Low Voltage Lighting Products Brighten Yards And Gardens

(HIT) - Homeowners are spending an increasing amount of leisure time outdoors. As a result, millions of Americans are discovering the benefits of low voltage outdoor lighting systems—beauty, versatility, safety and security.

Low voltage lighting is one of the easiest, most economical ways to make your home, yard, garden or deck more attractive. Whether you enjoy sitting on your deck during a beautiful summer evening or highlighting your newly landscaped yard for guests, low voltage outdoor lighting adds a new dimension to any location.

While most homeowners recognize the benefits offered by outdoor lighting in general, many of them don’t realize there’s an inexpensive alternative to 120-volt systems that are often expensive and require installation by a landscape contractor. This alternative is called low voltage outdoor lighting because it utilizes 12 volts rather than the standard 120 volts of electricity.

"With low voltage outdoor lighting, you won’t receive an electric shock—even if you touch the bare wires or cut a buried cable with a lawn mower or garden tool," says Phil Kinzer, marketing manager for Intermatic’s Malibu® brand lighting systems. "This is especially reassuring for homeowners who have children or pets."

Installing a set of low voltage lights makes a great do-it-yourself project. In fact, homeowners can install an average set, including the power pack and cable, in about an hour using ordinary hand tools. A typical six-light set uses less electricity than a 60-watt bulb and costs just pennies per evening to operate.

Flexibility is another hallmark of low voltage lighting systems, as users can easily add new fixtures or move existing fixtures to different locations. A wide variety of fixtures is available, and all are designed to look just as attractive during the day as they do at night. The styles range from traditional tier, floodlight, mushroom, globe and well lights to carriage, crystal, edge and deck lights, to name just a few.

Low voltage lighting systems are available at stores carrying do-it-yourself products. Each set includes several fixtures, a power pack (or transformer) that converts 120-volt electrical current to 12 volts and a length of low voltage cable.

The most popular method of controlling the system is via a timer. However, homeowners can also obtain power packs with other features such as photo controls, dimmers and motion sensors. An assortment of useful lighting accessories is also available at many stores.

The initial step in selecting a low voltage lighting system is to survey your home, yard, garden or deck and determine the types of fixtures you want. Once you’ve selected and purchased your lighting system, determine the path the lights will follow. After the lighting system is installed, enjoy it for a few days. Then make any final adjustments to the position of the fixtures until you are pleased with the layout and the lighting effect that’s created.

To learn more about installing a low voltage lighting system, visit the Intermatic website at www.intermatic.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center