Can I provide flood lighting via Low Voltage - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

robertc65 · 11-28-2006, 04:10 PM

I am wanting to install flood lighting to light up parts of my yard. I have seen low voltage UP lights used to illuminate the exterior of homes. I have seen them used for path lighting, decks, pools etc., but what about flood lighting. Maybe flood lights are out of style. I don't know, but I have a need to light up large portions of my yard for security, to play basket ball and everything we used to do outside after work before it started getting dark at 5:00PM. I am convinced that low voltage is the way to go when appropriate, but is there a low voltage solution to my needs?

Thanks in advance

Rob

NightScenes · 12-01-2006, 07:58 AM

If you are going to be playing sports I would not recommend low voltage lighting. For this kind of activity you need far more foot candles than low voltage can provide. I would use metal halide lighting in this situation.

Good luck with your project and if there are any other questions, please don't hesitate.

Lighting Geek · 12-01-2006, 02:17 PM

I agree with Paul on the sports court lighting. I suggest you pick your flood light fixtures carefully as to limit the ambient light which may affect neighbors, etc. You may be able to design the rest of your yard using low voltage lighting, it just depends on how you use it.

I have used low voltage lighting for Clients that entertain alot. I broke up the systems so that the intense down lighting they needed for tables and eating were on separate transformers and could be turned off when the party shifted gears. Having multiple systems in the same area helps make the area more flexible.

You need to breakdown how you use each part of your yard and design the lighting around the use each area. You may need to add some 120V fixtures to fill in where needed, for example the basketball area. Obviously this depends on how big the property is and the budget.

robertc65 · 01-09-2007, 03:46 PM

Thanks guys for the comments. This spring once the ground gets softer I'll be planning a significant low voltage lighting project. I'm not yet sure what all I want to illuminate. I guess I'm looking for examples showing photos of houses all decked out with low voltage lighting. I would then need to know what type of fixture to use for each item or area I want to light up. Do you guys know of such a website? I've seen a few books at HomeDepot / Lowes that seem to have some pretty good photos but the fixtures they use are malibu.

Thanks Again

Rob

NightScenes · 01-09-2007, 06:35 PM

There are lighting books that can be purchased but I'm sure that if you asked nicely, we could probably help you out.

robertc65 · 01-10-2007, 10:27 AM

OK. Well I thank you very much. I'm sure when the time gets closer I'll be back here hounding you guys for advice.

Later

Rob

Tomwilllight · 07-11-2007, 11:03 AM

I may be a bit late to weigh in on this conversation, but I've posted reviews of all the books that I could find on landscape lighting on my web site. I've included links to book sellers and all the information to make your search simple.

I excluded books self-published by manufactures for, what I think are, obvious reasons.

Tom

James Solecki · 10-25-2007, 08:05 PM

It is possible to light playing courts with LV lighting. BUT if you expect a full lit, bright, even, surface like a civic or professional court then you will be disappointed.

One of my clients owns a NBA team. At his cottage he has an outdoor BB Court surrounded by tall trees. I moonlit the main court area using 6 fixtures (3 each side) and focused 2 others onto the nets and backboards. They are now able to have great fun after dark on the court. Since the light is soft and falls in pools, there is some challenge to it all, but everyone is equally challenged, sort of like playing pool on a bad table.

I have also lit full size practise greens for night play using the same technique. Thomas McBroom commented that the practise green at Oviinbyrd was like nothing he had ever seen before and that it was ethereal.

LV lighting rocks!

robertc65 · 11-06-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomwilllight

I may be a bit late to weigh in on this conversation, but I've posted reviews of all the books that I could find on landscape lighting on my web site. I've included links to book sellers and all the information to make your search simple.

I excluded books self-published by manufactures for, what I think are, obvious reasons.

Tom

Well you are not to late and I thank you very much. I won't be starting this until spring 08. I'll take a look at the books on your site.

Thanks again

Rob