sitelights
07-21-2002, 11:17 PM
John Raine (December 2001) Soft cover 128 pages, purchased from amazon.com $13.97, ISBN 1-57145692-9 Laurel Glen Books, San Diego, CA Copyright 2001 Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, UK
Contents: Introduction, Lightbulbs and lighting, Types of garden lighting, The purpose of lighting, Garden lighting effects, Lighting garden features, Lighting the outdoor room, Choosing products, Planning the system, Implementation and installation, Glossary, Index, Acknowledgements.
A good general purpose guide to outdoor lighting that supercedes the long outdated Ortho book "How to Design and Install Outdoor Lighting" (1984). While not an installer's manual it provides basic information for the DIYer; the usual publisher's disclaimer cautions that "...a qualified electrician [to] carry out all electrical work in the garden." Line voltage ("mains" voltage 240v in the UK) and low voltage are covered about equally. This book has a valuable section on the importance of choosing the correct lamp (bulb) to achieve desired effects. Outdoor light fixtures or luminaires are merely lampholders and it is the lamp and the reflector that really counts. Many photographs illustrate various lighting techniques along with detailed drawings and useful captions. There are many differences in nomenclature pertaining to outdoor fixture types but this confusion also exists in US products. No standard exists so I will propose one: "spotlight", "floodlight", "in-ground", "path", "surface mount" and "specialty" fixtures. Don't wait for any manufacturers to adopt standard nomenclature; they are too busy applying cute but non-descriptive names to their fixtures. In the "Implementation and installation" section there is reference to 16 , 14 and 12 gauge cable while I never use anything but 10 gauge. This section also has instructions for burying the cable and/or using conduits without indication of the voltage being carried. The instructions are fine for line voltage work but low voltage cable should never be "buried" more than 3 inches. [see UL1838 II,49-2 "exception"]
A lighting "kit" is shown and the text acknowledges that these "starter" systems often lead to an upgrade to better quality, higher-performance systems which I've found to be true. There is enough design and technical information to guide a DIYer but experienced designer/installers will not find anything new here. Many of the fixtures shown in the photographs are not available in the US and the "Acknowledgements" does not identify manufacturers shown; there were a few Hunza (NZ) items shown but not credited.
A worthwhile investment for the DIYer and a good reference work for the professional in terms of lighting techniques.
Contents: Introduction, Lightbulbs and lighting, Types of garden lighting, The purpose of lighting, Garden lighting effects, Lighting garden features, Lighting the outdoor room, Choosing products, Planning the system, Implementation and installation, Glossary, Index, Acknowledgements.
A good general purpose guide to outdoor lighting that supercedes the long outdated Ortho book "How to Design and Install Outdoor Lighting" (1984). While not an installer's manual it provides basic information for the DIYer; the usual publisher's disclaimer cautions that "...a qualified electrician [to] carry out all electrical work in the garden." Line voltage ("mains" voltage 240v in the UK) and low voltage are covered about equally. This book has a valuable section on the importance of choosing the correct lamp (bulb) to achieve desired effects. Outdoor light fixtures or luminaires are merely lampholders and it is the lamp and the reflector that really counts. Many photographs illustrate various lighting techniques along with detailed drawings and useful captions. There are many differences in nomenclature pertaining to outdoor fixture types but this confusion also exists in US products. No standard exists so I will propose one: "spotlight", "floodlight", "in-ground", "path", "surface mount" and "specialty" fixtures. Don't wait for any manufacturers to adopt standard nomenclature; they are too busy applying cute but non-descriptive names to their fixtures. In the "Implementation and installation" section there is reference to 16 , 14 and 12 gauge cable while I never use anything but 10 gauge. This section also has instructions for burying the cable and/or using conduits without indication of the voltage being carried. The instructions are fine for line voltage work but low voltage cable should never be "buried" more than 3 inches. [see UL1838 II,49-2 "exception"]
A lighting "kit" is shown and the text acknowledges that these "starter" systems often lead to an upgrade to better quality, higher-performance systems which I've found to be true. There is enough design and technical information to guide a DIYer but experienced designer/installers will not find anything new here. Many of the fixtures shown in the photographs are not available in the US and the "Acknowledgements" does not identify manufacturers shown; there were a few Hunza (NZ) items shown but not credited.
A worthwhile investment for the DIYer and a good reference work for the professional in terms of lighting techniques.