What you need to know about outdoor lighting:

Fixtures & Equipment:

• Copper or brass fixtures that naturally oxides and blend into your landscape. You”ll also want to have a weather resistant and moisture-sealed product.
  • Aluminum fixtures are made in is prone to rusting. If you live anywhere near the ocean, you will want to have good quality brass and/or copper to prevent corrosion.

• Bulbs for brightness.
  • Halogen bulbs are typically used because they are bright and energy efficient. One step beyond is LED lighting which is 80% more efficient (for example, a 20 watt halogen can be replaced with a 3 watt LED) with similar light output. Not every LED is the same, they are available in a spectrum of colors but most common for landscape lighting is warm white.

• Multiple voltage Transformers for balanced light intensity
  • This is one of the areas of least understanding for many people. A standard 12v transformer is perfect for a small area; all lights are within 50 feet of the transformer. If you have a large area to cover or more than 300 watts being installed, you will want to use a multi-tap transformer. That will allow you to balance the light and not have some bright and some dim.

Tags: design checklist landscape lighting, landscape lighting design, outdoor lighting