LED Ground Lights

When compared to halogen bulbs, LED lights are just as bright. The difference lies only in the way that this brightness is measured. Where most lights commonly measure brightness using wattage, LED lights instead use lumens. To get a good idea of the comparison between the two, you can think of every one “watt” of LED light being the same as 80 to 100 lumens. See below for further examples:

• A 3 watt LED light bulb will output light that is equal to a 25-30 watt halogen bulb.
• A 5 watt LED light bulb will output light that is equal to a 45-50 watt halogen bulb.
• A 9 watt LED light bulb will output light that is equal to a 60 watt halogen bulb.

While considering the brightness level for your new garden ground lights, you should think about just what it is you want to illuminate and how much. For instance, a tall pillar will need a brighter, further-reaching light. On the other hand, lighting a small statue or bush should take far less. Another factor to consider when choosing the brightness includes how far away you intend to place the lights from what you are attempting to illuminate. These are the two main factors that will come into play when deciding on the best lumen count.

IP ratings are important for outdoor lights of any kind, but especially ground lights. While all outdoor lights are exposed to the elements, recessed ground lighting is also in direct contact with the soil. Having a properly IP rated light will prevent wet and dry particulates from getting into the lights and ruining them.

“IP” stands for “Ingress Protection” and is a rating used to determine the protection any given light has against its environment. The first number in the rating indicates the resistance against solid materials, while the second indicates the resistance against liquids. Below, you can get familiar with the IP ratings:

• Level 1 lighting earns protection from any dripping water.
• Level 2 lighting earns protection from dripping water that is coming from a fixture tilted at 15 degrees.
• Level 3 lighting earns protection from spraying water.
• Level 4 lighting earns protection against splashes of water.
• Level 5 lighting earns protection from jet water.
• Level 6 lighting earns protection from forceful water jets.
• Level 7 lighting earns protection from immersion up to one meter.
• Level 8 lighting earns protection immersion one meter deep or higher.

Since you know your lights will be exposed to rain, wind and sun, choosing a high IP rating is needed. It is recommended that you have at least an IP65 rated light, but if you can find an IP67 rated light you are pleased with, that would be even better. These both are fully waterproof ratings, so you won’t have to worry about pooling water damaging them.

Unlike halogen bulbs that turn a high percentage of their energy into heat, LED ground light bulbs don’t. Instead, they convert an even higher percentage into illumination. LED lights do generate heat, but they do not get overly hot to the touch. This is because when the electricity moves through the conductor, there is hardly any heat that is produced.

For this reason, you won’t have to worry about accidentally burning yourself if you unscrew them with unprotected hands. With halogen or even incandescent bulbs, you do run the risk of touching bulbs that are too hot to the touch. This effect makes them particularly well suited for ground lights. Using LED lights, you won’t have to worry about excessive heat near shrubbery or creating a fire hazard.

By adding in ground lighting as a layer in your outdoor lighting, you generate even, plentiful illumination across the garden. A well-lit area is known to lessen the chance of burglary, as there are fewer shadows for any potential intruder to creep around in. By illuminating more areas, you also give your security lights more to pick up on, so you can keep an eye on what’s happening outside with greater ease.

LED ground lights can also be connected to motion sensors, which will trigger them to turn on if someone is moving around them. The lights turning on suddenly will alert you to the happenings outside. This will also make it so the movement can be captured by the cameras that are in position for this purpose.

You can also install recessed ground lighting to illuminate entrances and exits to light up all possible areas that an intruder might attempt to enter. This could scare them off from even trying, as they won’t want to be seen in the light. You can place these around the perimeter of the house to shine the lights up onto the exterior to make the area even better lit while offering a decorative touch.

Generally speaking, well-lit areas allow homeowners to feel safer and will be beneficial if you often host guests outside at night. They also make it easier for you to see where you’re walking, offering a different feeling of safety as you and guests travel down the paths. Since the lights are recessed, you won’t have to worry about accidentally tripping over them.

With LED ground lights, outdoor spaces from the garden to the home can get an upgrade. In ground LED lights are especially instrumental for illuminating the façade of a building.

Wall washing and wall grazing are the two most common techniques for lighting façades. These shine a large wash of light across a greater surface area, adequately illuminating the exterior and drawing attention to the walls.

You can achieve wall washing by installing recessed uplighters for garden at a small distance from the house. Doing so will allow you to shine beams of light at specific areas you want to draw attention to. If you want to graze the wall and draw attention to its details, place them closer to the wall. In doing so, you will be able to show off the textures of the wall itself.

Though it is recommended that you get a professional electrician to install in ground spotlights, you can do it yourself. Below, you can learn how to do this in a few simple steps:

1. Turn the power off. Switch off the power at the mains before you mess with any wires, circuits or other electrical elements.
   

2. Clear the area. Ensure there is no clutter around the area where you want to work. This will prevent tripping hazards while also sparing your ground spotlights dirt and dust.

3. Avoid water. Similarly, ensure that the ground does not get submerged underwater at any point during the installation of outdoor ground lighting.

4. Find the right place. Choose where you want to install the ground lights and then mark them. Keep the power supply in mind and how you plan to supply it to the fixtures. Then, you can plan the positioning of the lights.

5. Dig the holes. Whether you need a little space for bollard lights or a larger area for recessed lights, you can begin to remove the earth for the garden ground lights. Use this opportunity to ensure the wires can run through the ground and up into the light.

6. Install the cable. Using conduit tubing, you can protect electrical wires while threading the wires of the fixture into the ground. Once the tubing is in place, you can insert the ground lights.

7. Backfill the holes. After the light has been fitted, you can fill the holes using eight inches of pea gravel to allow for drainage to take place.

LED lights are quite low maintenance. This is owed to their durability and their long lifespans. Occasionally, you will need to go around and take a look at all of the lights.

Check the lights to ensure they have not been covered by dirt or debris. If they have, simply dust them off with a dry cloth, or wipe them off with a damp cloth. You can also check for any burnt-out bulbs or loose wiring that you may need to repair.

In order to ensure proper coverage, you should bury lighting cables around 600 millimeters deep. Typically, the cable will be laid upon a base made of sand and then covered up using road stone. Then, it gets covered with soil.

If you are unsure about any part of the process, you should contact a qualified electrician to handle it for you. This can eliminate risk of injury or improper writing.