The organization of a functional, productive and at the same time aesthetically attractive lighting system is included in the basic list of works for the improvement of the territory adjacent to the house. Lighting design, subject to a competent approach, raises not only questions of a utilitarian nature, but also resonates with the tasks of expressing the architectural and design advantages of an object. Traditional lanterns with searchlights, in any case, will perform the key functions of the system. However, balanced street lighting also affects minor stylistic nuances in context and landscape design.
Why choose LEDs?
This technology has been mastered for many years by both ordinary homeowners and industrial enterprises. In the process of getting to know and first operating LED lamps, many advantages are revealed, including high energy saving (more than 50% efficiency compared to traditional lamps), durability (service life of more than 10 years), wide control options, environmental friendliness and compactness.
The main disadvantages are associated with price tags and unnatural color rendering. However, the latter factor is more pronounced in the workplace, when officeemployees, for example, have to spend many hours in contact with LED lamps. But LED street lighting is harmless in this respect and may well replace incandescent lamps and halogen devices. Moreover, it is the format of compact diodes that is beneficial for landscape design due to the minimal heating of the case. This makes it possible to safely install devices even in trees and in the thick of bushes without the risk of fire.
Types of backlighting at the place of application
Immediately it is worth distinguishing between the class of full-fledged lighting devices and specifically devices for lighting. The former are distinguished by high power, large bodies and the task to be solved in the form of covering a large target area. Illumination as such does not aim to serve a specific area. As a rule, such funds are used for decorative purposes. In this regard, we can distinguish devices used for facades, pools, the same vegetation, architectural structures, etc. That is, street lighting directs radiation to specific objects, making them visible in the dark. There is also a separate group of devices designed for lighting the paths and other functional elements of the site.
Ribbons as the most common means of illumination
The device is a flexible base strip of small width, on the surface of which SMD diodes are placed. The design includes resistors that limit the characteristics of the current, and RGB controllers that allowadjust the color glow in one mode or another. For a landscape designer, this option may be of interest for reasons of compactness and wide possibilities of use. The standard use of the tape is as street lighting for building facades. The strip is attached to the base using special brackets or self-adhesive method in a particular configuration of the contours, connected to a power source and, if necessary, provided with additional protection. By the way, for outdoor use it is advisable to initially purchase tapes with a protection class of at least IP65. Such products are isolated from the penetration of moisture, dust and dirt.
Pros and cons of LED strips
The main advantage of this type of LED circuit will be to provide a sufficient backlight effect (in terms of brightness, contrast, radiation depth, etc.) with miniature dimensions. In the design of the site with technical functional devices, whether it be security equipment or sound equipment, it is always important to comply with the requirements for camouflage. And in this case, it also remains relevant. Properly organized street lighting will create the desired visual image of the same facade in the evening and at night, but will be invisible during the day. As for the shortcomings, the main one is the impossibility of switching the tape from the backlight mode to the format of a full-fledged lamp. Still, low power ratings limit the operational capabilities of such devices.
Laser devices
Outwardly, such devices resemble searchlights. The laser illumination setup is based on RGB LED elements that project blue, green and red hues in the wavelength range from 450 to 650 nm. Typically, manufacturers program such installations for certain topics. The projection can reflect plot illustrations from fairy tales and famous works, neutral flower arrangements, etc. on the facade. Outdoor laser illumination is placed at any point that is beneficial in terms of beam direction. There are models for installation on the ground, fixing on the wall, as well as suspended structures. The choice should also take into account the covered area with the optimal indent. For example, from a distance of 15-20 m, an average power device can cover a zone of 150 m2.
Solar powered lights
One of the most frustrating steps in the organization of external lighting is the maintenance of power lines. This is not just a troublesome stage, but also a complex operation in terms of choosing the optimal cable routing contours in terms of maintaining their safety and ste alth. Therefore, street lighting of the house and site based on solar batteries is increasingly being used. These are the same lighting devices, but their power source is not a 220 V network or generators, but a built-in battery that accumulates energy during daylight hours. Sunlight is converted into current, which powers the device at night. It turns out a completely autonomous backlight that does not require special laying of networkcommunications.
New technologies - what to look for?
It would be irrational to create a backlight separated from the main lighting system. LEDs can be combined into a common integrated network, which also does not require cabling. Communication can be provided via Wi-Fi or other radio modules. But communication in this case is needed not for power, but for the convenience of integrated management. The same setting for operating modes, projected images or individual lighting characteristics can be programmed depending on the time of day, weather conditions and other factors. Sensors are also widely used, which also in some way optimize the process of controlling street lighting, reacting to movements in the serviced area or to changes in temperature conditions.
In conclusion
How effective the work of an organized system will be depends not only on the choice of the very concept of its implementation. Much will be decided by the quality of the devices, which, as already mentioned, are not cheap. From Chinese inexpensive products should be abandoned immediately. Truly durable and stable street lighting of buildings is present in the lines of Philips and Osram companies. As an alternative, we can also recommend domestic enterprises that manufacture devices based on components from the above-mentioned companies, but this choice should be made only as a last resort. Responsible modules, controllers and blocksIt is also advisable to purchase controls only from large manufacturers.
