Seeking specific advice for fixed lighting along a walk-way

[SciGuy]

The wealth of knowledge available through this board always amazes me.
Perhaps some of you can help me begin an adventure with fixed lighting.

The problem: We have an unlighted walk-way along the 40" section of our 25' by 40' pole barn that leads to our geodesic dome house. Here in the north east it is often dark when we leave or return to home. The walk-way itself needs to be plowed of snow in the winter so lighting directly adjacent to it is out.


The eaves of the pole barn are a~ 10 feet high and probably would be the most ideal location for a series of down facing LEDs. The eaves are accessable from the interior of the pole barn and pretty well protected from the weather.

I am seeking very specific recommendations as to what might be appropriate LEDs, drivers and wiring for such a project. My skill set includes soldering and wiring in general but my knowlege of electronics "LED" is minimal. We are seeking to minimize power usage but make for a safer walk-way. Twenty years of walking by Braille is too much. Either a motion sensor or a timer might make sense.

Which LEDS? Where to buy?

Which optics/reflector? Where to buy?

Which driver/s? Where to buy?

Control stategy?

Thanks for all that take some time to consider this project.

Hugh

 

[brickbat]

Are you off-grid? Just wondering why you think you need LEDs...

 

[SciGuy]

Are you off-grid? Just wondering why you think you need LEDs...

We are not off grid but are about to retire and looking to make long term/green decisions. My wife and I have driven the highest mileage cars available for the last 30 years (rabbit diesel, Honda CRX hf, currently Honda Insight) and wish to continue that theme.

It is so cold here for most of the winter that CFs don't make much sense. We are looking for a pretty low light level as we do a good bit of star gazing and find bright lights are hard on the night vision.

What might you suggest instead?

Best Regards,

hugh

 

[brickbat]

We have a similar outdoor walkway connecting the house, carport, and screened porch. Like yours it has a few steps, so it really needs some light. One section is lit with a 5W CFL in an old 'gas station' style reflector fixture mounted at about 8' up on the carport. (You've seen them - green enamel outside, white enamel inside, about 16" diameter). The CFL is a candelabra style, and as such has a outer glass bulb. It works fine in the winter, although it takes several minutes to warm up when switched on. But It's on a dusk-to-dawn controller, so it's not an issue.

As you know, exposed 'twisty' CFLs are pretty useless in the cold, but those with outer globes do pretty well...

Lights that are large and dim, like this, create a nice 'feel' with no glare. But, it's not a lot of light.

The other end of the walkway is lit by stings of warm white LEDs in two ornamental trees. That, I really like, and it looks good year round...

And there are a few low voltage fixtures in the ground along the walkway. Yes, they do get snow covered, even here, so I think you're wise to avoid them.

I'm learning that the way to create outdoor lighting with an inviting feel is multiple sources, none too bright...

If you want 'work light' mount a couple 100W incandescent floods for the few times you need it...

(now, the next post is sure to be someone recommending the new GE 7W LED reflector lamps, which I've not tried, and are certainly fine for generating lumens, but I wonder about the 'feel' you'll get...)

 

[holiday light express]

Here is what I would do if it were me..

On each end of the barn install a motion sensor light. They make a ton of different styles of these. I would go with the ones that have two bulbs on them that point away from each other, but I'm not standing there, so this might not be the best option for you.
Then, I would use nice par30 or par38 LED light bulbs (depends on your fixture). I personally like the cool white because they seem brighter and you can see clearer.(again, it just may be my crazy eyes)

You will get the best of both worlds this way. Energy savings and instant on of the LED bulbs, and not wasting energy by using a sensor set up. Plus the spook factor for anyone prawling around!
This set up should be pretty easy to install and fairly cheap even if you had an electrician wire it for you.
You can set the fixtures under your overhang and they will last a long time because they are away from the sun and weather!

Another option would be to install either LED path lighting or some LED spots to shine up on your building. This would work as well, but then you are running the risk of kicking over lights and such.

 

[LEDninja]

Those GE 7W LED lamps are directional. Each lamp would put a tiny spot of light beneath it. You'd need a whole whack of them to cover 40'.

