Low voltage outdoor lighting is an investment you can make into your home that makes a big difference to how your property looks at dusk and into the evening. It adds value to your home, upping its curbside appeal while offering safety (as outdoor areas are well-illuminated there are fewer opportunities for bumps and falls at night) and security by casting light into the dark corners of your property.
Low voltage landscape lighting in Alpharetta is typically installed along walkways, to illuminate steps and driveways or placed on ground level pointing up at trees, walls and fences, and other landscape features.
What is Low Voltage Landscape Lighting?
Low voltage outdoor lighting means that the landscape lighting system runs with a transformer that converts the line voltage of 120 volts down to 12 volts. Low voltage lighting was initially developed specifically for landscape lighting in America in the 1950’s. A low voltage system has the advantage of being less expensive, safer for you and your family and in many cases (particularly if you use LED lights) more energy efficient.
What are The Key Features?
A typical landscape lighting design that uses a low voltage solution has three components: a transformer, low-voltage electrical cable, and the fixtures.
1. The Transformer
All transformers have a ‘maximum wattage capacity’ where, for example, a 150-watt transformer will provide power to a light circuit with a demand of up to 150 watts. To work out what size transformer you will need, decide what light fittings you want to use and where you wish to place them in your yard to get an idea of how many lights you will be using and how much power they will draw. Then calculate the capacity that your transformer will need, factor in a buffer so that additional lights can be added to the circuit at a later stage if necessary.
2. Cables
Cables used for landscape lighting should be well insulated and work for low-voltage systems. During installation, the cables will be run along the ground, with wires placed behind plants or lightly covered with soil. They should be easy to access for maintenance but out of reach of pets and children.
3. Fixtures
There are many different lights to choose from that are distinguishable by their usage, style, and type. For example, path lights are the ideal solution for lighting walkways and steps, while spotlights are an effective solution for drawing attention to an outdoor feature such as a beautiful tree or fountain.
LED landscape lighting is also growing in popularity; and this energy-efficient solution works well for both traditional and modern landscape lighting designs.
Good-quality low voltage outdoor lighting installations in Alpharetta are a flexible, safe to use, fully-customizable alternative to bright floodlights. Because there are many different options for fixtures, they can be positioned throughout your yard to highlight important features, as well as improving the safety of your garden and securing it against potential criminals.
Using a certified landscape lighting company is a good way to ensure that you understand exactly what you will need for your yard. They are also often able to secure better prices on fixtures and have the benefit of years of experience that they can draw on to make your installation a success.