Timer controlled low voltage with LED lamps is the way to go, one reason is that the inevitable failure of "line voltage" temporary extension cords could lead to shock injury.
I agree that the consumer grade "big-box" stuff is junk and not likely to last more than 2 years without constant attention. What you need is heavy duty professional grade equipment, check with your local landscape supply house. I like this type because they are heavy duty and manufactured in my area of the good ol USA.
Answer from Jimmy Fix-it on Stack ExchangeI'm currently in the process of planning to incorporate low voltage landscaping lights into my backyard. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for brands? I've been considering Volt Lighting, despite its higher cost, because it comes with a lifetime warranty. My plan is to purchase the light fixtures and transformer from Volt Lighting, and then acquire MR16 LED bulbs and wiring from a reputable brand on Amazon. While the Volt bulbs are more expensive, they do come with a lifetime warranty. Would it be advisable to also purchase the bulbs from Volt Lighting, given their warranty?
Or are there any other alternatives? Thanks in advance.
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Timer controlled low voltage with LED lamps is the way to go, one reason is that the inevitable failure of "line voltage" temporary extension cords could lead to shock injury.
I agree that the consumer grade "big-box" stuff is junk and not likely to last more than 2 years without constant attention. What you need is heavy duty professional grade equipment, check with your local landscape supply house. I like this type because they are heavy duty and manufactured in my area of the good ol USA.
Yes, durable, reliable products exist that do the things you want to do. However, you need to actually buy them.
Seems like your experiences thus far have been haunted by the spectre of "cheap". And that's because I'm guessing your sources are Walmart, endcaps at the big-box home improvement stores who are selling their Chinese made house brand, and even cheaper Cheese that fell off a truck in Shenzhen (eBay, Amazon Marketplace, AliExpress/baba).
I do that myself. But when I do that, I know I'm doing that and so when the thing croaks after 6 months, I understand why, and I know that I can climb the quality ladder and buy from reputable vendors and get vastly better stuff that will last as long as I want to pay for.
So design the system right. Use as good parts as you're willing to pay for. When they blow up, own that mistake, adapt and press onward.
Nice thing is, this project will be a matrix of many little lights, so you have a lot of opportunity to experiment on a small scale.
LED is the only way to go.
Again I think your problem is you've only experienced cheap LED.
LED is definitely the right technology. You need to get a good implementation of it. Making a quality one isn't that hard. The problem is, making junk is even easier and so much easier to sell.
LED emitters are perfectly capable of outliving all of us, and quality drivers and weatherproofing can be made as well. Don't even consider another technology. LED is the way to go.
It actually extends the life of the LED when there isn't a socket to corrode and fail. If you've had short life with those, again, that's the cheap thing.
Don't even think about running 120V around your yard in this day and age. There's simply no reason to do that, and it creates some life-safety hazards that do not need to be created.
I want to install outdoor uplighting on my trees and highlight some architectural features on my home all DIY. The information that I've found on the subject are helpful tips on where to place lights, but what I'm looking for is a step-by-step guide on how to do the whole project soup to nuts. In thinking on it more, I may need several guides, as I will have to do several things. I want to put a wall light on a wall where there is no outlet, so I'll need to figure out how to add outlets to the outside of a home. I also want ground level lighting, so it'd be great to have a guide on how to run wiring underground.
Are there any guides out there that can help me? I'm not having much luck finding any on my own.