We've compiled a list of the ten most important things to keep in mind when designing your lighting layout. A well-designed landscape must be carefully considered to ensure safety, longevity of our products and a truly unique experience for years to come.
#1 Use a Voltmeter
Proper installation techniques require the checking of voltage drop to each fixture. To ensure proper installation, voltage should also be monitored exiting the transformer as well as long term maintenance inspection.
#2 Design with Switching Flexibility
A lighting layout must reflect the different uses a well-designed landscape will provide: i.e., entertaining, at home alone, or away from home. There are some areas you should light only when they're in use. Take advantage of the innovative capabilites of the LUXOR to accomplish this with ease.
#3 High quality Wiring Connections
Every fixture needs to be connected to the home run. Every fixture is susceptible to failure if not using a quality connection method that keeps water and debris out, as well as carrying a landscape electrical rating.
#4 Design with Flexibility
A light system shouldn’t be a singular system. Sometimes a design will be utilized with a front yard and back yard, or split into different areas to get a bit more flexibility and mood from a system. But the reality is that the path lights, up lights, trees, wall lights, hardscape, bar, eating area, pool, and walkways are all very different areas with very different needs. This is best addressed by grouping a system of lights and separating them to be adjusted independently. This can create moods as well as richen the different aspects and areas of a landscape.
#5 Use right amount of light
Over lighting is easy to do and can be adjusted using FX adjustable color filters and replaceable LED boards. Now with the LUXOR, you can even dim the light exiting the fixture so its always perfectly illuminated.
#6 Paint with Color
Use color filters to highlight certain colors within folliage or hardscape color. Adjust to the seasons of color change to richen cooler or warmer temperatures.
#7 Monitor Voltage Drop
Optimum voltage for halogen is 10.5-11.5 volts, and for FX LED is broader at 10-14 volts. Over or under volting can shorten life and cause failure.
#8 Allowing for future upgrades
Landscapes change and so do the lights that need to illuminate them. Allowing for growth in wiring, power capability and fixture upgrade will ensure a plan will grow with its surroundings.
#9 Path Lights don't have to be used on a path
Path lights are great for lighting up walk ways but can also be used to illuminate low level foliage in areas that a person may not be able to walk. Illuminating flowerbeds or greens under a tree or in an inaccessible section brings extra dimension.
#10 Keep in mind the living aspect
When placing a light within an area think about all the areas where person may move. Will they be sitting, standing or both? What will they be doing in this space, eating, talking, working, and grilling? When these questions are answered the placement of a fixture can vary to combat glare and to better illuminate the most used sections.
