Garden lighting system

[danlightbulb]

Hi all.

I want to put a string of lights all the way down the garden on the left side. I want to mount the lights to the fencing, distance total about 20m.

On the right side I also want some lighting but shorter distance, only about 5m, but this will need to be cabled over from the left side of the garden where the power is.

I'm thinking a 12 volt system for safety and it's easy then to wire myself.

But all the systems seem to be ground mounted spotlights on spikes, designed for shining up at plants. I don't want that, I want lights I can attach to the top of the fencing to illuminate the garden.

Any ideas?

 

[***F1ZZY***]

Have you thought about solar lights? They are pretty good these days and much easier to fit. Google for "solar fence lights". There's probably a style to suit.

edit - appropriate user name

 

[Richie]

Do a Google for "String Garden Lights" or "outdoor string lights"

 

[Deleted User 298457]

lol, is it a shoe string budget again?

You can either use:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Govee-2700-6500K-Dimmable-Daylight-Waterproof/dp/B09KX7QPHM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3MC0MC3MC2UYG&keywords=govee+lights+garden&qid=1696800583&sprefix=govee+lights+garden%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-5

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Govee-Outdoor-Control-Waterproof-Backyard/dp/B09WVH828L/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3MC0MC3MC2UYG&keywords=govee+lights+garden&qid=1696800583&sprefix=govee+lights+garden%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-6

I have 2x the string lights and it does a decent job. The flood lights look ideal for attaching to a fence though.

 

[danlightbulb]

lol, is it a shoe string budget again?

Of course. I aint paying megabucks for a bit of plastic with a bulb in.


I want something subtle and discrete - looks like its a proper fitted unit not me just nailing a cable with light pendants along the fence. Anything loose like that will just get bashed about by the wind and end up breaking especially if they are glass bulbs. Plus with pendants like that they already come attached to the wire - I will need to wire it all in myself because of the location of the power supply.

Have you thought about solar lights?

I dont want them on every night - I want them to be able to be switched on.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Anything loose like that will just get bashed about by the wind and end up breaking especially if they are glass bulbs.

They're plastic.

I will need to wire it all in myself

I want them to be able to be switched on.

Wire a switch?

 

[danlightbulb]

Wire a switch?

To a solar light?

I want some units that I can screw to the fence, at the locations that I want, and then run the wiring around to feed them from the main house power.

 

[200sols]

What do you actually want because you stated a 'string of lights' and now you are dismissing an actual string of lights it seems.

 

[Richie]

Of course. I aint paying megabucks for a bit of plastic with a bulb in.

Buy cheap, pay twice sometimes...

Sounds like you have champagne tastes and beer budget thinking.

 

[danlightbulb]

What do you actually want because you stated a 'string of lights' and now you are dismissing an actual string of lights it seems.

So down the left side of the garden is a standard post and panel fence. I want to fit some lights to this fence, illuminating the garden itself i.e pointing into the garden. I want one light per panel, centred, so that would be 6ft intervals. About 10 of these required all the way down the garden.

On the right side is three panels which I also want lights on in the same fashion, this would illuminate the patio area.

In the centre I have an inset set of four steps leading from the patio down to the garden, so I want a light mounted onto the brickwork either side of these steps too.

So total that is about 15 lights.

Inside the back kitchen door is an existing 4 way light switch, providing power to an outside toilet, store and single outside lantern on the left side of the garden. I want this switch to be used for the new lighting instead, so the 240V wiring from here will need to be connected into the 12V lighting for the new garden lights inside the outhouse. Then from here where the transformer will be, I then need to wire to each light down each side of the garden.

I dont think a pre-wired off the shelf set of lights will work for this.

 

[***F1ZZY***]

I dont think a pre-wired off the shelf set of lights will work for this.

Your requirements do seem rather specific. Just get the lights you need/want, place them where you want, and then wire them accordingly.

 

[***F1ZZY***]

maybe try here ?

 

[danlightbulb]

maybe try here ?

Far too expensive. £44 for a single wall light?

Im thinking £5-10 per unit plus cabling.

 

[Richie]

Far too expensive. £44 for a single wall light?

Im thinking £5-10 per unit plus cabling.

Buy cheap, pay twice sometimes...

Sounds like you have champagne tastes and beer budget thinking.

I'm sure you'll get lights for that but I wouldnt expect the IP rating to be that high or, if it is, I wouldnt expect them to last through many seasons.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

I did similar, but with 240v
Hate messing about with 12v myself.

But I would buy spike lights. If you look at them (check) most have a single bolt between the light and the spike.
Just don't use the spike, flip them over and you can screw them to the fence post through the hole the spike would be attached through.

Eg these, if you scroll down on the add you can see a picture not on the spike mount

Mini 12 v volt 3W LED spot light Outdoor garden spike cool/warm white, green | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mini 12 v volt 3W LED spot light Outdoor garden spike cool/warm white, green at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

These are what I have

2 x Opus Outdoor GU10 Garden Spike Lights - Glass Cover with Spike and 2m Flex 613468626981 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2 x Opus Outdoor GU10 Garden Spike Lights - Glass Cover with Spike and 2m Flex at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

On top, some kind of switch (i used a timed and light detecting one, but anything would do), some extra cable (pond cable is ideal), your choice of bulbs (gu10 choose wattage and colour temp), and IP rated boxes, somethign like this

3 X OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX CABLE CONNECTOR 3 WAY 3 CORE IP65 GARDEN | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 3 X OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX CABLE CONNECTOR 3 WAY 3 CORE IP65 GARDEN at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[danlightbulb]

Thanks. Yeah those style could be mounted to a wall/fence but they will protrude a bit won't they. Also more spot light than ambient.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Thanks. Yeah those style could be mounted to a wall/fence but they will protrude a bit won't they. Also more spot light than ambient.

Message me an email address I will send you a pic later of mine when its dark

bear in mind you can get GU10 with different beam patterns, generic are fairly wide spread