighting, and replacement low energy bulbs are very easily available for older light fittings, so the garden can be enjoyed in to the evening at minimum cost to the pocket, and to the environment.