Anyone have any uplighting in their trees or on their houses? Need recommendations.

[pookrat]

Can this be done with Solar stand alone lights? The new house has a lot of really tall oaks in the back yard that are trimmed high and I think it would looks nice to have uplights lighting the canopy at night. But don't want to run wires. I would also put a few in the landscaping out front at the same time. I grabbed a $5 dollar one from Wal-Mart when I was there and it just isn't bright enough. Any one have any experience with these things and can recommend something?


I also need some help with these stupid french drains but that is a whole nother thread. LOL

 

[FutureMan]

I have the cheap Home Depot solar ones and they work fine. All the solar ones are basically the same. They’re never gonna be as bright as wired electrical no matter what they say.

 

[popey]

https://www.voltlighting.com/ seems to be good/cheap if you go the wired route


I was able to buy a kit or buy my own equipment and get guys to install it for like $150. install didn't require a new electrical outlet though - that'll add to it obviously

 

[pookrat]

Yeah thats what I was worried about. The one I bought said 20 Lumens for 6 hours on a full charge. I was hoping for something a little brighter. If I am climbing up the ladder to strap the MFers to the trees, I wanna make sure they are decent.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Solar is not going to do shit for tall trees unless you have some ugly lights with a giant panel on them to power the LEDs. You need wired lights like @FutureMan said. Low voltage might do the trick and you would not need a trench, just a narrow space to get the wire secured underground.

 

[popey]

i dont know how solar lights would work inside the canopy since they won't get much sunlight

 

[pookrat]

https://www.voltlighting.com/ seems to be good/cheap if you go the wired route


I was able to buy a kit or buy my own equipment and get guys to install it for like $150. install didn't require a new electrical outlet though - that'll add to it obviously

If I go the wired route, that looks like some good stuff. I think right now I am wanting to go the cheap route to see how it would look and if we enjoy it. I will need to resod the backyard when we put in a sprinkler system. I could always have them run the cable for wired lights at the same time. But that just seems like alot of money if I could get away with solar powered ones.

 

[popey]

the grass will re-grow over the low voltage trench lines - very minimal impact to the grass but yeah you could wait and do it all at the same time

 

[popey]

i'd just get it done right the first time (wired) and not mess with solar stuff

 

[turbo35]

you're going to end up wired but heres something to spend a couple bucks on first.

50 lumens

Agreed. We messed around with solar stuff but the cheap ones only lasted a year or so. Wired gets you longevity, much better lighting, and more options on how you want to throw the light.

 

[pookrat]

you're going to end up wired but heres something to spend a couple bucks on first.

50 lumens

That doesn't look too bad to satisfy my curiosity. How hard is it to bury the cables? I know I can't just drape the wiring over the ground and cover it with topsoil since I have a toddler and a kid that could get to it. Mush less a dog that will dig it up and probably use it for a sparky chew toy. Could you get away with putting it 6 inches under the ground and not having to use conduit? Or are you supposed to run conduit and crap. Guess it depends on if the lights are 110 or low voltage.

 

[ridedirt]

Low voltage you can just take a shovel and stick it in the ground and wiggle it a bit to open it up a little and stick the line in

 

[Buzz Killington]

That doesn't look too bad to satisfy my curiosity. How hard is it to bury the cables? I know I can't just drape the wiring over the ground and cover it with topsoil since I have a toddler and a kid that could get to it. Mush less a dog that will dig it up and probably use it for a sparky chew toy. Could you get away with putting it 6 inches under the ground and not having to use conduit? Or are you supposed to run conduit and crap. Guess it depends on if the lights are 110 or low voltage.

for low voltage just get a flat edge spade and use that to make a "slit" for the wire.

 

[couchlock]

can we get a #goose update?

 

[pookrat]

Sound easy enough. I am guessing they make low voltage wire meant to be buried. And then I could just have a transformer connected to a Smart Outlet to control the on/off times and such. As long as the transformer can handle the amount of current draw from the lights and I don't over do it. I think I need to look into this a little more. LOL

 

[pookrat]

can we get a #goose update?

It was ducks sir. And I sold that rat infested, duck haven of a place last June. We are talking about my new "to me" mansion in The Woodlands. I got a really good deal on it for a reason. I have been busy since day one and will stay busy for years. LOL. Just never had a need for tree lighting so this is my first foray in this venture.

 

[couchlock]

It was ducks sir. And I sold that rat infested, duck haven of a place last June. We are talking about my new "to me" mansion in The Woodlands. I got a really good deal on it for a reason. I have been busy since day one and will stay busy for years. LOL. Just never had a need for tree lighting so this is my first foray in this venture.

one could say you still do not have a need for tree lighting lol, thats some wyppl shit

 

[pookrat]

https://www.voltlighting.com/

Seems like this has every resource I will need for doing it wired. Cable Transformers, etc. Thanks for this.

 

[pookrat]

one could say you still do not have a need for tree lighting lol, thats some wyppl shit

The place in Manzanillo has lights in the Palms. But don't stand too close or your feet will start to tingle. LOL

#Mexican Engineering.

 

[couchlock]

The place in Manzanillo has lights in the Palms. But don't stand too close or your feet will start to tingle. LOL

#Mexican Engineering.

i tried turning off the front porch light last night immediately after washing the dishes

ZAPpppppppppp

 

[Aviv]

We have the solar lights where there are three lights hooked up to one panel. Put the panel in the sun, then run the lights wherever you want.

Not as bright and dramatic as hard wired, but adds some curb appeal

 

[jrmcm]

Low voltage + led bulbs + transformer
Skip the solar crap, you’ll just end up doing this eventually.

 

[pookrat]

Low voltage + led bulbs + transformer
Skip the solar crap, you’ll just end up doing this eventually.

I think you are right. After looking at everything, I will just have ti deal with it. I was hoping there was a highend solar option or something.

 

[wildflower]

Solar is not going to do shit for tall trees unless you have some ugly lights with a giant panel on them to power the LEDs. You need wired lights like @FutureMan said. Low voltage might do the trick and you would not need a trench, just a narrow space to get the wire secured underground.

Yes. This is what I have.

Solar ones can be good, shitty, or iffy. Hire someone.

 

[popey]

Burying low voltage wiring is easy. Shovel takes some time or you can buy the right tool for the job - flat edge spade. It’ll be faster to bury with a flat edge
Be sure to use the right outdoor connectors - the ones that fill with silicone to become water proof

You don’t need a smart outlet the transformers have built in light detectors