Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting is a Great Investment

During that time, outdoor lighting fixtures were very expensive and were only available in 120 volts. Locklin decided to experiment a bit by doing something different. He used some tin cans, headlamps from tractors, mayonnaise jars, and car batteries in his experiment. Locklin was unaware that his client, the illustrious and prominent publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, was expecting President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie as guests to his home. The outdoor lighting system that Locklin created greatly impressed the president and his wife that they decided to order the same thing for one of their vacation houses. Due to this publicity, Locklin's company started to get more orders for low voltage outdoor lighting.

Low voltage outdoor lighting did not have an easy start, however. Most homeowners were dissatisfied by the delicate lighting kits that easily broke down upon installation, and most solar-powered outdoor lighting systems displayed less than average performance. But through years of research, improvements were made and better quality and more affordable lighting fixtures were made available to the homeowners. This brought a surge in the numbers of users that bought low voltage outdoor lighting.

A shift in the philosophy used in designing outdoor lighting fixtures has brought a dramatic change in the industry. In the past, fixtures were designed not to be seen. Only the light was supposed to be visible. However, due to a change in thinking, fixtures are now created to be seen. Now most of the fixtures have very attractive designs.

However, experts in the lighting industry advise homeowners to look not just at the design but also at the quality. A light fixture that has creative designs but does not give enough light does not serve its purpose. Homeowners should always look for balance.

Many installations can be done by beginners. Lighting kits that cost about $500 are usually comprised of eight path lights, a floodlight, a transformer, a 12-volt cable and wires. Homeowners who plan to install a low voltage lighting system should carefully try out their ideas first. They should identify the place that they want to light up and hold a flashlight in several positions to get their desired effects.

Lighting experts advise homeowners to plan with the future in mind. They say that it is wise to buy fixtures with a big wattage capacity, so that when you need to increase the wattage in the future you can still do so using the existing fixtures. Homeowners are also advised to be creative by buying fixtures that have different designs to avoid a monotonous-looking lighting system.

There are several lighting brands that offer high quality low voltage systems. Among them is Malibu. Malibu has been in the business for over 40 years, and they have seen the patterns in which homeowners use their outdoor space to complement their lifestyle. Because of this, they have created low voltage outdoor lighting that not just illuminates your outdoor areas but also beautifies and provides safety.