12 v over solar - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Michaela521 · 08-13-2006, 04:26 PM

what do you gyes recommend in your professional opinions. The solar lighting systems or the 12 volt light systems that you place along your driveway. Pros and cons. thanks

mdshunk · 08-13-2006, 04:33 PM

Solar are cheaper and require less or no skill to set.
Solar may not require wiring, but some systems do.
Solar lighting will not be/may not be as bright as a traditionally powered system.
Solar systems don't offer as many fixture style choices.
Solar light may not stay illuminated at night for as long as you need them to.
A few solar fixtures can often be a good companion to a traditionally wired system for areas that will be difficult to get a wire to.

NightScenes · 08-14-2006, 06:48 AM

In my experience, I have not met a single person that purchased and installed solar lighting, whether it be the single plastic path markers or the high end solar panel metal fixtures. About the only thing that these fixtures accomplish is to mark the area. They don't actually throw any light out to illuminate an area.

Quality 12 volt lighting, on the other hand, can do pretty much anything that 120 volt lighting can do. For those that don't think that it is very bright, tell them to look at their cars' headlights. These are 12 volt lights and are very bright. With quality fixtures and a good design a 12 volt landscape lighting system can be great.

avalon · 08-22-2006, 10:07 AM

Solar units on the residential market are pretty much "junk"--everything I've seen is equivalent of a flash light being left on with a dying battery! I think solar is a great idea and hopefully, one day, they'll have a version that is good enough to perform for our market.

**Teetorbilt** · 08-22-2006, 11:22 AM

My experience is pretty much the same as everybody elses and I live in sunny SoFL. Even with a full charge from a UV-10 day they don't make it much past 11:00 PM and on a rainy day they don't recharge at all.

Jacey · 08-15-2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightscapespaul

In my experience, I have not met a single person that purchased and installed solar lighting, whether it be the single plastic path markers or the high end solar panel metal fixtures. About the only thing that these fixtures accomplish is to mark the area. They don't actually throw any light out to illuminate an area.

Quality 12 volt lighting, on the other hand, can do pretty much anything that 120 volt lighting can do. For those that don't think that it is very bright, tell them to look at their cars' headlights. These are 12 volt lights and are very bright. With quality fixtures and a good design a 12 volt landscape lighting system can be great.

Hey Paul~Do you know of any lights that emulate headlights of the sort of gold cast..ie..not the cold halogen looking eyebeams..that could be used as a spot light for accenting sculpture or other features. I noticed when a car drove up it really cast a neat look on a wood piece, and really brought out the river rock on the foreground. The headlights on this car were rather low, and really made the landscape go Pow!

NightScenes · 08-16-2007, 06:33 AM

Hey there Katy, the short answer is no. Solar lighting uses LED (light emitting diode) technology because of the amount of energy needed to operate an incandescent or halogen lamp. LED uses very little energy and it also can not operate on AC current. This is great for solar because the solar panels charge a battery that in-turn operates the LED. When you find an LED product that plugs in, the electricity goes through a "driver" and then to the LED. They are still working on color rendition of LEDs but they have a ways to go yet. There is a soft white LED on the market now but it's a little too pricey for the Home Depot solar light products.

I hope this helps,

Jacey · 08-16-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightscapespaul

Hey there Katy, the short answer is no. Solar lighting uses LED (light emitting diode) technology because of the amount of energy needed to operate an incandescent or halogen lamp. LED uses very little energy and it also can not operate on AC current. This is great for solar because the solar panels charge a battery that in-turn operates the LED. When you find an LED product that plugs in, the electricity goes through a "driver" and then to the LED. They are still working on color rendition of LEDs but they have a ways to go yet. There is a soft white LED on the market now but it's a little too pricey for the Home Depot solar light products.

I hope this helps,

No, Katy is the solar freak, Jacey is looking for effect.

Let me reword..is there anything 12V that would be like a disembodied non halogen headlight out there commercially available that you know of?

boman47k · 08-18-2007, 06:43 PM

Could a non-halogen be tied into a 12v transformer and work properly and safely?

NightScenes · 08-19-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacey

No, Katy is the solar freak, Jacey is looking for effect.

Let me reword..is there anything 12V that would be like a disembodied non halogen headlight out there commercially available that you know of?

Yes Jacey, there is. There are many things that can be done with 12v that would make your water features "sing" if you know what I mean.

I can take care of that for you.

boman47k · 08-19-2007, 02:54 PM

Oops, guess I asked the same guestion.

Jacey · 08-19-2007, 04:39 PM

Didn't mean to duplicate that post..

Jacey · 08-19-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightscapespaul

Yes Jacey, there is. There are many things that can be done with 12v that would make your water features "sing" if you know what I mean.

I can take care of that for you.

Can't wait to add "singing" to their description...let's talk soon!

Unique · 08-23-2007, 05:39 PM

The only way i would reccomend Solar Lights is if you live in a part of the world where you cant get electricity. SOLAR LIGHTS are a long way away from being good for professionals to use in outdoor lighting designs.