How to make the highlight of the tracks in a country house

If paths are laid on the site, you should immediately consider their lighting so that you can comfortably walk in the dark, especially if there are a lot of trees in the yard. The illumination of the paths also has a decorative function, improving the view and creating a cozy atmosphere for a walk or a rest.

Lighting is an important element in the design of a personal plot.

backlight requirements

Before planning and installing fixtures, you should understand the requirements that apply to this type of work:

1. The light should not be too bright. This creates discomfort, and also worsens the appearance of the garden or pond, as the calm atmosphere is disturbed. It is better to choose diffused lighting so that the lamps do not hit the eyes.
2. Illumination should highlight the boundaries of footpaths. This is enough to comfortably walk even at night.There is no need for special brightness here.
3. Choose luminaires with protection from moisture and dust, intended for the street. It is important that they do not require maintenance and work for a long time without changing bulbs.
4. Pay attention to energy consumption. The lower the consumption, the lower the electricity bills will be. Energy saving models are the best. And you can also choose modern autonomous solar-powered solutions.
5. Appearance should be suitable for the design of a personal plot. Lamps are more visible during the day, so it is better to choose ones that complement the design and decorate the landscape even when they are not working.
6. Wiring if available, it must be laid according to the established requirements and be safe. To rule out problems. An automatic or RCD is always put in the system. In this case, in case of short circuits and other malfunctions, the supply of electricity will stop.
7. It is better to put lamps wherever you have to move at night.. Think over their location in advance so that later it does not turn out that some corner is overlooked.
8. Preliminarily understand the features of turning on and off. The easiest way is to set the automation so that it supplies electricity on a timer and turns off the backlight at a set time (for example, late in the evening when everyone went to bed). You can use photocells so that the lights themselves turn on after dusk. The simplest solution is a manual switch. It is suitable if the backlight needs to be turned on occasionally.

Light should be everywhere where you need to move in the dark.

When choosing fixtures and their brightness, it is worth considering facade lighting if available. All elements must match.

Backlight Options

Usually there are two types - functional and decorative lighting. Each of the options has its own characteristics, which should be taken into account and remember that the lighting of the site can perform several functions at once.

Functional lighting

Functional lighting is much brighter than decorative lighting, as it must provide good visibility.

This is a mandatory option to increase the safety of movement around the site and create a comfortable environment for recreation. The main features are:

1. Allocate places of rest - gazebos, playgrounds, patios, etc. Focus on them with brighter light.
2. For the tracks, dim options are selected, their main purpose is to allocate a walking area.
3. Highlight steps, places near water bodies, bridges, curbs and other areas that can be dangerous in the dark.
4. When planning the location of fixtures along the paths, arrange them evenly so that there are no poorly lit areas.
5. If possible, use diffused light to ensure a comfortable atmosphere on the site.

It is worth highlighting the facade of the house and other buildings with brighter light in order to ensure good visibility when moving from a darkened area to them.

decorative lighting

Decorative lighting is often used for plants and artificial ponds.

This option primarily serves to decorate the site, although at the same time the area around is illuminated. Features are:

1. First of all, all the objects that you want to admire in the dark are highlighted. It can be favorite vacation spots, trees, flower beds, alpine slides and much more.
2. You can focus on the elements that decorate the site - sculptures, figurines, etc.
3. Decorative lighting of objects that look especially impressive with backlighting. It can be fountains, waterfalls and ponds.
4. You can plan the location of the lamps so that the site has a mysterious atmosphere in the spirit of fairy tales from childhood.

When choosing the style of equipment, it is worth considering the design of the site. If it is pretentious, then select strict options, but if the site is in a minimalist style, you can choose the most bizarre models.

Types of lighting fixtures

Path lighting in a country house or in a personal plot can be divided into different types depending on the light source used and the design of the lamp.

By light source

Solar-powered LED options charge during the day and light up at night.

There are several options for sale, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when choosing:

1. Incandescent lamps. They are inexpensive, but serve no more than 2000 hours and do not tolerate temperature extremes. During operation, they get very hot, consume a lot of electricity, it is better not to use this type for garden lamps.
2. Halogen lamps also work due to the filament, but unlike the first version, the bulb is filled with halogen gas, which ensures a bright glow and increases the service life. But even these lamps get very hot during operation and serve an order of magnitude less than their analogues.
3. Luminescent models consume little energy and provide high-quality light, the resource is many times greater than that of the first two options.But at the same time, the lamps do not tolerate changes in temperature and humidity; for them, you need to purchase sealed lamps. From adverse conditions often fail much earlier than expected.
4. LED lamps and fixtures last up to 50,000 hours and consume a minimum of electricity. This is the best option for highlighting the site today. There can be both replaceable light bulbs and stationary lamps with built-in diodes.

For backlighting, you can also use a waterproof LED strip in a silicone sheath.

By design

Directional lighting provides excellent visibility when walking on the path.

