Thanks for watching the video! If you want to learn more or need help, here are 3 options. ✅ Feel free to check out my FREE PDF download of the fundamentals of landscape lighting course.aklighting.net/freepdfdownload Or ✅ Get the landscape Lighting I recommend! diycourse.aklighting.net/lightingrecommendations Or ✅ Complete Start-to-Finish Guide for Your Lighting Project Get affordable professional help so you can install your lights the right way course.aklighting.net/diylandscapelightingcourse
I really appreciate it! Means a lot. By the way, if you ever feel like you need additional help with your lighting project, I've got an affordable course that goes into more detail and step by step guide. Meant for an additional resource.
Mine is currently but I need to move it. We just moved in not to long ago and caught the first warm day soil wasn’t frozen so I could get my landscape lights in. First house on this block to install some. I’ll redo and make it better in the coming days.
Really curious, I found some pagoda pathway lights that were made in the 1970's... brand new in box, these things are built like tanks. I was considering using low voltage LEDs in them, they have edison base (normal sockets like those used in your house). I see there are 12V LED bulbs sold for marine or RV usage and I can buy 12V transformers, AC or DC. Curious what you think about this and if you have any experience with retrofitting bulbs into these old fixtures. These were made in Kenilworth NJ.
I had guy install my low voltage flood lights, He is gone now. Problem I’m installing Artificial Turf Grass need to know where the wires are as have to pound 6” nails in turf every 12” to stretch and hold down, what is the best way to locate wires so I won’t cut with nails While installation of artificial turf grass. I was think electrical wand Locator must be able to locate low voltage wires. Can you help me so I won’t screw it up please.
As Adam says ‘don’t go cheap’. My advice, if you’re on a budget, is to go quality over quantity. If you buy quality, but less of them, then you can easily add more quality lighting later as funds allow. Avoid coated aluminium lighting fixtures, go with 316 stainless steel, you’re better off focusing on one shrub at a time using 316, than deck your whole garden out with anything else. Around 12 years ago I purchased 4 ‘pond lights’ made out of coated aluminium, for my wife’s cherry garden, fixed them in the ground in drainage aggregate and they looked a million bucks. For a number of years now they’ve become a shadow of their former selves, pretty much to the point whereby they’re not working at all now. I pulled away the stony aggregate that surrounds them and they were, not only corroded extremely badly on the outside, but when I managed to crack them open, they were, to my surprise, equally as corroded on the inside. We’re now going to the way more expensive 316 stainless steel version of the same. Point to remember, not all ‘stainless is equal’! I put 304 stainless steel lights on the garden wall, knowing that they wouldn’t falter, but they are now happily rusting away too. 316 is pretty much eternal. Around 12 years ago I purchased two spikes spottys out of 316 S/S and they’re as good as the day I bought them, all the others are either deteriorating or have already deteriorated. Now, as for the type of light fixture. For shrubs, trees etc, go with a spiked spotlight. The reason is, they’re so easy to get right. If you place them in the ground and turn on the switch, then you don’t like where they’re pointing, it’s just a simple matter of pulling them out and repositioning them, instant success. Also, as Adam said, don’t go solar, go hard wired. I have my socket outlet and transformer by the front door, but out of sight, underneath… it’s hidden in the basement. I’ve bored under the house foundation and installed a couple of 2” lengths of conduit to the first junction point outside, as you don’t want to keep exhuming the trench just to add more cables later as your lighting expands. Leave some redundancies in the conduit like pieces of string, so that you can simply pull future cables through with ease, making sure you pull another piece of string through with the new cable so that you’ve always got a piece there for the next cable. That should be a starter for you.
I know most of the home depot lights seem super poor quality. Lowes also sells cheap lights, but they do sell kichler bronze lights. Aren't those pretty quality lights?
They are decent lights. Kichler made "lesser" quality lights to be sold in bulk at Lowes. I don't believe you can get those same lights from any of their professional distributors.
