As a result, the temptation of choosing the shortest and fastest way to light your terrain may arise. Taking shortcuts often leads to more complications. Plus the outcome won’t be as better as taking your time to do it correctly. Even if you hire a contractor to do it on your behalf, you should be keen to observe that they don’t use any shortcuts. Below are alternatives that you should avoid in landscape lighting.
Poor burying of wires
Installing a lighting system requires lots of labors. Labor can be limited, especially if you are doing it on your own. However, it’s a requirement to always bury the electrical wiring more than 6-inches below the ground. It’s quite time-consuming and may lead to the damage of grass and flowers. Due to its requirement of labor, most people tend to cover the wires with topsoil. After a while, the cables will begin surfacing, and this is dangerous because it can cause electrocution. To ensure proper burying of cables, they should be 9 to 12 inches deep.
Use of the wrong type of Connector
Most people don’t consider the kind of connector to use on their terrain irradiation wire. However, it has an essential role in guaranteeing the success of your irradiation system. Pinch connectors are quite common in landscape lighting because they form a connection by easily pinching together. Nevertheless, they are quite unreliable comparing them to other connectors. It’s advisable to use the two-step process. A crimping link is much better because it’s not only waterproof but also locks the wires together firmly.
Use of Thinner Gauge Wires
Thinner gauge wires are quite affordable in the market, that’s why it’s common in terrain irradiation. Nevertheless, it discourages future expansion. Efficient installation requires you to leave a 50% capacity of the wiring setup. If you install 40 lights, you should make space for installing 20 more bulbs. A thinner gauge overloads the wire leaving no capacity for more installation.
Use of low-quality fixtures
These fixtures are quite cheap and hence very common. They are made of plastic and aluminum. The major problem with these accessories is that they don’t hold up well and wear after a while. As a result, they look quite unattractive and can spoil the appearance of your landscape. Plus plugging in bulbs to fixtures not designed for them can lead to burning out of the bulbs.
Light Control
Having an all on or all off irradiation during the day might be inconveniencing before you go to bed. It’s advisable to go to sleep with minimal irradiation. Being unable to control your light will, therefore, be very disadvantageous.
You should avoid installing a lighting system that isn’t controllable. You should ensure you upgrade to zone control features. It will enable you to regulate the timing at different times.
The taking of shortcuts have lots of disadvantages. It can lead to frequent repairs, and you won’t be able to enjoy your irradiation experience. Taking time to research, buy and install the best equipment will guarantee the enjoyment of your outdoor irradiation experience.
