Garden Lighting

Hi,

I'm looking for some garden lighting, I like the look of those small rock lights, as they can be hidden amongst the flowers, however they are only

12v, and can only be placed 3-4m from the transformer, and you can't daisy chain them together.

I think I need something higher voltage, maybe just standard 240v with no transformer. A set of 5 or 6 smallish ground lights, that can be daisy chained around the garden (20m). It would also be good if it was possible to install multi coloured bulbs as well, (as the rock lights only support 10w halogen, and coloured halogen are 30w).

Anyone know of anything simular to this?

Cheers

Ben

Reply to
Ben Blackmore
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Ben,

Low voltage lighting can certainly be strung out further than that. At our previous home I had 8 lights (2 strings) daisy chained and extending at least 20 meters. A standard (at least here in Toronto) Noma product. No problem. The transformer was stock too -- straight out of the box.

If the look of the lighter-weight low voltage stuff suits you, it is certainly the way to go. Completely DYI and very little hassle. Its sometimes a little fiddley to ensure good contact at the lights and connections but aside from that it's dead easy. Relatively inexpensive too.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Voege

I agree with Jim. if you get the right transformer, you can have a nice array of lights in series over a much greater distance than you have suggested. You might have to look beyond the home despot for pro-quality stuff (or maybe not--I haven't messed with the stuff they have, since it always seems to be broken when I see it at others' houses), but you can do it. I've had good success with Vista brand products (I have no connection with them other than being a customer).

I think using AC to run garden lights is a waste of juice, an eyesore, a maintenance nightmare, and a safety risk. 12V is safe, easy, unobtrusive, and efficient. I also prefer the spotlight/ambient light effect more than the floods you usually see in AC systems, but that's me.

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Reply to
Babberney

Babberney8/4/04 3:30 snipped-for-privacy@FUaroma-FUmassage.com snipped-for-privacy@news.austintx.com

Look, I'm really sorry to rain on anyone's parade but perhaps you might ask yourselves if you really *want* garden lighting? Why? What will you do with it? Will you actually sit at the window and turn off the telly and look out at our night-illuminated garden? This country has (IIRC) the highest light pollution in the world proportionately speaking. I can understand garden lighting when you're using a deck or terrace for a party but to light plants at night? WHY? Can't you look at them in the day time? If you live in the boondocks and need to light the path to the house - maybe install something that comes on as you approach it and goes off rapidly as you enter the house. So - FWIW, you may want to consider less light pollution and more sitting outside in the soft darkness of a summer's night looking at the *stars* which will not have been blanked out by a something-or-other lighting your Skimmia or bamboo and all those of all your neighbours. Just a teensy thought.... A newcomer to this village tried to get street lighting installed once - not a shrewd move. I think he moved quite soon after that. ;-) On many winter and summer nights we go outside to look at the stars and even with the very faint loom of Torquay some miles away we can actually *see* them. It's another world, a magic, a revelation. And all our plants are still there next morning, in the *day*light.

Reply to
Sacha

Oh how I agree, the usual argument for excessive lighting is it reduces crime rate. How is that so, when I was young just after WW2 in Somerset my parents home looked out from the Mendips over the Somerset levels, the only light was looking up. Now it is all that awful yellow, and crime, reduced? I think not!

Reply to
Broadback

Sure. Had it at the old house. Loved it. Gonna put some in here too.

For the same reason that people grow ornamental plants. For the enjoyment of the view.

Enhance the appearance of the garden at night.

No. I shall grab a beer, sit on the patio and enjoy the thing. Done well the whole thing is quite magical.

Sorry, hadn't noticed that the original message had been posted to the UK group.

I don't know about other people but the day time is when I work in the garden. Who can sit still during the day? There is always something that needs doing.

Please. A string of low voltage lighting typically casts the same amount of total light as a single 40 watt lightbulb. We are, after all, talking about little 4 and 8 watt bulbs. So tell me, do you make a habit of drawing blackout curtains on your windows when you have the lights on in the house? You should if you're concerned about light pollution since your unshielded indoor lighting causes a great deal more of it than low voltage outdoor lighting.

Different strokes ...

Different preferences in "magic" ...

Jim

Reply to
Jim Voege

Apparently you aren't familiar with the tradition of barbecue (bar-BQ). It is where you cook outdoors on a grill (charcoal or propane) and eat outdoors. If the host has a nice garden, the bar-BQ may be held in or next to the garden. If the function lasts after sundown, outdoor lighting is needed. Frequently it includes tiki torches with citronella laced fuel to keep the insects down.

Reply to
Stephen M. Henning

Jim Voege8/4/04 8:38 snipped-for-privacy@SPAMsympatico.carShdc.38425$ snipped-for-privacy@news20.bellglobal.com

And a total loss of the *real* thing to the artificial. Big shame, IMO.

Reply to
Sacha

Stephen M. Henning8/4/04 8:41 snipped-for-privacy@aol.compighash- snipped-for-privacy@news4.west.earthlink.net

Ah. Now this may be because me and mine have a mutual view on barbecues - poor food, badly cooked, for the most part. We prefer to cook the food indoors, carry it into the garden and sit there as the daylight fades, watching the stars 'come out' and the bats flying around, listening to the Little Owls calling etc. You don't get a lot of that with artificial garden lighting..... OTOH, each to their own which is why my original post did say something about entertaining on a deck or terrace and understanding that lighting might be needed for that. I am querying whether individual trees and shrubs, bits of the garden, etc. need to be lit up at night, every night, for, what - exactly .........? How many people that do this turn off the lights inside their houses and sit at a window, gazing out into their spasmodically illuminated garden? Try letting gardens be lit by moonlight is my suggestion and if there's no moon, wait for the next one. Just another pov.

Reply to
Sacha

I have gained a garden at night. What have I lost?

Jim

Reply to
Jim Voege

Poor old mother earth.

The unnatural light in the garden scares off all those nocturnal creatures that don't like light . . .

. . . you kill the insects so the animals that feed off the insects all die; then all the animals that feed off the animals that eat the insects all die . . .

. . . and you would rather look at artificial light than the stars . . .

poor old mother earth :((((((((((((

BTW in the uk when the temperature reaches a sufficient level to have a bbq outside, it stays light until it is too cool to be outside any more!!!

Reply to
Jane Ransom

You folks in the UK should understand that you live quite a bit further north than most North Americans and during the summer it stays light longer. In many places in August, for example, after you get home from work, have dinner etc, you're running out of light.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Voege

Yeah but by the time the weather is conducive to BbQing its light until very late and a few candles are far more romantic :~))

Jenny

Reply to
JennyC

There is no such thing as too cold to BBQ...

Reply to
Bella

Wow! I can save a fortune on charcoal and firelighters if that's true!

Reply to
Sue da Nimm

Jim Voege8/4/04 10:54 snipped-for-privacy@SPAMsympatico.caKSjdc.11021$ snipped-for-privacy@news20.bellglobal.com

The real thing. But if you turn off your telly, turn out your house lights and illuminate your garden, sitting at a window to enjoy it, then that's your business.

Reply to
Sacha

Bella9/4/04 7:47 snipped-for-privacy@abuse.comIrdc.1016$ snipped-for-privacy@news1.mts.net

I found a hailstorm, in Jersey, in April gave the lie to that for me. ;-)

Reply to
Sacha

In article , Jim Voege writes

So why did you post your post to a uk group?

Reply to
Jane Ransom

But who wants to stand over a hot fire on a cold day?

Reply to
Warren

Actually, I'm at rec.gardens and when I replied to the original post at the beginning of the thread I hadn't noticed that it was posted to both groups.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Voege

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