LED lights for the outdoors

LED lights can help you save energy outdoors by providing exterior lighting that consumes very little energy. But before you go stocking up on solar-powered LED landscape lights or LED security lights, you should first think about the product life cycle energy costs of what you are buying, and how much you really need the outdoor lighting. After all, while LED lights are more efficient than incandescent or most other types of lights, it's still more environmentally friendly not to light up your garden or back yard!

LED lights can be powered by solar power, typically at 12 volts DC, or can be connected to the grid, at either 120 volts AC or 12 volts DC. You can use them for security - to light up a driveway or doorway; safety - to light up an area where walking would be unsafe in the dark; or for creating a pleasant setting in a garden or yard, for instance LED Christmas lighting.

You have probably seen many a garden with the old-style incandescent or fluorescent solar landscape lights, typically green or stainless steel plated. They consist of a stake you shove in the ground, a lamp above, and a very small, cheap-looking photovoltaic module on the top. They also typically throw off very little light, and only early in the evening. They use cheap, small photovoltaic cells and poor quality rechargeable batteries, which combined with an incandescent light means they burn the little power they've managed to save up through the day within the first hour or so after sunset.

Good-quality solar LED landscape lights solve this problem of low, short-lived light on three counts: the quality of solar modules has been rising and costs have been falling; battery technology has improved; and LED lights use less energy.

Solar powered floodlights and security lights have a more robust and larger solar panel than LED landscape lights and better batteries; they often come with enough wire to let you place the panel in an area that gets lots of sun during the day, in case your light placement is not in a sunny area.

These lights consume so little electricity, that a grid-connected LED light may make more sense. A 50-foot long LED rope light with LEDs spaced one per inch can consume just 40 watts - and the amount of energy it takes to manufacture the solar panels and battery for an outdoor security light, for instance, may exceed the amount of electricity the light will use over its lifetime!

Security LED lights with motion sensors can light up an outdoor area brightly when movement is detected at night. Because the LEDs use little electricity and are typically not on for very long (unless you have a particularly determined burglar on your porch, or a very hungry raccoon), you can get a lot of light even from a solar-powered LED security light with a small solar panel and small built-in battery unit.

The simplest option for a security LED light, if you already have an outdoor security light, is to switch the existing incandescent bulb to a compatible LED bulb. But if the light is only on when a motion sensor detects movement, it's probably not worthwhile (unless there's a ton of movement near the light!). There's little savings to be had in switching to an LED light that will only be on for a few minutes each night.

I wouldn't suggest replacing an existing incandescent security light with a solar-powered LED light unless the current fixture isn't working - if possible just swap in a replacement LED bulb.

If you want to light up your outdoor spaces so you can eat outside, find your way to the garage at night, barbecue in the dark, or otherwise turn your yard into an extension of your house, there are a number of great outdoor LED light options for you.

LED flood lights can light up a large area for just pennies, and they last for up to 100,000 hours. That's a lot of patio parties! You can get LED flood light fixtures that attach to a wall or ceiling, as well as ground-placed lights that can shine up onto trees or shrubs.

LED rope lights are great for stringing along fences, along house walls, or for lining a pathway. You can buy lengths anywhere from 8 feet to 150 foot reels.

LED barbecue lights clip onto the tray beside your barbecue to light up the grill - and can run off a single battery.

Also look out for pond lights - which are waterproof - and shed lights with a solar panel and batteries - a cheap alternative to running an electrical line to your shed.

Battery powered LED candles are a great choice for gentle lighting at the table, both indoors and out. These candles are made of translucent plastic that has the appearance of real wax; they have a small black wick on the top; and an LED light inside flickers inside, giving the appearance of a candle. They provide 200 hours of light, or more. They look like real wax candles, even flickering like real ones when on.

LED landscape lights are the sensible replacement for those always dim solar landscape lights sold over the past 10-15 years. As I mentioned earlier, they provide a brighter light, for a longer time, then previous incandescent or fluorescent based landscape lights.

We'll be seeing more and more LED technology over the coming years, as quality improves, costs come down, and electricity prices go up. I expect the technology to keep improving. So while I wouldn't recommend switching all your lighting to LEDs just yet, it's probably a good idea to try one or two LED lights, to get used to their longevity, energy use, and the quality of their light; and outdoors is as good a place as any to start.

Choosing Outdoor Lighting

There are many good reasons to light your property at night, not the least of which is safety. Beyond safety, though, there are other considerations. Outdoor lighting can completely transform the look of your home after dark. Outdoor lighting has a reputation for being expensive to install and maintain, but it does not have to be. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your budget to install outdoor lighting that makes a statement and turns your home into a nighttime showpiece in your neighborhood.

