Recessed uplights
Recessed uplights are recommended in flat areas where a spike mount garden light would be visually intrusive, would be a maintenance problem (mowing a lawn, for example) or a trip hazard (in paving on a terrace or porch). Otherwise, spike mount uplights or spotlights are preferred for garden lighting as they are less expensive than recessed outdoor lights and are more easily moved or adjusted to suit plant growth or seasonal changes. Recessed outdoor uplights come in two main types: non-adjustable garden lights offering straightforward uplighting and adjustable recessed uplights where the lamp direction can be adjusted within the garden light for wall-washing or lighting an object from just to the side or front. Non-adjustable recessed garden uplights are smaller as they don't have to provide room for variable lamp positioning inside the unit. Bel's Zaxor range is one of the widest available, featuring 12v and 240v models, adjustable and non-adjustable, with square and round top plates in either brass or stainless steel - too many variants to list in this web site, so browse the Bel range for options and request a quotation.
Recessed uplights are often specified because burying an outdoor light in the ground seems the best way of uplighting a subject without seeing the garden lighting source. And in many cases this will be true; uplighting a tree growing out of a lawn area with a flush recessed outdoor uplight will enable mowing to be carried out without the risk of damage to the garden light or a trip hazard, which would be implicit with a spike-mounted garden light for the same job. In any open area, be it gravel, decking or paving, a neatly recessed garden uplight will always be preferable for unobtrusive exterior lighting. Remember, though, that lamps produce heat as well as light, so garden uplights recessed in the ground can become hot in use. This is especially important where recessed outdoor lights are used in circulation areas, especially where a bare foot or paw might be injured by a hot lens. Even a 35 watt halogen lamp can produce a high lens temperature in a recessed uplight, so some caution should be exercised around pool areas especially; if in doubt, use more, small recessed uplights such as Nautilus with maximum 20w halogen lamp or one of the MR16 LED modules under an optional frosted lens. You can also opt for sealed led garden lights -see the separate section on l.e.d. garden lighting.
The "Amphibian" range of cast brass recessed uplights is rated for underwater use and can therefore be used in waterlogged locations as well as paving, lawns and gravel areas. With internally adjustable lampholder for 20-50 watt lamps and an optional brass niche and mounting cylinder which allows perfectly flush installation in paving, the Amphibian range features models with plan lens and rim, grid for use in gravel areas or to guard bare feet from a hot lens, glare guard for use where light needs to be shielded from the viewpoint and "spider", an ingenious conical mirror device enabling these recessed fittings to "waymark" a driveway or woodland walk. An internal honeycomb glare louvre which clips onto the lamp is a useful accessory near a path or terrace. Or use a halogen uplight with a grill to protect against contact - Nautilus also comes in a model with a grill, or there is the M2801 75w recessed halogen uplight with a protective grill for lighting smaller trees. For uplighting medium size trees the 240v Elipta 35w metal halide uplights' lens becomes warm rather than hot when recessed in a lawn.
