Pond lights are a good way to add nocturnal ambiance to backyard water features. There are many available illumination options that change dark and uninviting locations into secure enclaves by illuminating waterfalls, fountains, trees, decks and pathways with an almost magical quality. When adding pond lights to a landscape, safety must always come first. Water and electricity don't go together and the consequences of a mishap could end up being fatal. As a safety precaution, only use solar powered or low voltage fixtures when working near ponds or other water features.
Pond Lighting Technologies
Light bulb efficiency measures the cost of producing units of light. Electrical costs for lamps are a direct function of the total wattage of the bulbs that are being lit and the light emitted by these bulbs is measured in lumens. The other major factor in efficiency is the cost of the bulbs themselves and the mean time to replacement. The most efficient lamp would produce the most lumens for a given wattage; have a low purchase price and the longest life before burning out. Unfortunately that bulb does not exist yet.
Let's compare 2 basic low voltage lamp alternatives -- Halogen and LED. Halogen lights have a lower purchase price, but will burn out faster and use more electricity. LED costs more upfront, but consumes less energy and has a much longer meantime to failure.
A typical low voltage halogen lamp produces 15 lumens per watt and has an expected life of 5000 hours. In comparison, a similar LED produces 50 lumens per watt and can last as long as 50,000 hours (almost 6 years if left on 24 hours per day) before needing replacement. So in this case the LED is 3 times more efficient and lasts 10 times as long as the Halogen. A 10 watt halogen lamp costs approximately $6 vs. $15 for a 3.5 watt LED. As LED technology improves and more manufacturers begin adopting this product, the purchase price should drop significantly and low voltage LED should eventually dominate the outside lighting market. There are 3 common classes of pond lights that utilize both these lighting technologies, submersible, floating and land based accent lights.
Submersible Pond Lighting
As the title implies submersible lighting are located underwater within the pond. Submersible pond lights are meant to give the pond water a glowing appearance and highlight and fish and plants. Nevertheless, submersible pond lighting also illuminates "anything" that's in the water. So unless the pond is extremely clear, submersible lights can make the water appear cloudy. As a substitute, a light pointing down in the water from overhead will illuminate the actual pond without negatively impacting the appearance of water clarity. In particular, should you keep colorful fish within the pond, such as koi, lighting the pond from above will make the fish standout throughout the night against an opaque dark background. Submersible lighting is singularly magnificent, though, in illuminating waterfalls and fountains. Submersible lights can include different color lenses and may be located at the rear of waterfalls or under fountains to produce wonderful after dark light shows. Submersible ring lights are specifically effective with fountains.
Floating Pond Lights
For additional lighting effects within the pond, you can also include floating lights. These lights are fun to watch because they move in irregular patterns with the prevailing current in the pond. There are many kinds of floating lights available including lights which change colors progressively. These lights are generally constructed in the shape globes or water lilies. Whatever style you select, solar powered fixtures are well suited to this role since they will float freely with no power cords attached.
Accent Lights
Regular landscape accent lights are the third class of lighting to make ponds and water features shine through the night. This type of lighting may be used to frame the borders of the pond and to accent selected backyard features such as rocks, trees and shrubs. If a waterfall isn't lit from behind with a submersible light, a land based spotlight from the front creates a pleasant shimmering effect. To ensure safe walking, paths close to your pond or in the backyard generally, should be well lit through downward directed lights. Accent lights are widely available in low voltage and solar powered fixtures for places where electricity isn't easily accessible.
An effectively illuminated pond is unquestionably beautiful at evening and provides a means to enjoy your water garden whatever the hour.
Pond Lighting Technologies
Light bulb efficiency measures the cost of producing units of light. Electrical costs for lamps are a direct function of the total wattage of the bulbs that are being lit and the light emitted by these bulbs is measured in lumens. The other major factor in efficiency is the cost of the bulbs themselves and the mean time to replacement. The most efficient lamp would produce the most lumens for a given wattage; have a low purchase price and the longest life before burning out. Unfortunately that bulb does not exist yet.
Let's compare 2 basic low voltage lamp alternatives -- Halogen and LED. Halogen lights have a lower purchase price, but will burn out faster and use more electricity. LED costs more upfront, but consumes less energy and has a much longer meantime to failure.
A typical low voltage halogen lamp produces 15 lumens per watt and has an expected life of 5000 hours. In comparison, a similar LED produces 50 lumens per watt and can last as long as 50,000 hours (almost 6 years if left on 24 hours per day) before needing replacement. So in this case the LED is 3 times more efficient and lasts 10 times as long as the Halogen. A 10 watt halogen lamp costs approximately $6 vs. $15 for a 3.5 watt LED. As LED technology improves and more manufacturers begin adopting this product, the purchase price should drop significantly and low voltage LED should eventually dominate the outside lighting market. There are 3 common classes of pond lights that utilize both these lighting technologies, submersible, floating and land based accent lights.
Submersible Pond Lighting
As the title implies submersible lighting are located underwater within the pond. Submersible pond lights are meant to give the pond water a glowing appearance and highlight and fish and plants. Nevertheless, submersible pond lighting also illuminates "anything" that's in the water. So unless the pond is extremely clear, submersible lights can make the water appear cloudy. As a substitute, a light pointing down in the water from overhead will illuminate the actual pond without negatively impacting the appearance of water clarity. In particular, should you keep colorful fish within the pond, such as koi, lighting the pond from above will make the fish standout throughout the night against an opaque dark background. Submersible lighting is singularly magnificent, though, in illuminating waterfalls and fountains. Submersible lights can include different color lenses and may be located at the rear of waterfalls or under fountains to produce wonderful after dark light shows. Submersible ring lights are specifically effective with fountains.
Floating Pond Lights
For additional lighting effects within the pond, you can also include floating lights. These lights are fun to watch because they move in irregular patterns with the prevailing current in the pond. There are many kinds of floating lights available including lights which change colors progressively. These lights are generally constructed in the shape globes or water lilies. Whatever style you select, solar powered fixtures are well suited to this role since they will float freely with no power cords attached.
Accent Lights
Regular landscape accent lights are the third class of lighting to make ponds and water features shine through the night. This type of lighting may be used to frame the borders of the pond and to accent selected backyard features such as rocks, trees and shrubs. If a waterfall isn't lit from behind with a submersible light, a land based spotlight from the front creates a pleasant shimmering effect. To ensure safe walking, paths close to your pond or in the backyard generally, should be well lit through downward directed lights. Accent lights are widely available in low voltage and solar powered fixtures for places where electricity isn't easily accessible.
An effectively illuminated pond is unquestionably beautiful at evening and provides a means to enjoy your water garden whatever the hour.
To learn more about alternatives for back yard landscape light click on the links to visit Professional Outdoor Lighting Concepts and Spot Lights and Flood Lights
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