Garden Lighting

Garden Lighting

 

Outdoor lighting and garden feature lighting design and installation, create the perfect lighting design that will transform your garden or outdoor space.Decorate and personalise your garden with outdoor lighting provided by Apex Electrical Specialists. From spotlights to string lights, you can choose exactly how to improve your outdoor space. Garden lighting can create the perfect hosting atmosphere and can make outdoor environments more enjoyable.

 

Outdoor lighting is not only decorative, but it can also give you peace of mind and the knowledge that it is helping to keep your property secure. The design and installation of many different outdoor lighting styles to suit all tastes and budgets is a service that Apex Electrical Specialists can offer.

 

From decorative and very cost effective LED decking lights to low energy security lighting, you can be assured that whatever your needs our electricians will have the knowledge and experience to meet your requirements.

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You can also have the convenience of an indoor switch to control the lighting before you go out in the dark or an outdoor waterproof switch, if you prefer. There is also the added convenience of a Dusk ’til Dawn feature were a sensor will be positioned externally and once the dusk arrives the lighting will be automatically be switched on and switched off again at dawn. 

 

We can install:

 

• Decorative festoon lights

• Decorative LED decking lights available in many colours

• Low energy Dusk ’til Dawn lights

• Low energy security lights including Passive Infrared (PIR) Controls

• Energy up and down lights for both security and decorative looks

• Environmental path lights when consideration for endangered species is of importance

• Garden lighting, both decorative and security

• If your garden design has a water feature, the safe installation of an electric pump to make the feature work is something that should be left to a trained electrician. Using Steel-Wire Armoured cable to ensure that the installation is safe and secure. A well installed water feature will give you years of enjoyment

 

What we promise 

 

1. Reliable 

2. Customer Focused 

3. Friendly and Professional 

4. Fully Compliant

5. High Quality Work

 

Landscape feature lighting types

 

• Path lights and Pathfinder lights - these are good to highlight the edge of a path, steps or stairs

• Decking lights - very effective to have around the decking to define the edges or sides

• Brick lights and wall lights - brick lights can be useful low down to light up a walkway or drive

• Bollard lighting - bollards are good if you want to light up a drive or path

• Directional lighting - ideal for illuminating designated areas

• Fence lights - positioned either high up or low down, fence lights are really good to highlight the fence

• Driveway lighting and Entrance lights, - these can be a floodlight that automatically switches on so when you drive or walk towards the sensor the light will turn on

• Automatic lighting - you can have your lighting switched on with either dusk till dawn or a time switch

• Area lighting - sometimes very useful to a have a large light you can switch on that will light up the entire area

• LED light colours - there are a few different colours of light you could choose, most common are Warm White: 2200K-3300K and Cool White: 3300K-5500K

 

Why it is important to use a Residual Current Device

 

An RCD is a safety device that switches off the electricity automatically when it detects an earth fault. Any socket-outlet that may be used for plugging in portable electrical equipment that is to be used outdoors should have RCD protection. this includes feature lighting.

 

Check that you are protected by an RCD with a maximum rated residual operating current of 30 milliamperes (mA). If your socket-outlet is not protected by an RCD, purchase a good quality plug-in RCD adaptor from a reputable dealer, as a temporary measure. The safest option is to get a registered electrician to install permanent RCD protection to all socket outlets that may be used for plugging in 230 V outdoor portable electrical equipment.

 

RCDs need to be tested quarterly by the users of the electrical installation, in accordance with the notice that should be fixed near them. This normally involves pressing the test button and checking that the RCD switches off the supply immediately. Regular testing is important, to ensure the correct operation of the RCD mechanism in the event of a fault.

 

Water Pumps for Garden Ponds

 

Incorrectly installed or damaged 230V electrical water pumps in garden ponds, may create a serious electric shock risk in and around the pond, resulting in injury or death. This is because the risk of electric shock is higher in the presence of water. This information is intended to help you to use electrical equipment safely in the garden and avoid electrical accidents. The risk of an electric shock causing serious injury or death, is greater outdoors than indoors, due to possible wet conditions and physical contact with the ground.

 

A 230 V electric water pump in the garden should be:

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• Good quality and be purchased from a reputable retailer

• Protected by an RCD, that is tested by means of the integral test button at least every 3 months

• Installed in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

• Provided with cables that are protected against accidental damage

• Maintained in good working order, including cables and any connections

• Switched off when carrying out pond cleaning

• If any defects are found, switch off the water pump’s electrical supply immediately and have the pump repaired by a competent electrician

 

Flexible Cables and Connectors

 

Cables and connections should be:

 

• Good quality and be purchased from a reputable retailer

• Suitable for use outdoors

• Suitable for the equipment used

• Free from damage and kept clean

• Used in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

• Switched off when carrying out pond cleaning

• Located to prevent anyone tripping over the cable

• Routed to prevent them being damaged e.g. stepped on or cut

• Kept as dry as possible

• If any damage is found, unplug from the electrical supply immediately, and have the damaged items replaced. Always take care not to damage flexible cables and connectors

• If an ‘inline-connector’ is required it must be correctly connected to the flexible cable ends by a competent person, in order to avoid danger from any incorrect connections being made, which might result in serious injury or death!

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Wet Conditions

 

Do not use electrical equipment when it is raining or in areas that are being watered. The risk of serious injury and even death from electric shock, are far higher in wet conditions, than in the dry. Ground conditions may also be slippery in the wet, which increases the risk of an accident. Electrical equipment may also suffer damage in wet conditions.

 

Using electrical equipment in the garden in dry conditions reduces the risk of an accident.

 

Our Recommendations 

 

Incorrectly selected, installed or damaged 230V outdoor lighting installations may create a risk of electric shock, resulting in serious injury or even death.

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For 230V feature lighting in the garden:

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• Buy good quality electrical outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable retailer

• Make sure outdoor lighting fittings (luminaires) are weatherproof

• Ensure lighting fittings used for water features are waterproof

• Have it installed by a competent electrician in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations), which is the national safety standard for electrical installation work

• Check for damaged lighting fittings, cables and connections

• Remove leaves and dirt from lighting fittings

• If any faults are found, switch off the electrical supply immediately, and have them repaired.