I hope that by now, you have read Article 1, “Why Light.” Not only have you read the information, but you also digested the information. In addition, you have done your due diligence to now know why you want to light. From my other life experiences, as a military pilot flying helicopters in Viet Nam, fighter jets for the Air National Guard and a professional airline pilot, I am programmed to use systems and incorporating checklists within the systems. Having said that, the articles will sequence from one to the next.
You now know “why light,” GREAT! The next step in the sequence is to determine what “MOOD” you want to create for your castle. As you drove through your neighborhood, you did your homework, didn’t you? You saw the different styles, effects or moods the landscape-lighting systems had on the homes. You saw some that did not appeal to you and some that were on target.
The easy part of this article is to disregard the systems you did not like. Concentrate on the systems you like and ask yourself how you can enhance that style or mood. Let your imagination run free and remember you need to create a system you like. What you like is important and you are not going to install a system for your friends or neighbors. Your home is a reflection of you and your landscape-lighting system is no exception.
To create the mood you want, keep in mind the effect comes from the lamp in the fixture and not the fixture. The fixture is nothing more than a holding apparatus for the lamp or bulb.
We now get into the study of photometry. This is a study of light intensity and the measurement of that intensity. The dictionary’s definition is: the branch of study which treats of the measurements of the intensity of light: also, the art of making such measurements. Fortunately, for us, studies have been made and the results have been documented.
All we need to know is that a lamp with a lower wattage will give a softer look than a lamp with a large wattage. In addition, a lamp with a small beam spread will cover less area than a lamp with a wide beam spread. Most applications can achieve the desire effects from lamps ranging from 20 watts with a 12-degree beam spread to a 75 watts with a 60-degree beam spread. Of course, there are many options available between the two mentioned.
All 12 volt lamps must receive the proper amount of voltage to perform at top efficiency and create the mood you desire. The proper amount of voltage required for the halogen lamp is 10.5 to 11.7 volts. Be sure to check the voltage going to each fixture. A lamp that receives less voltage than 10.5 volts will last a very long time, however, the light will be very dim and yellow in color. A halogen lamp with proper voltage gives a sharp, clean, clear white light. Think of a clear night with a full moon and you will notice the light is sharp, clean and clear. We want to create the natural look and that is done with halogen lamps with the proper voltage.
Roger Neumann graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. After he left the farm in Illinois, he always was involved in business and started several companies throughout the years. Six years before retiring from the airlines, he started a landscape-lighting company that is doing extremely well today. The combination of business and flying caused Roger to create a system that anyone can follow and be successful installing landscape lighting for their home. For more information, visit Neumann’s site at http://www.abclandscapelighting.com
He incorporated the flying protocol of using a checklist and planning to create his system. He also carried the skill of being a perfectionist as a pilot into the landscape-lighting business that created his checklist type system. Because of that system, he was able to write an awesome “how to” book on installing landscape-lighting systems, http://www.landscapelightingabc.com
