A Guide to Low Voltage LED Lighting

If you're running a low voltage (12-volt) lighting system in your home or business, why not change to some low voltage LEDs? They are cheaper to use than halogen bulbs and last up to twenty times longer. And, unlike regular energy savers, i.e. CFLs, their life span is not affected by frequent on and off switching.

However, before you change, you will first need to check the compatibility of your transformers and, if necessary, upgrade to an LED Driver.

Low voltage light bulbs are driven by a 12-volt electrical supply rather than the 220-240-volts needed to run conventional bulbs. This 12-volt supply is achieved using a device called a transformer.

Standard "halogen" transformers have a minimum load requirement of about 20 watts. As LED's use very little power, between 3 and 6 watts, they don't always satisfy this requirement. This will result in performance issues such as flickering and diminished light output. It will also shorten the lifespan of your bulbs.

LED drivers have no minimum load, so can be used to power individual and multiple LED bulbs without difficulty.

There are two main types of driver available; constant current and constant voltage. When choosing an LED driver, it is important to work out which you need.

-If you are powering an individual bulb, or several bulbs in series, i.e. in succession, then you will need a constant current driver.

-If you are running numerous bulbs in parallel, you will need a constant voltage driver.

Many customers are put off by the idea of upgrading to LED drivers, particularly as it can work out to be quite expensive. There are cheaper alternatives however.

One option is to change your low voltage fittings to mains voltage GU10. This cuts out the transformer/driver altogether. All you need to do is remove your existing fittings and transformer, and replace it with a GU10 lamp holder that connects directly to the mains supply.

With a GU10 LED bulb, the voltage and current requirements are managed by an in-built driver, so you don't need to worry about compatibility.

In summary, low voltage lighting users should always check their transformers before changing to LED. You could be saving yourself a lot of hassle and will ensure you get the most out of your LED bulbs.

Remember, low voltage is not synonymous with low energy. Energy is measured in watts. Only by switching to LED can you lower the energy consumption of your lighting and save money on your electricity bills.

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Outdoor Lights: Adding Grace and Beauty to Your Landscaping

Lighting and illumination are not merely functional requirements for homes and offices. Placed artistically, chosen for their aesthetic quality and maintained well, they add value and beauty to your exterior spaces like garden, pool-side, courtyard, veranda, porch, yard or lawn, create a specific mood or ambiance and make a style statement.

One factor to keep in mind is the general look of your home or office, provide a warm, welcoming feel and to match the outdoor lights correspondingly. For instance, if you have antique lighting inside, then ultra-modern exterior lighting may clash with it. Do a thorough assessment of your exterior space and identify the appropriate points at which lights should be placed. The size and style of your building is also an important factor as too much or too little lighting would be ineffective. Another point to consider is that exterior lights should also contribute to a feeling of safety and security by keeping dark or shaded areas well-lit and visible from inside and also from the street. If you have a large area that needs lighting, it's a good idea to divide it up into sections and provide appropriate lights. Keep your neighbors in mind when you place your lights as you don't want to disturb them.

Materials: A wide range of materials can be used to manufacture outdoor lighting fixtures. The main criterion is weather-resistance. Aluminum both die-cast and anodized, powder-coated steel, wrought iron, copper, antique finished bronze or brass, treated hardwoods like teak, tough polyurethane resins which can be molded into different shapes, etc are the materials chosen by manufacturers. Fitments are made of rust-proof stainless steel or toughened PVC, while wiring and conduits are made of weather-proof plastic. If you're located close to the sea, you will have to keep in mind the problem of salt-corrosion in mind. Since outdoor lights are wired underground, your conduits need to be able to withstand water, heat, cold and pressure.

Types: Post-mounted lights are suitable along driveways and you can purchase posts to match the fixture. Wall-mounted outdoor lights are for your basement, sides of the building, garage or back-entrance. These are ideal for security reasons. Porches can be fitted with ceiling mounted or hanging outdoor lights. Deck lights, outdoor chandeliers and garden lights are other options for your exteriors.

