Low Voltage Outdoor Deck Lighting

I am in the process of having a deck built. I purchased some Malibu kits of 7 watt bubble lights that I intend to have mounted to the rail posts on the deck and steps. Although the instructions clearly show how to hook everything together, they don't give any tips in the way of what is the best placement for the fixtures. I had pictured putting them close to the top of the posts so they can shine a broader light onto the deck surface below, but the only picture on the carton of them mounted shows them very close to the surface of the deck/steps. I now am wondering if maybe 7 watt bulbs are too weak to be mounted any higher--that if I put them higher on the posts than about a foot or so from the surface of the deck, the light might dissipate too much to even hit the floor of the deck. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. One of my ongoing issues with low-voltage lighting is that I don't know any way to guess what quantity of light any particular fixture is going to give before it is installed.

The best thing about low-voltage lighting is the flexibility. You can plug in the lighting transformer and run a supply cable out to your deck. Then set a few lights on the rail and use quick connectors to temporarily provide power. Now you can experiment with placement. These deck lights are typically placed one to two feet about the walkway, so to light the path and not shine in your eyes. It is fine to install them above the eye level.

Click here for more information on deck lights.

Labels: Deck Lights, low voltage lighting transformers, Outdoor Lighting.

posted by xinger @ 11:15 AM