Evaluate your resources and power sources. If you keep your lighting close to the house, you can save on installing new power outlets and additional wiring. If you do need to install wiring and outlets, there are do-it-yourself kits that you can install on your own. If you opt to install your own and you’re not a licensed, experienced electrician, though, do have your work inspected by one before using it.

On the same note, check with your local code authorities before adding any outdoor power sources to be sure that you adhere to regulations. Nothing turns a cheap job into a huge expense faster than fines for violating local ordinances.

Consider solar powered lights for walkways and paths. Solar powered stake lights are an extremely budget conscious option for path and safety lighting. You can buy them in sets of four or six at your local home and garden store for as little as $30. Installation is as simple as driving a stake into the ground. There are no wires, and no drain on your electric bill. Most are powered with a battery backup for those days when there’s not enough sun to power the lights.

Consider safety first. Decoration is wonderful, but your first concern should be safety. Use motion sensor lighting to illuminate dark areas on your property without having lights glaring all night long. Do not skimp here – your safety is vital. Do, however, check with your insurance company. You may get a break on the premiums for making safety improvements.

The second safety issue is illuminating pathways and steps to avoid falls and injuries. Path and stair lighting can be very decorative and attractive. One inexpensive option for stairway lighting are strips that fit along the edges of the risers. The light is indirect and shines down on each step so you and your visitors can see where you’re putting your feet.

Less is definitely more when it comes to outdoor lighting. Avoid garish, overbright lights. An additional benefit to using fewer lights is a savings of wattage, and, in turn, expenses; both up front and in long term maintenance.

Backlighting and low lights can add drama to a bland landscape. Choose a feature to highlight and use a single light behind it to cast it in silhouette. If you shine lights through a tree, the overall effect can be truly dramatic.

Don’t be afraid to be tacky. Twinkling fairy lights may be overdone, but a single strand of tiny white Christmas lights twining a potted patio plant or edging the patio deck can be surprisingly effective.

Turn to unusual sources. For instance, instead of using overhead or spotlighting for your patio or deck, rely on battery or solar operated table lanterns on your patio tables. Light your outdoor space just as you would your indoor space, taking into account ambient light and task lighting. Do not light what doesn’t need lighting.

Driveway lighting serves two purposes. It should illuminate paths and walkways so that your guests and family can make their way safely from vehicle to house, and it should outline your driveway enough that drivers can navigate it safely. Consider walkway lights along the edges of the driveway, especially if the driveway is edged with stones, bushes or raised flowerbeds.

 

Providing good outdoor lighting can offer added security as well as extend your outside parties or other activities well into the night. Adding outdoor flood lighting will also enhance the beauty of your home and increase its value. There is a wide selection of decorative outdoor lighting from which to choose. Before beginning your project, consider these valuable tips.

Step1

Contact your local municipality on code requirements and adhere to these closely.

Step2

Call the electric company to arrange for them to mark any areas with underground wiring prior to your dig.

Step3

Purchase lighting fixtures that are comprised of approved properties and made for outdoor usage. Look for the Underwriter’s Laboratory seal.

Step4

Obtain a ground fault interrupter to stop the current should the hot wire become compromised in any way.

Step5

Disconnect the power source to prevent electrical shock.

Step6

Ground the cable and lighting fixtures.

Step7

Dig your trench at least 2 feet deep to protect your cable. If there is above ground exposure use a conduit to prevent weather damage. Local codes may require the entire line be protected. Consider key placements for your fixtures and direct them away from the home. Prevent glare by using lower watt bulbs. Test your angles to make sure you are not flooding your neighbors yard or the street with your flood lights.

 

You can create many other different effects without much investment if you take the time to plan your lighting blueprint as carefully as you do your landscaping. Find interesting features in your landscape and use light to accent them at night. Do keep in mind that light pollution has become a serious consideration when lighting at night. Keep the lights low, and angle them so that they do not disturb neighbors or local wildlife.

About the Author

Outdoor lighting

Solar Motion Light – Charge by Day. Light by Night.

 Laptop from Made-in-China. How to make, repair and upgrade power supplies for laptops and notebooks. Links to free do-it-yourself instructions. If you have written a do-it-yourself guide yourself (or if you know of a report not linked here), please submit a new entry.

A complete disassembly to fix and resolder the little circle PSU port which went inside and somehow snapped of the motherboard. Inside this laptop power from the AC adapter goes to the motherboard through the power board. When the power board goes bad, the laptop stops working at all and appears to be dead. In order to get access and replace the power board the entire laptop has to be taken apart.