In stores you can find options for different shapes and designs. It is worth highlighting the most common and popular models:

1. Floor lamp-type structures are columns of different heights with a diffuser or shade made of matte plastic in the upper part. A universal solution that is suitable for lighting paths, highlighting driveways, creating a comfortable atmosphere near benches and gazebos.
2. Bollard-type marking lamps provide a subdued light. They can mark the boundaries of the parking lot for cars or highlight paths that are used very rarely.
3. Paving elements with built-in LEDs. When laying paths, you can place luminous tiles in some places, which will illuminate the surface and provide convenient movement in the dark.
4. Lamps in various figurines or makeshift houses, etc. Most often, LEDs are built into such structures, which allows them to perform the function of decoration during the day and lighting at night.
5. Solar LED garden lights.Completely self-contained models that can be planted in the ground at any suitable location, allowing you to set up a path lighting in a few minutes. If necessary, they can be rearranged at any time.
6. Directional light fixtures, in which the luminous flux is distributed over the surface of the track, creating an original effect. It is best to arrange in a checkerboard pattern.

Solar-powered LED lamps for the winter should be cleaned in a warm room, this will significantly extend their service life.

How to make your own path lighting

Illumination of paths in the country or a plot near the house can be done independently, if you understand all the nuances and follow the instructions step by step. If you break the process into small steps, then it is much easier to cope with the installation.

Choosing a place to install fixtures

Lamps should not be placed too close to each other.

Before starting work, you need to know the layout of the site and the location of paths, recreation areas and other objects. There are some tips:

1. First of all, consider the location of the lights along the paths, the entrance to the site, as well as on the site where the car will stand.
2. Determine where resting places, benches, playgrounds, swings and other objects that need to be illuminated brighter will be located.
3. When using decorative lighting, determine the places that will be illuminated and select suitable fixtures for each. There may be several solutions, depending on the situation.
4. Determine the height of the fixtures. For paths, low posts are suitable; for benches and gazebos, you can use options of medium or high height.
5. Think about whether the light from neighboring decorative zones will intersect.It is important to provide a comfortable environment without an abundance of lighting.
6. Choose fixtures with approximately the same light temperature. The shade may vary, but you should not combine warm and cold light in one place. For the site, yellow light is better, as it promotes relaxation and does not strain your eyesight.

At the initial stage, only approximate installation locations can be determined; there is no need to select specific models.

Project development and preparation of materials

In order not to miss important moments, it is worth planning everything and making a list of the necessary. Then you do not have to urgently buy the missing lamp or a few meters of cable. Remember the following:

1. First of all, make a project with the designation of all lamps and other elements. Accuracy is not needed here, the main thing is to make a diagram on a comparable scale, on which to mark everything that will be used.
2. Calculating the amount of equipment is not difficult if a plan is previously drawn up. It is best to make a list so that you can put down the quantity for each item and see clearly what is required.
3. Calculate how much cable and other accessories will be needed. Consider distances, wiring method and always make a margin of at least 15%.
4. Buy everything in advance. Prepare the site for work, remove everything that may interfere.

If the lawns are already made, you will have to break them during the work.

It is better to carry out work before landscaping the yard, as you will have to dig trenches and all lawns and flower beds will be spoiled.

Cable laying methods

There are two options for laying the cable, each of the methods has its own characteristics and is suitable for a specific situation.You can use one of them or combine, if possible. The first method is laying by air:

1. The simplest solution that requires minimal preparation. It can be used when the territory is already landscaped and you do not want to spoil the lawns and remove paving slabs.
2. Suitable for high-height lanterns, can also be used for medium ones. Rarely used for most types of garden lighting.
3. The cable exit is carried out through the adjoining roof or any other element located at a high height. For laying, supports are installed, which must be strong. The height is selected so as to prevent accidental grazing of the cable when moving around the site.

An example of laying a cable in the ground.

The second way is laying in the ground. It is more difficult and more expensive, but safer, since the cable is securely hidden and is not dangerous for children or animals. This option has many features:

1. It is better to use a cable with copper conductors, select the section depending on the energy consumption of the fixtures. Always take with a margin so that when adding new light sources, the line is not overloaded.
2. For laying, it is necessary to dig a trench about 90 cm deep. A pillow of crushed stone or gravel 20 cm thick is poured onto the bottom.
3. The cable must be laid in the corrugation and HDPE pipe. This will provide a service life of tens of years and protect the cable from any impact. Leave a margin at the ends of at least a meter for connection.
4. Solder all connections for reliability and place in a heat shrink tube.
5. After laying the pipe with the cable, pour a layer of 20 cm. Put a signal tape on top of it.If earthworks are then carried out, then when the tape is found, it will be clear that the cable is laid below.
6. Fill the trench and compact the soil. After that, you can move on to the next step.

When laying the cable in the ground, it is necessary to enter its location in the design documents.

Equipment installation

After installation, you can immediately use the lighting of the site.

If the cable is connected, you can put lamps. It all depends on the type of equipment and its size. If you need to pre-fill sites or foundations, do it in advance. When installing, consider the following tips:

1. Fix the fixtures securely to prevent them from tipping over or being damaged. Use fasteners according to the situation.
2. The connection is best made with sealed pads that exclude moisture. Or solder each twist and cover with heat shrink tubing to protect it from water.
3. After joining, check the work so that later you do not have to redo the connections.

Read also

Making a Solar Garden Lantern

 

If you use LED lamps with a solar battery, then no need to run cable. You need to choose places and simply stick the elements into the ground or fix them through the mounting pad.

Video: We make the backlight of the garden path using lamps from Aliexpress

It is not difficult to make lighting in a country house if you understand the features of the systems and choose equipment for the site with suitable characteristics. The main thing is to lay the cable in the ground in compliance with the requirements and protect the connection points well.