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Landscape lighting can transform the exterior of your home, enhancing your landscape, patio, pool, or walk into a dramatic nighttime haven. Landscape lighting not only improves the exterior of your home but also adds the element of safety and security.

Designing a Landscape Lighting System

There are two types of lighting systems to choose from when designing a system. They are 120 volt (line voltage) and 12 volt (low voltage). Each system has its advantages and disadvantages.

12 Volt (low voltage)

Benefits:

• 12-volt power supply reduces the risk of electric shock
• Shallow cable depth
• Smaller fixtures allowing less visibility

Disadvantages:

• Not for larger lighting projects
• Voltage drop. Limits the amount of fixtures on circuit and distance of lights.
• Smaller maximum bulb wattage (limitations on up-lighting tall trees or far distances)

120 Volt (line voltage)

Benefits:

• Necessary for lighting larger areas
• Brilliant illumination for tall trees or far distances
• Higher maximum lamp wattage in fixtures
• Can only be installed by a licensed and insured master electrician

Disadvantages:

• Higher voltage
• Deeper cable depth

Lighting Techniques

Both 120 volt and 12-volt systems can be used together to achieve the balance necessary for your installation. There are various methods to properly light your property or home such as path lighting, down lighting, up-lighting and several others. These techniques will vary depending on the scene you are trying to create.

H. Giudici and Son has been installing landscape lighting systems for 53 years. We are licensed master electricians that can assist in designing and installing your system. It is very important that your system is installed by a licensed and insured electrician to properly protect you and your home.