A power charger socket repair guides, with take apart pictures. It seems that many NC100 owners plug in a third-party power supply instead of running the machine on batteries. Unfortunately, the standard-looking power connector has its polarity reversed from what is usual: The outer side of the connector is +, the inside is -. Alas, a fuse in the NC100 blows up when you get the polarity wrong.

This results in a dead machine. Null modem cable trouble: The normal way to communicate with the NC100, lacking a disk drive, is to use a null modem cable, but standard cables don’t work here is the fix: solder a wire between RTS and CTS on the NC connector - short pins 7 and 8. “A surgical guide to the Amstrad Notepad Computer” includes a table of what is in the NC100, a block diagram, IC’s and PCMCIA card connector pinouts.

How to fix a broken mains lead and other tips and tricks for repairing the laptop. How to detect and repair the fuse to revive a dead laptop. How to repair the power connector (in French). DC power plug disassembly. Power jack and power supply schematics. The DC plug of Apple Power Adapters: have you ever wondered about how the illumination in the DC plug of the DC adapter of your PowerBook or iBook works.

Occasionally the cap broke once when I was trying to unplug the connector, so it revealed its internals. DC power adapter plug repair HOWTO. Repair your macintosh power cord: Tired of Mighty Apple charging you beaucoup $$$ for those badly designed power adapters which break all the time. Disassembly and power connector repair. Overclocking, cleaning the keyboard, changing the CAPS LOCK light to a red LED, adding a hard drive activity light, adding a ADB port in place of the modem, repairing the AC adapter port.

How to get rid of a “clicking noise” inside the power supply of the docking station. How to fix the powersource’s connector by soldering. Fix loose sound ports, display hinge and the power plug using a tongue depressor. Replacing the original hard disk with a bigger one.

Soldering the power plug (in German). 65W AC power adapter repair. How to repair a 45W AC adapter, a step-by-step guide with pictures. Inside the 65W power supply, an attempt to repair. This notebook sometimes had adapter issues, the cord frays inside because of the stress from wrapping it up around the adapters “ears”. The solution: Tear it apart and replace the broken section. The tools to use are heatshrink, chisel, hammer, razor blade (for cutting and stripping wires), and voltmeter.

Additional items are tape (electrical, duct, vinyl) and fuel hose. How to replace the original power supply cable with a standard cable (Norm IEC C5, KSS 25, 2. 5mm stereo jack) (in German). How to fix a laptop power adapter. How to fix a loose power supply plug. Disassembly for removal of mainboard and for resoldering. Pictures from inside the laptop.

Voltages on the power supply interface and battery pinout. Circuit diagram of the 4 MB memory module. Circuit diagram of the 16 MB memory module. Motherboard outline with chip product numbers. Broken AC power plug repair. The power jack started failing intermittently. The laptop started switching from AC to battery power on its own. In order to switch it back to the AC power you have to fiddle with the adapter plug and find the right position.

If the laptop failes exactly the same way with another adapter, the conclusion is that the DC power jack is not making good contact with the motherboard and has to be repaired. Inside this laptop the DC power jack is soldered to the motherboard. If the jack is broken, you’ll have to unsolder it and replace with a new jack. How to repair a bad power jack on for under 20.

This slideshow provides good quality pictures of the power jack repair process. The cause which broke the power cord is too much wiggling. How to fix a loose power flex cable connector, which prevents the notebook to power on. A quick fix to run a laptop from a DC-DC convertor.

The only trouble is, the laptop has an odd square plug and the convertor only has round plugs. An in-line adaptor made from a pen barrel solves the problem. In a this laptop the power jack is soldered to the motherboard.

If the laptop looses power intermittently when you wiggle the power plug, most likely the power jack is damaged and has to be repaired.

In January, I wrote about the YoGen, a hand-cranked power generator for portable devices. Pulling on the YoGen’s miniature outboard-motor-like chain to get a few minutes’ talk time was not a great experience, but another temporary power generator may be a better idea.

The Solar Surge, from NovoTek, uses the sun to charge an external supplemental battery enclosed in a case that surrounds the iPhone. According to the company, this is the first solar charging solution approved by Apple, and it works with the iPhone 3G and 3GS and the iPod Touch.

A two-hour session in the sun provides about 20 minutes of talk time. And to help figure out how much charging is needed for other tasks, the company provides an iPhone app and Web site calculator. Input the type of weather, plus how much talking, movie watching and music listening you plan on doing, and the app will tell you how much solar charging you need to keep your iPhone humming.

The charger is available only on the company’s Web site; the iPhone version is $80, while the iPod Touch model is on sale for $53. Both are available in either black or white, with other colors to come.

While I haven’t tried the device, the one factor that for some may be a deal killer is the size. The Solar Surge looks to about double the thickness of the iPhone, a prospect that may not appeal to those who like to keep things light and simple.