When fitting outdoor lights, there are several steps to consider. Just like we have bedroom lighting ideas, room lighting ideas and other outstanding lighting installation top ideas, we have not only outdoor lighting installation guidelines but also an experienced doorbell installation electrician with a valid electrical installation certificate for you.
Outdoor lighting should be chosen with care to provide both functional and user-friendly lighting. The lighting you are about to install should take full advantage of summer evenings, among other things. Here are the mistakes you have to avoid when fitting your outdoor lights:
Not Studying The Lighting Adapted to Your Terrace Upstream.
It is essential to define the lighting even before the construction or renovation of outdoor space. Why? It is mainly dedicated to the summer season, benefiting from optimal sunshine during the day and a festive and friendly atmosphere in the evening.
The aim is for the lighting to blend naturally into the decor, particularly with the garden furniture. Another element to consider is the location. Place the LED light bulbs or LED string lights in a strategic location to illuminate every terrace corner.
Not Considering Dimmable LED Lights.
In principle, the light sources to be favoured are LED lights equipped with a dimmer. The objective is to be able to adjust the light intensity in the evening or throughout the seasons. This option is also useful depending on the layout of the terrace and the variation in the weather. If there is a lack of light, do not hesitate to add more natural lighting, in particular LED tea lights or candles, thus saving energy.
To provide natural lighting, LED light bulbs must be used. It is also important to use LED light bulbs because of their energy-saving qualities and the health benefits of their use.
Neglecting Security
The electrical installation condition of outdoor lighting systematically involves a question of safety. This is why it is essential to light and dark areas. Motion sensors are also a good option for security.
This is because it helps save energy and also gives any potential trespasser an element of surprise while in the deluded mindset that they have the advantage of darkness. Like any electrical installation, artificial light presents certain risks that must be considered before installing it.
For optimum safety, especially for children, it is essential to properly light the paths, risers, walkways, or stairs, thus preventing possible accidents.As for the sockets, wires, and other electrical outlets must be judiciously installed for a risk-free connection.
Providing Only One Light Source on the Terrace
This is undoubtedly one of the main mistakes in terms of landscaping. From an aesthetic and functional point of view, the idea is to combine several models of luminaires. This allows you to personalise the atmosphere with a touch of originality and fantasy.
LED-wall lights, LED floor lamps, LED ceiling lights, electric candles or suspensions, and several versions of LED can be combined to give a unique style to an exterior. Whatever the choice, it is essential to favour quality before reasoning in terms of price.
Not Paying Heed to IP Ratings.
Protection is also an element to consider since electrical connections or light sources can be damaged by climatic hazards: wind, rain, or sun. Thus, it is possible to vary the protection index from 44 to 69, depending on the dedicated locations.
Due to the risks inherent in the external environment (humidity), your garden lighting installation must comply with strict safety rules. The outgoing line must be connected directly to the general distribution board, inserting a high-sensitivity 30 mA differential device upstream to protect the circuit.
Whatever the insulation class of your future lighting (level of protection against humidity), the power supply must include the two active conductors (phase and neutral) and the protective conductor (earth, green sheath, and yellow).
In all cases, prefer cables in one piece; any branches must not be buried. A simple trick: once the first light is connected, make a series of connections with a connection via the terminal blocks of the successive lights. The only condition: provide conductors of sufficient sections to supply all the equipment on the same circuit.
What Protection Index for an Outdoor Floor Lamp?
The degree of protection is an important criterion that should not be overlooked when installing outdoor luminaires on the ground. The IP65 index offering protection against dust and water jets is strongly recommended as the minimum required for spotlights directly recessed in the ground and LED projectors.
If your light source is likely to be submerged in water temporarily, especially in your garden, go for an IP67 this time. The IP68 index, on the other hand, concerns an outdoor floor luminaire intended to illuminate areas highly exposed to humidity, such as bodies of water, swimming pools, and fountains.
What Safety Rules Should be Followed?
Ensuring that the electric current is cut off is the first reflex to adopt before committing to the installation of an outdoor floor lamp of the outdoor floor spot type. To do this, simply turn off the power at the main circuit breaker. The connection of the luminaires to the main switchboard then requires dedicated protection modules.
Of course, additional modules are required for any new installation. The three-conductor cables of the U-1000 R2V or U-1000 R2OV type, protected by a red TPC sheath, are essential for any buried installation. On the other hand, the H07VU conductors in the ICTA 3422 sheath of the outdoor ground luminaire or ICTL 3421 grey are sufficient for installation in concrete or exposed on a wooden support.
Conclusion
With these steps, you may be able to do a DIY outdoor electrical wiring as long as due care is taken. However, if you need the services of professionals with guaranteed expertise, we have LED Supplier doorbell installation electricians to get your project started at the average installation costs. If you view our catalogue, you can find outdoor lighting items and simply add selected outdoor lighting to your cart.
