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Looking for some inspiration for garden lighting.
Currently have solar spots at the bottom of the garden highlighting some plants.
Problem is the batteries only last an hour before cutting out so not brilliant.
Thinking of something that can be switched off on a timer or app. Maybe an outdoor strip light? RGB colours?
What have you got and can you post any pics of your garden lit up?
Also interested in this, I’m wary of a lot of products being cheap rubbish that will leak and malfunction within 12 months
Problem is the batteries only last an hour before cutting out so not brilliant.
How long do you want to sit and look at your plants in the dark?
How long do you want to sit and look at your plants in the dark?
He wants to look at them in the light. Not the dark, hence the question.
Won't somebody think of the poor little birdies!
I'm guessing the problem is more that they automatically turn on at dusk, not when you need to use them, so by that time the batteries are already flat! The mrs bought some similar solar lights recently, complete waste of money, totally useless!How long do you want to sit and look at your plants in the dark?
Some decent lights that are app controlled or on a PIR would probably be good. If you can run a 12v/24v supply to them that gives you loads of options (doubly so if your wifi reaches that far!) Been doing loads of smart stuff with the house/garage lately, will probably do some garden lighting at some stage but it's not something I've really thought about yet!
Also interested, bookmarked.
I'd like some app controlled lights for the garden, to replace PIR controlled 'security' lights. Fed up of the PIR being tripped by the wildlife, so i'd like something similar to the OP that i can control from the comfort of my armchair!
Are you old enough to remember glowworms? When did you last see a bat in your garden?
it's possible to have both, which is ideal IMO! I've been testing the new Shelly Motion wifi motion detectors, really impressed with them. They are very tweak able although even on stock settings our cats don't seem to set them off. Way better than dumb PIRs obviously and can integrate with all your other smart stuff.I’d like some app controlled lights for the garden, to replace PIR controlled ‘security’ lights.
I see bats in my garden every night. Funnily enough, a bit of lighting makes that easier 🤣When did you last see a bat in your garden?
Any idea which species?
If you want to keep 'em, drop the ALAN.
Lol there's always one isn't the Kelvin.
Has anyone tried the Philips hue outdoor light strip?
it’s possible to have both, which is ideal IMO!
ideal, that's what i'd ultimately like to have. They can be PIR controlled for when we are outside, letting the dog out for eg. and then off via the app for the bulk of the night.
Are you old enough to remember glowworms? When did you last see a bat in your garden?
No and last night.
Our garden used to have a steep slope, but the previous owners made it into terraces. These have soft 230v, 5w LED downlighters ran from supply fed from the garage.
Got a smart plug so lights turn on around dusk and off again at bedtime. Less intrusive than PIR floodlights the neighbours have and provide a nice background illumination in the garden.
no, that reminds me though, need to bump my raspberry pi bat detector project back up the priority list 🤣 We don't have the outside lights on all the time though, only when using the garden or going out to the garage (which is detached and for some reason in the middle of the garden!) There is a row of tall trees which is where I guess they hang out, that side of the garden would never be lit though as it's the opposite side to the path.Any idea which species?
I have some techmar 12v lights in my garden. Run them from a smart plug that switches on at dusk and off at 11pm. They’re a pretty decent system for expansion over time and have a good variety of lights from cheap to pretty expensive.
Has anyone tried the Philips hue outdoor light strip?
Yes, we have one. It's not great for lighting the path, but it looks pretty.
Wouldn't mind some low level background lighting in the back garden. The shed office has a solar down light that runs on low, then high on PIR detection. Wouldn't mind something non-solar that I can position round the garden.
I've ordered a set of RGB smart garden lights from tlc direct.
They seem to do everything I wanted and at a reasonable price. Not too bothered about the different colours as I'll probably just set them to a soft white. Main thing was to be able to control them either through the app or on a timed plug thingy.
I'll update when I've got them.
Link for the lights is below if anyone is interested
@flyingpotatoes interesting, be good to know what the quality is like - they're a lot cheaper than the non-smart options!!
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50117029746_6eb852b47e_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50117029746_6eb852b47e_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jmESTL ]2020-07-15_10-16-42[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
The led festoon lights all round the fence are on one switch, the downlights on the fence on another. There's another downlight on the side of the summer house that's on another switch, the decking lights are wi-fi controlled and colour changing and have a colour changing wi-fi freestanding led corner strip lamp in the summer house. Also have PIR controlled floods on the decking and patio that can be turned off so as not to spoil the ambient lighting
This is relevant to my interests
I have to say that looks awesome and exactly the inspiration pics I wanted 👏👏
@TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR whilst I really like your lighting you have a serious lack of green things in your garden.
I do know that no everyone is a gardener/plantsman though.
@TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR whilst I really like your lighting you have a serious lack of green things in your garden.
I do know that no everyone is a gardener/plantsman though.
There is a reasonable amount more now - that was after a big do-over from scratch. Lots of trees to the back make it a bit more pleasant place in the daylight
I have to say that looks awesome and exactly the inspiration pics I wanted 👏👏
Ta, give me a shout if there's anything you want to know, I'm a sparky
@TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR - Keen to know which products you actualy bought for those festoon lights.
I know theres a big difference between cheap and expensive quality items but this isn't always reflected in the price charged so trying to find the right value/quality mix
PSA: just got an email from Lyco.co.uk, they have 10% off their Techmar garden plug & play range.
It's pretty decent stuff - my folks have it in their garden on a dusk-dawn sensor.
Keen to know which products you actualy bought for those festoon lights.
I know theres a big difference between cheap and expensive quality items but this isn’t always reflected in the price charged so trying to find the right value/quality mix
From Amazon, can get different lengths and daisy chain them. Seem decent enough to me
Lights have been delivered from tlc-direct.
They are plastic housings but I expected that from the price.
The app is easy to set up and everything works ok, can change colours and add a timer on the app to switch on off at certain times and alter brightness. I'm just after a white ambient light so don't need the colours really.
Only real issue I can see is that they are bluetooth so the signal might not reach the lights if you have a massive garden. But one way round it is to put a smart plug on the lights to turn them on/off.
Overall for the price they are spot on, colour selection aren't as good as a Philips hue setup but these lights are £200 less than the hue garden spotlights.
thanks, sounds good but the bluetooth thing is a dealbreaker for me (it does say it prominently on the product page but for some reason I didn't absorb that info!), needs to be WiFi so it ties in with my Home Assistant server.Only real issue I can see is that they are bluetooth so the signal might not reach the lights if you have a massive garden.
That's why I thought I'd mention it.
Your search continues
@TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR how are your lights standing up? I’m after 120 feet of festoon lights but a few of the amazon reviews suggest they’re not very robust. I know you’re a pro tho so would value your opinion over unknown Amazon folks
Also interested in something like what @TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR linked... but the Amazon description says
ust for light Rainy Day. Do not use OUTDOORS in seriously severe weather
which does not inspire confidence, particularly given the almighty downpour we've just had!