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Why do people install garden and exterior
lighting?
There are all sorts of reasons. Some want to be able to use their garden for
dining and entertaining after dark. Others are looking to make their
interior spaces appear larger by creating a ‘view’ through the windows after
dark. Many see garden lighting as a safety feature, particularly if they
have steps or a pond in the garden. Others equip their garden lighting with
a movement sensor so it also acts as security lighting.
What’s the advantage of low-voltage lighting?
The main advantage is safety. If there is an electrical fault, or if you
damage the cable with a gardening tool, a 12-volt (low voltage) system
is
inherently safer than 240 volt one. Another advantage is the crisp white
light with excellent colour rendition created by the halogen lamps used
in
low-voltage systems. Finally, low-voltage garden lighting costs significantly
less to run than conventional lights.
Does low-voltage lighting have any drawbacks?
The only disadvantage is that you need one or more transformers to reduce
the voltage to 12-volts. However, the transformers we supply are compact and
can easily be hidden away in a shed, greenhouse or even buried in the soil.
Like all light sources, low-voltage fittings get hot in use, but in our
experience there’s no danger of them singeing your plants. You may, however,
want to place them out of harm’s way if you have young children who play in
the garden at night.
Do I have to bury the cables?
No. The safety advantage of low-voltage garden lighting means cables can
be placed on or near the surface of the soil or, for tidiness, you can
attach
them
to
the side of a wall or fence. 240 volt cables, by contrast, need to be
armoured and buried deep.
Is there a limit to how many lights I can
install?
No, although for very large gardens it may be necessary to install a 240
volt power supply to various parts of the garden to power your low-voltage
system. This is because there is a limit to how long your low-voltage cable
can be before you start experiencing voltage-drop (when the light(s)
furthest from the transformer begins to dim).
What sort of lamps do Hunza fittings use?
Most use halogen lamps with a dichroic reflector which throws a focused beam
at whatever you wish to light. They are available in a choice of Wattages
(20W, 35W and 50W) and beam angles (10º, 38º and 60º) so you have a lot of
control over the light from each fitting.
Can I use coloured lamps?
Yes. You can buy lamps in a variety of colours, although you have fewer
Wattage and beam width options.
How often do I need to change the lamps?
The good news is not very often, especially if you avoid cheap lamps which
have a shorter life. We recommend lamps with a rating of at least 5000
hours.
Is any other maintenance necessary?
Not really, apart from giving the glass lens of each fitting a wipe from
time to time to keep it clean. If you choose stainless steel fittings you
might also want to clean them occasionally with a proprietary product to
prevent staining.
Can I use Hunza fittings indoors?
Absolutely. Although they are engineered to withstand the rigours of the
outdoors, many Hunza fittings look superb in interior design schemes.
Fittings with integral transformers, such as the Pillar Lite – Retro, are
especially popular.
What are the
elements of a successful garden lighting scheme?
The short answer is it depends on what you are
trying to achieve. However, some useful tips are:
.
Try to create a scheme that feels ‘balanced’
.
Remember that leaving some areas in shadow will make the
lit areas look even more dramatic; trying to light too much can give you a
rather flat, or even garish effect
.
Wherever possible, hide the light fitting. Although Hunza
lights are beautifully designed, it’s the light you want to see, not the
fitting
.
Try to position your fittings so they won’t shine directly
into your eyes. Where this is difficult, Hunza’s glare guards or Hexagon
Cell Louvre kits will reduce glare
.
When placing spotlights in your border, you might consider
using a pole-mounted fitting if there’s a danger of the light being
swamped by foliage in summer
.
Experiment with lighting effects
Can I install my garden lighting scheme myself?
We strongly recommend using a qualified electrician. You should also make
sure all the circuits are protected by an RCD and that only equipment
designed for exterior use is specified.
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