For private landscape garden lighting projects, low voltage lighting is a very common solution. It’s easy to install, cheaper than high voltage lighting, and safer to use in comparison to high voltage lighting systems. This blog is for those a little unsure of whether low voltage outdoor lighting is the right choice, providing you with all the information you need to help make your decision.
Low voltage lighting is safer
Safety is many people’s number one concern when it comes to installing something in their garden, a space that people want to use time and time again. Think of all the activities that’ll happen there – summer parties, children kicking a football, working outside perhaps and all those lovely summer nights enjoying nature. The 12 volts used in low voltage lighting is much safer than the 240 volts required by higher voltage systems, whilst using a low current that’s very low risk for the user decreases the chance for electric shocks and the dangers which often occur in wet weather.
Easy to Install
With higher voltage lighting, because there are safety requirements, it means installation must be done and facilitated by an electrician. Wires need to be an armoured cable buried at 450mm. Trenches need to be around the garden for these cables, and connections are also more expensive than 12v. With low voltage outdoor lighting, you don’t need to do any of that, so installation is easier, as a low voltage cable can be buried or run above the ground. And of course, if you do get a professional in for the installation, it’s going to take them less time and help reduce the costs for their time. 12 volt lighting is also less likely to cause a nuisance by tripping the RCD than a 240v garden lighting system.
Versatility
For low voltage outdoor lighting, fixtures and bulbs can be smaller and provide more versatility and creativity. This means smaller spaces, which would otherwise be difficult to illuminate, can be lit exactly how you want them to be. With smaller, more versatile lighting, there’s essentially no place in the garden that can’t be covered by light to create the required effect you’re looking for. And finally, a low voltage lighting system makes it easier to add lights to your project later on, should you want to.
Longer Lasting and Cost Effective
Of course, with LED bulbs now more prominent than ever there’s a focus on energy saving lighting solutions and low voltage outdoor lighting aids this further. They combine perfectly with LEDs to create the perfect conditions for long-lasting lighting fixtures – much longer than more traditional and increasingly old incandescent and halogen bulbs. Coupled with LEDs, low voltage lighting helps save money and reduce the long-term costs of your landscape project. Moreover, even if your fixtures aren’t using LED bulbs, because low voltage systems don’t require anything over 50 watts, you can save on energy costs by using bulbs and fixtures with as little as 2-10 watts.
They Look Great
Low voltage outdoor lighting has become the go-to lighting solution for many residential garden projects meaning there are so many different light fixtures to choose from when it comes to low voltage light systems – many of which you can find on our website. It means there are now more choices in terms of colour and lenses, and they leave more room for personal preference in terms of specific effects you want to create with lighting. Essentially, it enables more intricate lighting designs.
At Lighting for Gardens, we have an extensive range of professional low voltage outdoor lighting available to help get the most out of your landscape project. Choose from our selection of Elipta uplights, wall lights, tree lighting solutions, path, step and deck lighting get the most from your low voltage lighting system and enjoy the benefits of choosing low voltage 12v outdoor lighting.