@@aklighting8292 Shoot I was actually duped! "olde bronze *finish*" on these kichler lights but apparently they're alluminum. Hopefully they're at least better than the Portfolio or Hampton bay brands though. I guess I'll find out.
I have appraised many commercial lights and the lights he refers to. The difference is nearly $700 dollars... Just 1 metal L shaped light overhanging a sidewalk would cost nearly $230 for just 1 light... It is absolutely not worth it. As a regular homeowner and a simple conveyor specialist and parts analyst. It would be worth buying the steaked led path light and do the wiring yourself while gutting the electronics and installing a 3w led with 4 resistors that would last 7 to 10 years and install a quick disconnect system to remove the lighting for cutting grass... Mine runs off of a buck boost 6-37v reduced to 4.95v at 12 amps on a 16.8V 4 cell lithium 8hr battery that is more than enough to power it and a 50w solar panel and a 20amp mppt charger.. Thats it.. Wiring is 16 gauge and 24 gauge wiring system for distance and it splits covering move than 600 feet.. This is DC not AC low voltage that runs under the grass and all exit ports and contacts are inside the pipe to the light.
Thanks for watching the video! If you want to learn more or need help, here are 3 options.
✅ Feel free to check out my FREE PDF download of the fundamentals of landscape lighting course.aklighting.net/freepdfdownload
Or
✅ Get the landscape Lighting I recommend!
diycourse.aklighting.net/lightingrecommendations
Or
✅ Complete Start-to-Finish Guide for Your Lighting Project
Get affordable professional help so you can install your lights the right way
course.aklighting.net/diylandscapelightingcourse
You should also point out about not getting fixed led fixtures. Those become trash after burning out.
Agreed
Adam, your whole series is really good practical advice. I bought a lot of books but they weren't as good as what I learned from your videos--thankis.
I really appreciate it! Means a lot.
By the way, if you ever feel like you need additional help with your lighting project, I've got an affordable course that goes into more detail and step by step guide. Meant for an additional resource.
Do u prefer low voltage lighting with drop in led bulbs? Or integrated leds???
Thanks for the awesome content, very informative, I already subscribed 👍🏻
Awesome, thank you!
Just purchased your course, man. I'm looking forward to diving all the way in here and getting this project started!
Awesome! You're going to love it!
How was the course?
Following for course review
Dude got electrocuted! 🙁
Thanks for a really nice explanation!!!
I was about to do #4 install the transformer in the front of the house. lol . Thanks for the video.
Mine is currently but I need to move it. We just moved in not to long ago and caught the first warm day soil wasn’t frozen so I could get my landscape lights in. First house on this block to install some. I’ll redo and make it better in the coming days.
Really curious, I found some pagoda pathway lights that were made in the 1970's... brand new in box, these things are built like tanks. I was considering using low voltage LEDs in them, they have edison base (normal sockets like those used in your house). I see there are 12V LED bulbs sold for marine or RV usage and I can buy 12V transformers, AC or DC. Curious what you think about this and if you have any experience with retrofitting bulbs into these old fixtures. These were made in Kenilworth NJ.
You can do that if you find some that fit size wise. Brilliance makes house type socket 12v leds
I had guy install my low voltage flood lights, He is gone now. Problem I’m installing Artificial Turf Grass need to know where the wires are as have to pound 6” nails in turf every 12” to stretch and hold down, what is the best way to locate wires so I won’t cut with nails While installation of artificial turf grass. I was think electrical wand
Locator must be able to locate low voltage wires. Can you help me so I won’t screw it up please.
An irrigation wire tracker would work because it's also low voltage. You can sometimes find them from rent & they look like a metal detector.
Dig the trench deeper than the nails.
I did watch many your video. Now i want do my landscape light by myself but i still doesn’t know which one should i buy?
