Path and bollard lights: practical signposts through the garden at night
Anyone who has ever twisted their ankle in the dark thanks to a hedge trimmer lying around knows that this pain is avoidable. What? Quite simply with light. And as there are plenty of places in the garden to trip over, all paths, driveways and steps around the house should be suitably illuminated. Lights with motion detectors are particularly practical and energy-saving. With them, the motto is: Let there be light - when it is needed. And by the way, you also put a spanner in the works for burglars who want to stalk you under the cover of darkness.
Where and how should path lights be positioned?
Potential for stumbling? You should exclude path lights - also known as bollard lights. So there should always be light on sections of the route that are particularly uneven, winding or steep**. But of course the whole route should be illuminated. The following therefore applies: The luminaires should not be too far apart so that no strong contrasts are created between light and dark sections. Because when you go from light to dark, you see even less at first until your eyes get used to it.
Tip: Choose luminaires that cover as large an area as possible. How does that work? By setting the height of the light points - i.e. the point where the light source is located - high up. So the higher the lights are, the less you need. Conversely, the greater the distance may be. Path lights are generally between 60 and 150 cm high.
Directional or omnidirectional light?
The decisive factor is what you like. You should know that directional lighting only illuminates the path, the rest of the garden belongs to the night. You can be sure of optimised routing. With all-round light, you can also see what is directly next to the path. In addition, the round light areas overlap perfectly - so you can illuminate your paths very well covering the entire area.
What types of path lights are there?
Path lights are available in various materials and in different styles. They should not be confused with pedestal lights, pole lights and ground spots. Path lights are available with fixed LED technology or with replaceable lamps.
Speaks in favour of LED:
- their long service life
- electricity savings of up to 90 per cent
- Instant 100 per cent brightness and therefore perfect for motion detectors
Which materials are suitable for path lights?
Stainless steel and aluminium** are weather-resistant materials that are often used for bollard luminaires. Copper, brass and stone** are also frequently used for the frame. The light source is surrounded by either glass or plastic. Ultimately, it is your taste that decides what is best for your garden.
Are there also solar-powered path lights?
For the environment and for your purse: solar technology. With solar-powered path lights, you also don't need to worry about sockets and tangled cables. All solar bollard lights need is the sun. Equipped with LED technology, the battery charged by the sun lasts many times longer. If the light is only switched on when needed, you don't need to worry about the battery. "Motion detector" is the keyword here.
What should I bear in mind when it comes to motion detectors?
You enter the path: the light switches on. You drive up the driveway: the lights come on. Your visit is approaching: the light switches on. With practical motion detectors, this is no witchcraft. A twilight sensor prevents your path lights from competing with the sun even during the day. A detection angle of 120 degrees is sufficient for one path. After all, you don't usually leave the meadow at night. In principle, however, you can also opt for a 360-degree model and define the angle for the area used with apertures.
Any questions about the technology?
If so, our specialist advice team will be happy to answer your questions. You will find the contact details below.
Which light sources are ideal?
Let's assume you have equipped your path lights with motion detectors. Then energy-saving lamps are not suitable. This is because they usually do not become light ad hoc and need a start-up time. For this and many other reasons, LED lamps are ideal for your bollard lights. To name just a few: The service life of LED light bulbs is up to 50 times longer than that of incandescent bulbs. LED lamps consume up to 90 per cent less energy and are mercury-free.
Many path lights are equipped with permanently installed LED technology. This enables particularly intricate designs. A plus point for your garden. But even if you are hanging on to your old bollard lights, you can switch to LED. They have standardised bases such as E27 and fit perfectly into the socket of your beloved companion.
Foundation or ground spike?
For eternity or for the moment? We recommend mounting your path lights on frost-proof foundations or similarly solid surfaces. This ensures that the light stands securely. For those who love flexibility, there are also path lights with earth spike. Simply pricked into the loose soil, they can be moved as the mood takes you. Assembly is super easy - if you can even call it assembly.
Get the expert on board
When it comes to supplying fixed lights with mains power, a specialist is required. You can certainly give him a hand with digging to sink the underground cables. But the specialist should definitely take care of the connections. He knows what to look out for and how everything can be installed safely. Even if the temptation is great: the activities of a hobby DIY enthusiast should have nothing to do with electrics.
Want a practical extra socket?
If you are already installing electricity in the garden for your path lights, then you should ideally benefit twice over. Choose a model with one or more sockets on the frame. The radio, electric hedge trimmer, mobile phone and lawnmower can dock perfectly. Simply practical.
How do I make bollard luminaires safe from vandalism?
A path light firmly anchored in the ground is certainly less likely to be stolen than a light with a ground spike. If your confidence in your neighbourhood is not outstanding, you should prefer fixed screw-mounted path lights. In terms of materials, some bollard luminaires are certainly more robust than others. If you are afraid of vandalism, you are certainly better off with compact models made of metal and plastic than with a filigree luminaire with a glass shade. But even here, of course, the resilience comes to an end at some point. Tip: Motion detectors ensure that the light switches on when someone approaches - this can scare off vandals.
What IP protection rating should path lights have?
Do you leave your path lights out in the rain? Since nobody can answer this question with "no", caution is advised. Because electricity and water don't mix. The so-called IP protection rating tells you what your light can withstand in terms of dirt and water. The first digit provides information about protection against foreign bodies, the second about moisture. A pathway light should have at least IP44. This protects it against foreign bodies larger than one millimetre and against splashing water.
*Would you like more information about path and bollard luminaires? Then get in touch with our specialist advisory service. _Here_ you will find our contact form.
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