What can you tell me about a high voltage landscape lighting system?
My husband and I are looking to hire a professional to install some landscape lighting. We got an estimate from a company who installs high voltage lighting... Their work looks beautiful on the photos, but the estimate was quite high. Then, we invited a company that does low voltage lighting, and the estimate was $5000 less. However, I am concerned about longevity and practicality of low voltage lighting. Will it last? And will the landscapers run over the cables and cut it? Will it be too obviously visible and unattractive? What do the experts think?
It sounds like you have a fairly large project to warrant such a discrepancy in price. This is primarily due to the equipment, method of installation and labor costs. Both systems should be installed by a licensed electrician and according to National Electrical Code. High voltage systems require the use of conduits that should be buried 6" deep for galvanized rigid steel and 18" deep for PVC conduit. Low voltage systems utilize direct burial cable and should also be buried 18" deep to prevent damage to the cable when digging in the flower beds. Most low voltage lighting contractors rarely bury the cable that deep.I suspect the first contractor recommended the use of mercury vapor lighting, which is typical for landscape lighting professionals. Lights mounted high in the trees are a very attractive way to illuminate the yard with moonlight illumination. These types of lights are low maintenance and will give you years of service. This is a much more dramatic and heavy duty approach as the price would indicate.
Low voltage lights can be a very effective lighting system when installed properly for several reasons. First of all the lights are typically small and can be moved as the garden grows. The best part is that can be easily serviced and maintained by the customer. The down side is that they do require more maintenance and are susceptible to damage if the cable is not buried properly. We rarely install low voltage lights as down lights in trees.So, I like to use a combination of high and low voltage lights in my designs. Use mercury vapor in the trees and low voltage lights to illuminate small specimen trees, paths and the facade of the house.
I would recommend that you visit some of their jobs to see the equipment and to better understand both wiring methods. There is a big diffence!
Good Luck!
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, houston landscape lighting, low voltage lighting systems, Tree Lighting
posted by xinger at
10:50 AM
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