Style: is your personal statement. You can choose contemporary, antique, classic, etc in a variety of colors and finishes. Glass can be clear or frosted and the bulb wattage can be suited to your budget and needs. Solar lights and CFL bulbs are very popular and can cut your lighting costs considerably.

You can select fittings from your local dealer or order them from on-line catalogs. Many of them offer discounts on shipping or offer to install free installation.

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How Your Backyard Patio Can Benefit From Outdoor Wall Lights

There are a number of reasons why homeowners like to have their backyard patios illuminated during the night, including for security, safety and functionality. One of the best ways to provide adequate illumination to your patio is through the installation of some attractive wall lights (sometimes known as sconces). So, how can these fixtures meet each of the desired outcomes outlined above?

Security

It is a well-known fact that most would-be intruders are hesitant to enter spaces where they can be seen. As the patio is generally located quite close to one of the exterior entrances to your home, having wall lights in the space can help to deter undesirable people from prowling around your home. It is also possible to have your lights fitted to a sensor, which will turn them on when they sense movement during the night.

Safety

Whilst some people view safety as being under security, it is a completely separate issue. If your patio is situated close by to your garage or car port, it is important that you will be able to see your way to the back door when arriving home late at night. Having some wall lights on your patio should give you enough illumination to see a clear path to the door. Sensor lights are also a good option for ensuring safety.

Functionality

If you enjoy entertaining and having friends and family over, you will find that your patio becomes completely useless once night falls because you simply cannot see. The installation of some wall lights on your patio will make it a pleasant place to sit and eat, even when it is dark. This type of light is fantastic for creating a nice ambience and relaxing environment, as the illumination is not too harsh or bright.

When installing wall sconces on your patio, you should follow some basic guidelines to ensure that their placement is effective:

Install the lights anywhere but at eye level to avoid glare Install a timer or sensor if you want your lights to be on sometimes but don't want an exorbitant electricity bill Install lights where they will adequately illuminate hazards, such as steps and cracks

As you can see, there are a number of ways that your backyard patio can benefit from the installation of some well-placed and well-chosen wall lights. Not only can they increase the security and safety of the space, they can make it a much more comfortable and usable place once the sun goes down. There are a number of sconce styles available, making it easier than ever to match your home's decor.

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Alter Moods With Lighting

Making the most of your house is less to do with the room that you have and more a case of how you plan out your living arrangements. Most of us accept the status quo and simply assign a room its function as a result of perceived thinking. But more and more people are creating multi-use rooms that can be transformed from bedrooms to entertainment spaces, to multimedia presentation suites. Room layouts can be reconfigured to help you get the most out of your room and allow all your family to enjoy your home as effectively and flexibly as possible. Sofas can be transformed into beds, allowing you to have more guests to stay without having to put them up on uncomfortable camping mattresses. Living rooms can quickly turn into a multimedia viewing suite by the use of an overhead projector and conservatories can go from a summer only space to a room suitable for all the year round with the effective deployment of modern heating solutions.

Lighting is a central feature of using your rooms flexibly and the impact that it can have on the look and function of a particular space is extraordinary. Dimmers, for example, are great to alter the mood, but also useful if you want to transform your third bedroom from a haven of soft slumbers to, for example, a study. By simply increasing the light intensity you can make a real difference to how the room is used, freeing up other space for new activities. To get the most out of your rooms, it's optimal to have three different permutations of lighting in each living space as this gives the maximum flexibility.

Overhead lighting is predominantly for illumination, letting you use a room for a variety of purposes, from viewing a film to working on a model aeroplane. Wall lighting is great for creating a particular atmosphere and can be used in conjunction with overhead lights to help give the room maximum flexibility. Finally, by using table and floor lamps around the space, you can ensure that there are specific pools of light that are ideal if your family want to use the space for two different things, such as reading and listening to music.

There is a wide range of lighting available online and there are many different styles and designs to choose from. However, whether you want something for your bedroom or the boardroom, make sure you try to visualise the overall effect in conjunction with other design elements in the room, such as the furniture and wall coverings, as this will make a huge difference to the overall effect.

