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I am wondering what other people use in their gardens for lighting? Need to illuminate the steps a short pathway and the BBQ area. Probably need about 6 individual lights in total.
Something like this?
Mains power or solar?
@johndoh I need solar but have seen battery and USB charging one's. Don't have an outdoor electric plug
Most outdoor are actually 12 volt so you'd still need to mount a transformer indoors. Does mean you don't have 240V around the garden. Solar in my experience are pretty useless for illuminating anything.
Edit that set above are, transformer is in the plug.
I've got loads of lights in the garden...
The main set is 10x 12v 10W LED floodlights between the house and the workshop..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7579/15713717708_4eb7be7686.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7579/15713717708_4eb7be7686.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pWyUPo ]12v 10W LED flood lights[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8583/15310912624_320a69984b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8583/15310912624_320a69984b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pjYqU9 ]12v 10W LED Flood light[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Power supply is outside in a box as if it's going to burst into flames I'd rather it did it outside rather than inside the house. On the 2nd one as the first one died after a nearby lightning strike a few years back which blew all the outdoor electrics.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7536/15310908184_288096a7ec.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7536/15310908184_288096a7ec.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pjYpzA ]12v PSU in IP65 box[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I've also got a load of outdoor mains PIR lights at various points eg near the wheelie bin area, by the gate, by the shed. I've run mains all over the place, so loads of outdoor sockets in the garden.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8606/15932496202_2042270744.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8606/15932496202_2042270744.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qgUd3o ]Outside lights[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Its not a requirement but all the outdoor mains is in conduits, steel or plastic. There are loads of large shrubs hiding cables and cutting through one when pruning stuff back is a real risk, hence all in conduit which the hedge trimmer etc can't attack (as it's too wide). There's also the risk the neighbour puts up a Trellis etc on their side of the fence and nails into it. All RCD protected as well.
What would I need to make sure that solar lighting would work? Other than a big panel and a Leisure battery?
I have just fitted a load of these.
www.solar-eye.com
Very impressed.
No cable, switch on and off automatically. no maintenance.
How much?
Solar with a leisure battery etc will be way more expensive and hassle than drilling a hole through a wall to an indoors socket or installing an external socket.
Those solar units above won't illuminate anything , they are designed as markers, not for illuminating other things. In fact they could be a problem on steps as they won't illuminate the ground, just dazzle you so you can't see the edge. I made that mistake putting deck lights into steps, had to install some down lighters on the adjacent wall to actually illuminate the steps and counter act the deck lights.
I've got some similar to these in the garden, provide enough light to see where you're going (not as much as a 10w mains pir) and are still working after a few years.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HETP-Upgraded-Security-Waterproof-Intelligent/dp/B07L2PH535
In fact, they've lasted longer than the mains powered security light from screwfix.
@Stumpyjohn. not the case they do illuminate very well. But then I'm not Trump on a slope
😉
What would I need to make sure that solar lighting would work? Other than a big panel and a Leisure battery?What would I need to make sure that solar lighting would work? Other than a big panel and a Leisure battery?
You'll need a charge controller (from a reputable supplier, not the eBay seller who sold me mine) and some way to make it waterproof. Some of the charge controllers have built in timers, can be set to come on at night, or have WiFi/Bluetooth.
This is my plan, I just can't find any decent 12v lights that I like so I'm starting to think about rewiring old mains lamps to take 12v LEDs.
Solar's much less hassle than a defrosted freezer because water got into your outside lights somewhere and the RCD tripped.
Generally, I use the sun, and go to bed at night time. Especially during the summer.
After reading the rest of the thread, not really suiting your needs, but you asked what people are using to light their gardens...
WiFi/Alexa controlled uplights in the edge of the decking, led festoon round the fence from a weatherproof outdoor switch, downlights on the fence over the plants - another outdoor switch, up/down light on the summer house, switched from inside. Security lights on the shed and house that have the sensitivity adjusted so they don't trigger when the decorative lighting is on.
All 240v apart from the 12v deck lights. The festoon gives a lovely ambient light to the whole garden and casts light into the trees
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50021355546_a1bfb5ed25_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50021355546_a1bfb5ed25_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jddwhA ]2020-06-19_04-20-55[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr