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Not the atmospheric fairy lights, actual notgoingtotripdownthestepsandbreakmynecktotakevegpeelingstothecompost floodlight type lighting.
We have a fairly long garden, and the shed has an outdoor socket on the side wall, next to a convenient horse chestnut tree. Rough plan is the get a light with sensor on the tree, plugged into the shed to light the way down the obstacle course/ steps, leaves, balls etc to the shed/ compost bin etc.
What do you recommend STW? The internet throws up loads of options, not many seem to have a 3 pin plug, but could I just wire one on?
A load of of 12v floodlights..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7579/15713717708_4eb7be7686.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7579/15713717708_4eb7be7686.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pWyUPo ]12v 10W LED flood lights[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
12v PSU in a box plugged into external socket..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7536/15310908184_288096a7ec.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7536/15310908184_288096a7ec.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pjYpzA ]12v PSU in IP65 box[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Wired 10 x 10W flood lights in parallel down the fence:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8583/15310912624_320a69984b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8583/15310912624_320a69984b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pjYqU9 ]12v 10W LED Flood light[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I went for 12v as I didn't want mains cables running along the fence under shrubs / climbers as they'll get damaged pruning at some stage. That photo was 7 years ago, all the lights and cables are now completely overgrown by Clematises and I have to keep cutting them back so the light can be seen....
We also have a load of PIR lights in another area for the back gate / bins etc..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8606/15932496202_2042270744.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8606/15932496202_2042270744.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qgUd3o ]Outside lights[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
In this case they're mains powered, so I put the cables in conduits to protect from UV and accidental damage.
Footflaps - where did you get the 12 kit and boxes etc? I’ve got an outdoor socket and this may solve a problem for me.
What do you recommend STW?
If they don't have to stay on long and are just to light your way, then a job-lot of solar powered security lights. That's what I did and they work well.
This sort of thing...
[url] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Lights-Outdoor-Newest-Model/dp/B0797QWG6M/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=solar+security+light+mpow&qid=1606405689&sr=8-10 [/url]
@the-muffin-man what about in winter? When there is less daylight to charge? Still OK?
Footflaps – where did you get the 12 kit and boxes etc? I’ve got an outdoor socket and this may solve a problem for me.
All off Ebay IIRC.
Outdoor 12v PSU: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driver-Transformer-IP67-Waterproof-Outdoor-Power-Supply-240V-DC12V-24V/232816015255?hash=item3634ea7797:g:uRUAAOSwT2Bb9ItX
Junction boxes: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IP55-WISKA-Junction-Box-Outdoor-Electrical-connection-kit-or-Wago-connectors/362900377490
I used orange cable to minimise the chance of cutting it by accident when pruning etc....
The nice thing about using 12V is it doesn't really matter if it's not perfectly connected / watertight / gets damaged - it's super safe. The only problem I've had in 7 years is one of the LED flood lights died.
I just have the mains plug on a timer, so it comes on in the evening and goes off at midnight.
Also interested in the solar option - looked at the idea before but not sure how reliable they would be given that we need them most in the winter with less sun/more darkness, and also a couple would have to go in shady corners anyway.
I’ve got a number of solar powered garden lights. They’re useless in winter.
I’ve just put some 12V lights up the side of the steps from street level up to the house. There are three of them at the moment but I have another two on order. £18 per lamp, plus the price of cables, a couple of three-way splitters, a dusk-dawn sensor and a 60W transformer (installed in the shed to keep it dry). Total price < £200.
https://12vgardenlights.com/pages/techmar-low-voltage-outdoor-lighting-system
Doesn’t look much but it was still daylight in these pics
12v definitely the way to go, safe and doesn't blow up when it gets wet. Personally prefer old school incandescent bulbs, LEDs are fine as long as they stay dry, water kills LEDs.