Illuminations, Inc Landscape Lighting

A low voltage lighting system uses a transformer (similar to the one in a toy train set) to convert 120 volt current to 12 volt current.; This safe, low voltage is distributed to the 12 volt light fixtures via a heavy wire cable - 8, 10, or 12 gauge. In addition to safety, there are numerous other advantages to a 12 volt lighting system :

Llight fixtures that you would want to hide ( up-lights, wall-washers, spot-lights etc. ) are usually smaller, and less obtrusive.

Light bulbs ( lamps ) are smaller, more energy efficient, longer lasting, cooler, and readily available.

Power cables can be easily hidden in ground cover, or a slit in the lawn. No trenching or disturbance of existing landscaping is necessary.

Fixtures are easy to move and adjust as your landscape changes.

Installation does not require the services of a professional electrician, provided that there are adequate existing electrical recepticals for the transformers.

There are two other important parts to a lighting system: timers and photo cells.

The photo cell is used to turn on the system at dusk instead of at a preset time.

The timer is used to turn the system on and/or off at a preset time or after a preset number of hours.

A common combination is: lights on at dusk, lights off after 4-6 hours.
Of course, different parts of the system can be controlled with different timers to produce the desired effect. For instance, you may wish to leave some lights on all night for safety reasons.

We use only fixtures manufactured by Kichler. Kichler offers a wide selection of high quality landscape lighting products. With their permission, we have included pictures from their beautiful catalog of some of their unique lights.

The lights pictured are used for path and spread lighting in areas where you want to emphasis both the effect of the lighting at night and the fixture itself during the day. These types of lights would be very attractive close to your home or in a well travelled entrance-way. By selecting different styles of fixtures, you are able to create a theme for your garden.




To visit Kichler's web site for more information on these and other lights , please click on the photo of their catalog.