Deck Lighting Guide

Who doesn't love an outdoor barbecue? They can be great fun, but they can also be embarrassing when you have to prematurely break up a wonderful party or get together with loved ones, simply because it is getting dark. But you can solve your lighting blues by installing an affordable deck lighting system, allowing you to have ample illumination for parties around the clock!

A deck lighting system needs careful planning to make the lighting safe and efficient. You have to make sure that it illuminates the stairs and hand rails where it will be needed the most. If you want to have some ray of lights on these areas, try to place your deck lights a little bit lower. Never place your lights where it will shine directly on someone's face. Try to compliment your deck lighting system with attractive decorations on your deck or patio area. These lights will also truly "pop" with a dramatic effect if used in conjunction with landscaping features.

A low voltage deck lighting system has three types of transformers. There is a transformer that is operated manually, which will need you to turn the switch on or off by hand. Automatic time transformers will require you to preset on or off times of your deck lights. The last one is the photocell-eye transformers, and this style is fully automatic. It has a photo censor which is sensitive to lights, which means that it automatically switches on once dusk is approaching and switches off at dawn - ideal for a truly hands-free operation.

Installing your deck lighting system is very easy; the first thing to do is place your transformer on a weatherproof area with a GFCI component. Once you have installed your transformer, you can now run the continuous wire cable around the area where you want to place your lights. Following this stem, you can then connect the deck lights and mount them to your chosen areas. By purchasing a deck lighting kit from your local lighting or home improvement store, you can be sure to have full instructions needed to perform the job perfectly!