Choosing the Perfect Light Fixture for Your Victorian-Style Bedroom   

Garden Illuminations

Garden illuminations are lights which are meant for the garden. They come in a wide range of styles and they also vary in terms of voltage and power sourcing. The illuminations are normally manufactured for specific areas within the garden hence you do not have to spend too much time looking for the best lights for the different areas within the garden. With the huge range of lights in the market today, it is highly unlikely that you will miss to find the perfect one for your garden.

The importance

Garden illuminations come with two major benefits making them important within the garden. The very first benefits of the garden illuminations are security. A well lighted home or garden has this secure atmosphere to it and you will therefore always be comfortable when moving in and out at night. Criminals also have a fear for lights and they keep away from such lighted areas. With your garden well lighted, you will be more at ease at night.

The second benefit of the garden illuminations is that they add a touch of beauty and class to your garden both at night and during the day. Apart from illuminating your garden at their best, their styles and designs will stand out even in the dark leaving your garden looking attractive. The lights are also very attractive during the day and they will serve as beauty features within your garden. This means that you will need to carefully consider the style of the lights that you choose for the garden so that they do not look awkward in the garden during the day.

Common types

Garden illuminations are of different kinds but the most common include garden spotlights, lanterns, lamps and bollards which are perfect markers for the driveway and paths within the garden. You will also find hanging lights, wall lights and fairy lights which are mostly for decorative purposes. The fairly lights can be used during special occasions as beauty features but there are people who choose to use them continuously within their garden adding that spice to the natural ground.

When choosing your garden illuminations, always ensure that you consider all important factors. This way, you will not only enjoy your garden at night but you will be sure that they will serve you for a long time. The quality of the lights is something that cannot be ignored since it determines the durability of your illuminations.

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How Do Halogen Bulbs Work?

In 1958, halogen bulbs were introduced to the world. These light bulbs are a lot brighter than traditional ones, and they have been the most common choice for headlights for a number of years now.

Another great thing about these lights is that they are a lot more energy efficient than traditional bulbs, and they last a lot longer. They are very similar in design to traditional lights, even including a tungsten filament, but instead of glass, they are made from quartz. This allows the lights to be a lot smaller than others because quartz can handle hotter temperatures and be closer to the filament than glass can.

Regular Lighting

Until 1958, all households were lit using traditional electric light bulbs. These are made with frosted glass that surrounds argon and/or nitrogen, and there is a tungsten filament in the middle. When the light is plugged in and turned on, the filament in the bulb heats up to about 2,500 degrees Celsius. The tungsten gets hot, white hot actually, and this light is the incandescence that we see.

The biggest problem with regular light bulbs, besides the fact that you usually end up breaking at least one from every package by dropping it, is that they don't last very long. Usually you get about 750-1,000 hours of use from one light. This is because the tungsten evaporates and ends up depositing itself on the glass, leaving a thin area that ends up breaking, which is what leads to burnout. You also get more heat than light, which means that they are not very energy efficient and you waste all that heat.

Why Halogen Is Better

You will find some similarities between traditional and halogen lighting, including the fact that that they both use a tungsten filament. One of the biggest differences is the fact that instead of glass, the outer part is made from quartz. These lights are much smaller than traditional lights because the quartz can withstand much hotter temperatures. Instead of argon or nitrogen, the gas used comes from the halogen group. These gases can combine with tungsten vapor, which is what helps to make these bulbs last so much longer.

When the temperatures become too high, the gas combines with the tungsten atoms while they are evaporating. This causes them to be recycled, making the lights last a lot longer than traditional light bulbs. Another bonus is that you get more light and less heat from your bulbs. Just remember not to touch the bulbs with your bare hands though. You can get a bad enough burn from traditional lighting, and these get even hotter.

The next time you need to replace the bulbs in your lamps and ceiling fixtures, spend a little bit more and get yourself some long-lasting halogen bulbs. They give off a lot more light, they are much more energy efficient, and they will last longer than other bulbs. Sure, you may be paying a little bit more now, but you will end up saving money in the long run.

Choosing the Perfect Light Fixture for Your Victorian-Style Bedroom