As Adam says ‘don’t go cheap’. My advice, if you’re on a budget, is to go quality over quantity. If you buy quality, but less of them, then you can easily add more quality lighting later as funds allow.
Avoid coated aluminium lighting fixtures, go with 316 stainless steel, you’re better off focusing on one shrub at a time using 316, than deck your whole garden out with anything else.
Around 12 years ago I purchased 4 ‘pond lights’ made out of coated aluminium, for my wife’s cherry garden, fixed them in the ground in drainage aggregate and they looked a million bucks. For a number of years now they’ve become a shadow of their former selves, pretty much to the point whereby they’re not working at all now. I pulled away the stony aggregate that surrounds them and they were, not only corroded extremely badly on the outside, but when I managed to crack them open, they were, to my surprise, equally as corroded on the inside. We’re now going to the way more expensive 316 stainless steel version of the same.
Point to remember, not all ‘stainless is equal’!
I put 304 stainless steel lights on the garden wall, knowing that they wouldn’t falter, but they are now happily rusting away too. 316 is pretty much eternal. Around 12 years ago I purchased two spikes spottys out of 316 S/S and they’re as good as the day I bought them, all the others are either deteriorating or have already deteriorated.
Now, as for the type of light fixture. For shrubs, trees etc, go with a spiked spotlight. The reason is, they’re so easy to get right. If you place them in the ground and turn on the switch, then you don’t like where they’re pointing, it’s just a simple matter of pulling them out and repositioning them, instant success.
Also, as Adam said, don’t go solar, go hard wired. I have my socket outlet and transformer by the front door, but out of sight, underneath… it’s hidden in the basement. I’ve bored under the house foundation and installed a couple of 2” lengths of conduit to the first junction point outside, as you don’t want to keep exhuming the trench just to add more cables later as your lighting expands. Leave some redundancies in the conduit like pieces of string, so that you can simply pull future cables through with ease, making sure you pull another piece of string through with the new cable so that you’ve always got a piece there for the next cable.
That should be a starter for you.
1:33 So if you don't recommend local hardware store brands, what brands do you recommend?
I've put together a PDF with lights I recommend. diycourse.aklighting.net/lightingrecommendations
Many local Siteone stores are better options that hardware type stores
We don’t have DEEP POCKETS like many of your customers!…
I know most of the home depot lights seem super poor quality. Lowes also sells cheap lights, but they do sell kichler bronze lights. Aren't those pretty quality lights?
They are decent lights. Kichler made "lesser" quality lights to be sold in bulk at Lowes. I don't believe you can get those same lights from any of their professional distributors.
@@aklighting8292 Shoot I was actually duped! "olde bronze *finish*" on these kichler lights but apparently they're alluminum. Hopefully they're at least better than the Portfolio or Hampton bay brands though. I guess I'll find out.
Siteone sells Kichler which is decent but a higher grade, commercial for longevity than HD/Lowes
I have appraised many commercial lights and the lights he refers to. The difference is nearly $700 dollars... Just 1 metal L shaped light overhanging a sidewalk would cost nearly $230 for just 1 light... It is absolutely not worth it. As a regular homeowner and a simple conveyor specialist and parts analyst. It would be worth buying the steaked led path light and do the wiring yourself while gutting the electronics and installing a 3w led with 4 resistors that would last 7 to 10 years and install a quick disconnect system to remove the lighting for cutting grass... Mine runs off of a buck boost 6-37v reduced to 4.95v at 12 amps on a 16.8V 4 cell lithium 8hr battery that is more than enough to power it and a 50w solar panel and a 20amp mppt charger.. Thats it.. Wiring is 16 gauge and 24 gauge wiring system for distance and it splits covering move than 600 feet.. This is DC not AC low voltage that runs under the grass and all exit ports and contacts are inside the pipe to the light.
lol solar panels look like trash.
Where is the "free" download? The link leads to $7.95 charge.
$120 for an outlet to be installed? No sir, that is not true.