(now, the next post is sure to be someone recommending the new GE 7W LED reflector lamps, which I've not tried, and are certainly fine for generating lumens, but I wonder about the 'feel' you'll get...)

I am not a DIYer. But there are a few things you have to be aware of.
-This is an outdoor installation. Weatherproofing it will be harder than making it. BTW a lot of outdoor fixtures are NOT weatherproof.
-LEDs are directional. From 0° to 180°. Never 360°.
-5/8/10 mm LEDs don't last. You need power ones.

My gut feel is to mount 3 wall or ceiling weatherproof fixtures on the wall or underneath the eaves. One at each end of the building and one in the middle. Use a timer. Many CFL and LED bulbs do not like electronic drivers in dimmers, light sensors and presumably motion sensors.
Make sure the fixture takes standard A19 E26 screw in light bulbs. This way you can find incandescent, CFL, LED bulbs without too much difficulty.

IKEA sells covered CFL bulbs in 4, 7, 11 watts.

LEDs are more of a problem.
A lot of them are bigger than the standard A19 size.
They are directional. Even the globe styles are often clear plastic or clear plastic with dimples instead of frosted glass.
They are often still cool white. Too many are still of the 5 mm variety.
They are not bright, at least the inexpensive small ones.
The fact you want a dim light helps.
My favorite globe style LED bulb is a 2W Cree. 90 lumens warm white, 100 lumens cool white. I use it from a headboard lamp to my hall light. I am using the hall light as my apartment nitelite. At maybe 3W including power supply it is less than a 4W/7W nitelite. In one direction it reaches down the hall into my bathroom. In anther direction it lights my way past the stove and counter to the fridge.
Before I got the 2W Cree I was using 2 1W warm white LED bulbs. One on the fridge in the kitchen, the other in an uplight on my dresser drawer. Together they allow me to navigate for a drink in the middle of the night without turning any other light on or grabbing a flashlight. My estimate 20 lumens. It is relatively dim but should reach 10 ft. Also available in red to preserve night vision.

 

[holiday light express]

Good quality LED bulbs will do just fine with a sensor. All it is is an automated "on/off" switch. LED's take being turned on and off far far better than a CFL or an incandescent.

The LED being directional is exactly what he needs! He wants to throw all the light away from the building, why waste light going up into the fixture? Also will give off less light polution.

Something like this with par38 LED bulbs will last him a long time.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...d=10053&productId=100645220&categoryID=501161

You will just have to figure out your optimal placement for your fixtures.

 

[Mr_Light]

I have used a couple of these DX waterproof 12 volt LED fixtures as wall mounted directional spots. Since they are low wattage 12V you can run many from a single Malibu outdoor light controller. These actually have a standard MR16 socket in them so you can swap in any similar size MR16 bulb you want if you want to move to a warmer tinted led than what comes with them.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12958
3*1W LM50W070 210-Lumen Water-proof 3W White LED Light Bulb (12V DC 320mA)
Price: $39.99

This appears to be the actual bulb that comes inside the waterproof fixture.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5780
3 x 1W - 3W LED Spotlight (12V / 150 Lumens)
Price: $11.96

Warning if you order this fixture the bulb may have gotten jarred loose from the socket during shipping, meaning you will need to take the three hex screws out holding the lens cover on and plug the bulb back in.

 

[holiday light express]

Keep in mind, a MR16 with out a lens will be very directional. So you may need quite a few of these to cover the 40' span.

But the low voltage is a nice feature. You could hook it up to a landscape light set up if you alread have one.

 

[easytim]

These Malibu lights work well for walkways using LED MR-16 bulbs

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo289/easytim/Malibu.jpg



.

 

[ponygt65]

OP....I would use two or three 26W CFl floods. As mentioned earlier, one in each corner and one in the middle.

http://www.enertron.com/products/metal_floods

or wall mount cutoff's....Two.

http://www.enertron.com/products/metal_wall_packs
(495/493/490 series - ELECTRONIC ballast)

Choose a 2700k CFL.

Even an 18W may do just fine.