www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi guys,

Missus has gotten all creative and wants to see if we can fit spotlights into our timber decking.

Assuming we can tap into the property's electrics somewhere, somehow, does anyone know of lights that will be fit for this purpose?

Appreciate it if you could provide links to anything you think will be suitable!

Thanks as always guys and gals,

Z

There are two main types of light for decking.
1) Single lights that you have to run a cable in and out of.
2) Pre made kits

The single lights often corrode after a year or if they don't the fixings will so when you need to change a lamp you can't open the fitting.
Pre made kits you usually drill a hole and push the light in, when these fail you can't change the lamp and often have to buy a complete set as they are not made any more or you can't buy just one light.

Deck mounted lights look nice from a distance, but are not really good as they only point up, which means you can't see where you are going as there is no light to see by, and what light there is, is shinning in your eyes

I would not bother with either of them, I would suggest festoon lights, which are "lights on a string" that you run from pole to pole (Or big stick in my case) As they are above you they do not blind you, and you can see where you are going, and they don't corrode (Polite cough) depending on which you get. The set I currently have must be 10 years old? If a lamp fails, I just unscrew it and put a new one in, I have had all one colour lamps, colour change lamps (Can't get the ones that auto sync anymore) two colours of lamps, now I have 2 x 5 coloured lamps. (The cable and lamp holders must be 10 years, not the lamps) The real beauty is once up, you can leave them there, and you can plug them into one of those sockets you have.

As for links, depends how much you want to spend, I think mine came from ebay. They are mains, not 12 or 24v.

I have tried a few 12v LED sets, all failed with 2 years, and as they are 12v moulded on, you can't change any light.

Just remember mice, rats, hedgehogs, cats, squirrels and foxes LOVE chewing cables AND do not put the transformer in a place you can't get it easily

AND the circuit you add it to MUST have RCD protection

Neelix wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:03 pmAND the circuit you add it to MUST have RCD protection

But if he plugs (What ever) lights in, RCD or no RCD makes no difference since he will not be adding a new circuit.

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:07 pm

Neelix wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:03 pmAND the circuit you add it to MUST have RCD protection

But if he plugs (What ever) lights in, RCD or no RCD makes no difference since he will not be adding a new circuit.

The OP did say "tapping into the electrics" rather than plugging in

True, he did say that , but I suspect he does not know it can be as easy as inserting a plug into an existing socket, guess we will have to wait and see.


Below are my festoon lights. (Supported by a "Big stick" in the middle)

So does everyone advise against spotlights in the floor then?

My aim was to position. Them on decking plank nearest the wall, so the light would reflect up and off


Thoughts?

You will have to wait for more opinions, but one thing is for sure, the light will not reflect up and off the walls* however it will illuminate the walls.

To do that with any effect the walls must be flat and reflective, the white walls will reflect a bit, but as they are not flat the protrusions will cast shadows.
You could always get a couple of small torches, turn them on and put them where you like pointing upwards to see the effect, even better if you do it in the dark

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:56 pm You will have to wait for more opinions, but one thing is for sure, the light will not reflect up and off the walls* however it will illuminate the walls.

To do that with any effect the walls must be flat and reflective, the white walls will reflect a bit, but as they are not flat the protrusions will cast shadows.
You could always get a couple of small torches, turn them on and put them where you like pointing upwards to see the effect, even better if you do it in the dark

That's actually a bloody good shout haha! Didn't think of that!

In any case, what would your alternate suggestions be other than festoon lighting? We have festoon lighting in the garden proper, but I was looking for something a little bit more formal for the side return pathway and keep the garden side "fun" with the festoons.

Wall lights the only other option then?

Zudecke wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:22 amWall lights the only other option then?

No, anything other than decking lights (Oh, but not flood lights)
Technically it would be a wall light, but you could have LED strip, BUT when it fails, you will have to change all of it.

How about "surface mount brick lights" or something similar:

https://www.lightingstyles.co.uk/surfac ... ---3-sizes

How would I get them wired into the house?

Zudecke wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:41 am How would I get them wired into the house?

consult a local spark