Lighting Alfresco

Specialist garden and architectural lighting for private gardens and restaurants
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Types of lighting

The variety of outdoor lighting options is enormous, and the type of light source used can make a big difference to the end result. Some of the most important considerations are described below.

Source of light

The type of lamp used will determine the "colour" of the light produced. For example, a energy saving florescent lamp produces a very different type of light to a halogen lamp - mercury bulbs produce a bluey-white light, sodium a yellowy light. Halogen and compact fluorescent lamps in a warm colour tend to be most popular for garden lighting applications. The type of lamp used will also determine the types of lighting techniques that can be used - halogen lamps, for example, are a very flexible light source and can be used to create most effects, however they tend to be rather harsh for reading or dining, and also produce too much heat for some situations.

Non-electric lighting (torches, paraffin or oil lamps, candles, etc.) can also be highly complimentary to the broader range of effects that can be produced with electric luminaries.

Source of power

The size of area over which lighting is to be installed and the type of power source to be used may also impact upon the choice of lighting. For example low voltage lighting (typically 12 volt) is very popular because of the wide variety of lamps available, and the fact that it is safer to operate than lamps powered by mains voltage. However small voltage drops have a greater effect on low voltage lighting, and must be taken into account over distances of more than ten to fifteen metres as indicated in the chart below. The chart shows the maximum distances in metres for a particular lamp wattage for a voltage drop of less than one volt.

Sources of power may include solar energy. Solar powered luminaries tend to be limited to simple low level, low wattage path lighting, and fibre optics which allow a single lamp to be used to remotely illuminate one or more points (again not typically suitable for lighting techniques such as spotlighting).

LED (light emitting diode) lamps are useful for marking paths, where a low light output is sufficient, and these have a very long life.

Heating

There are lamps available that not only provide light but also sufficient heat to warm small patios. Whilst useful in certain situations, they do require somewhat of a compromise in terms of the type of lighting effects that can be produced.

Beam Angle

Some halogen lamps are available with integral reflectors producing different beam angles from highly focused spotlights of 10 degrees to wide beam angles of 60 or more degrees. This allows lamps to be interchanged within the luminary to create different effects.

Lamp life

A lamp life of 2000 - 5000 hours for halogen is common, with compact fluorescent lamps having lives of 10,000 or more hours, and LED lamps having a very long life of 100,000 or more hours. Lamp life expectancy may be reduced if the lamp is allowed to operate at a higher temperature. Lamp life should be considered particularly in situation where access for maintenance is more difficult (such as pond lighting), or where lamps are on for longer periods of time.

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