Exterior Home Lighting

[FirstNissan]

Hi, I am interested in adding a exterior light in my backyard. I got a two quotes from local electricians, boost 200-250 range.

How hard would this be to DIY? I am reasonably handy however electrical work would be new for me. I would like a exterior light connected to an interior switch, I have not read good reviews about solar powered lights.

Not sure if this would make a difference, the location I am hoping to put the light in has an exterior power outlet Right below it. Would it be possible to tap into that outlet and add a switch on the other side of the wall?

Thank you

 

[Skippy722]

For $200-$250 I'd let them do it, that seems incredibly reasonable to me.

 

[Spector]

Would low voltage lighting be a possibility, extremely easy to work with and lots of options

 

[WyrTwister]

How many exterior fictures ?

 

[FirstNissan]

Just one exterior fixture

 

[thastinger]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lithonia-L...d-LED-Dusk-to-Dawn-Floodlight/1000702978

I have had 2 of these for about 18 months now and can highly recommend them. 3100 lumens for 34 Watts of electricity is about the best I've seen. Mine are both fully exposed to the weather and I have not had any issues with them at all. If you don't want your yard to look like daylight then these aren't for you though, they are bright AF.

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted by Skippy722
For $200-$250 I'd let them do it, that seems incredibly reasonable to me.



+1

 

[JTK]

Are you looking for something that surface mounts like a wall pack, flood, spot light, etc?

I've been through them all over the years. Halogen, mercury vapor, metal halide, CFL and most currently LED.

I have terrible luck with motion sensor fixtures that are exposed heavily to the elements.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted by thastinger
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lithonia-L...d-LED-Dusk-to-Dawn-Floodlight/1000702978

I have had 2 of these for about 18 months now and can highly recommend them. 3100 lumens for 34 Watts of electricity is about the best I've seen. Mine are both fully exposed to the weather and I have not had any issues with them at all. If you don't want your yard to look like daylight then these aren't for you though, they are bright AF.


Do you get 10,000 bugs flying around them at night, or 20,000?

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en

Do you get 10,000 bugs flying around them at night, or 20,000?


LOL! That's exactly why I went from dusk/dawn to a motion sensor on my garage. The bugs and subsequent spider webs would build up so badly under the soffit, they become difficult to clean off.

 

[exranger06]

$250 sounds like a really good price. If you decide to do it yourself though, do your homework first. There are a lot of things you need to take into account to make sure your installation is up to code, such as which type of wire you're going to use, which wire size (gauge), how you route the wire, how you mount the fixture and the switch, how you route the wire, etc.

 

[Fawteen]

Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted by thastinger
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lithonia-L...d-LED-Dusk-to-Dawn-Floodlight/1000702978

I have had 2 of these for about 18 months now and can highly recommend them. 3100 lumens for 34 Watts of electricity is about the best I've seen. Mine are both fully exposed to the weather and I have not had any issues with them at all. If you don't want your yard to look like daylight then these aren't for you though, they are bright AF.


Do you get 10,000 bugs flying around them at night, or 20,000?


LEDs emit very little light in the UV spectrum, and attract very few insects. We have a series of LED lamps under our back patio (22 altogether) and very rarely see an insect circling them at night.

 

[Skippy722]

Originally Posted by Fawteen
Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted by thastinger
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lithonia-L...d-LED-Dusk-to-Dawn-Floodlight/1000702978

I have had 2 of these for about 18 months now and can highly recommend them. 3100 lumens for 34 Watts of electricity is about the best I've seen. Mine are both fully exposed to the weather and I have not had any issues with them at all. If you don't want your yard to look like daylight then these aren't for you though, they are bright AF.


Do you get 10,000 bugs flying around them at night, or 20,000?


LEDs emit very little light in the UV spectrum, and attract very few insects. We have a series of LED lamps under our back patio (22 altogether) and very rarely see an insect circling them at night.


The LED lights by my door, as well as my LED headlights, beg to differ! They're horrible out here