Exterior Housing Lighting

[mitaccio]

I just bought a house and am looking to make some lighting for under the eaves. I really would like to use some leds since they are so energy conservative. Has anyone done this before? Pics? Write-ups?

 

[Duodec]

I've seen a place with rope lights that might have been LED from the cool color; it was an interesting effect, but I think it only worked because their eaves were sloped so you saw the light but not the ropes themselves until you got close to the house since they were tucked in high.

I think they used the clear plastic channels that are sold for Christmas use with the rope lights (to keep them very straight) but I don't know how they were attached to the house or how power was run to them.

Sorry, no pics.

 

[SafetyBob]

For ease and simplicity, may I suggest you use 2, 3, or 4 watt CFL's (I recommend Microbrites) and use them in as small a can as you can find at your local home store or electrical supply house.

A coworker of mine did this after great consultation with me describing exactly what he wanted. He has like 14 3 watt CFLs on a timer he got from Home Depot awhile back that changes time along with the suns rising and falling with the seasons to they come on exactly at the right time.

Yes, you could easily make your own heatsinks, glue LED's on and power them with a commercial LED driver or drivers. However, the CFL's are just to easy to use for now to screw with all the LED stuff. Believe me, after you have drilled the holes in the eaves, ran wire all around the house up there, you will just want it over and screw in some bulbs and be done with it.

Bob E.