Are you thinking of having outdoor lights installed? Outdoor lights aren’t just great for improving security on your property but also for creating a pleasant outdoor ambiance on your property at night. Having lights installed on your property will extend your use of your outdoor spaces beyond sunset.
They will also serve to increase safety on your property by improving visibility and reducing the risk of accidents such as tripping.
While many homeowners understand the benefits of outdoor lights, they find themselves confused when it comes to outdoor lighting voltage. We are often asked questions such as ‘what is low voltage lighting’ and ‘what is line voltage vs low voltage’. Below, we provide answers to these questions and more.
Low Voltage vs Line Voltage For Outdoor Lighting
If you’re thinking about investing in outdoor lights, you will have the option of going with line voltage or low voltage. Line voltage, often referred to as high or standard voltage, is often used for outdoor security lights in parking lots and commercial spaces. It is also used for large spotlights that are used to illuminate large spaces.
This option is considered old school and may seem like the easier option. However, when you consider the running costs, it isn’t the best option for the average homeowner.
Line vs Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting
There are many reasons why you should consider going for lower voltage options as opposed to the old school standard option.
- Standard options are expensive to run
Because of the high voltage, running a standard system can be expensive. Low outdoor light voltage options are more energy efficient. This is because they use a transformer that steps down the power and lowers the power consumption from 120v to as low as 12v. Your energy bills will be greatly reduced and more manageable with a low consumption system.
- Maintenance of standard systems is expensive
While it may seem easier and cheaper to install a standard system, maintaining your system in the long term will be expensive. The bulbs and other parts and fixtures are often bigger and pricier than with low consumption systems. These parts are often harder to find as more people are opting for the low consumption options which are more cost-effective.
- Safety is improved with efficient lighting options
Because the voltage is stepped down by the transformer, low consumption systems aren’t likely to cause an electric shock. Exposed wires are therefore not as much of a danger as when using the old-school systems.
Limitations of Solar Lighting Systems
Why not install solar lights to illuminate your outdoor space? Solar is a great idea. It is quite inexpensive to run as you will be harnessing the sun’s rays. However, there are various drawbacks of using these systems. For example, you won’t harness as much energy on a dull rainy day as you would need to light your property throughout the night. This makes these systems quite unreliable.
Maintaining these systems can be quite expensive as you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries annually or even more often. It is therefore best to reserve solar lighting for decorative elements such as string lights that are both functional and ornamental.
Contact Marvelous Lights for Outdoor Lighting Installation
If you want to get the most out of your outdoor lighting system get in touch with us. We provide services for outdoor lighting installation. This includes Christmas light installation in Charlotte. We’d be glad to design and install a system that meets your specific needs and requirements. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us discuss your needs.
