How to make lighting for a summer cottage: types, choice of lamps

To get at least a little escape from the endless bustle of big cities, their inhabitants love to spend weekends at their summer cottage. Alas, ordinary people do not always have time to complete all their business before dawn or spend a pleasant evening on the street because it gets dark. Well-equipped lighting in the country helps solve this issue. And in order for street lighting in a suburban area to be safe and as efficient as possible, it is necessary to comply with the basic requirements for lighting devices.

Basic requirements for site lighting

The organization of the lighting system should be carried out taking into account various factors, so that at night the summer cottage is not only safe, but also does not lose its aesthetics. The following requirements are put forward for lighting of dachas and courtyard areas of country houses:

• safe electrical wiring, the presence of an RCD and a circuit breaker in the circuit;
• convenient lighting control;
• all system components, incl. lanterns, light bulbs, switches must be intended for outdoor use, be moisture and dustproof. Cable laying is required in a corrugation or pipe;
• All areas of the dacha need to be illuminated; ideally, in the evening and at night the boundaries are perfectly visible;
• use of energy-saving light bulbs. This point is especially important if outdoor lighting is required daily.

In addition, you will need to develop a lighting scheme for the area. This must be done according to a certain rule.

Attention!

It should be drawn up before the start of landscape design work. Otherwise, when laying cables, you will have to destroy existing elements.

Drawing up a lighting plan for the area

Due to the large assortment, making a choice is quite difficult. I want to use everything at my summer cottage:

• decorative type lanterns;
• illuminated garden figures;
• lamps with moonlight;
• colored lanterns designed to decorate tree crowns;
• garlands, etc.

All this can cause chaos, which can be avoided if you think in advance about the main locations of the lamps, their number, dimensions, determine the functionality of the lighting and choose the style of lighting fixtures.

To do this, you need to draw up a plan diagram of the location of all the lamps on the site. For this purpose, you can use a photocopy of the territory diagram or draw a scale plan indicating all existing buildings.

Attention!

It is necessary to create a lighting plan in parallel with thinking through the remaining elements of landscape design.

The locations of future lamps are determined along with the design of gazebos, garden paths, ponds, patios, terraces and other recreation areas. If you don't do this, there is a good chance that you will have to redo some of these elements due to the need to run power cables.

You will need to draw up an electrical connection diagram: anyone who has at least a little knowledge of electrics can handle this task. But the entire lighting system must be installed by a professional so that it is safe for summer residents.

Average prices for services for creating plans

Prices for services to create spectacular landscape lighting on average across the country vary depending on the distance from the central region :

• the initial cost of the project for a medium-sized summer cottage is from 15,000 rubles. and higher in Moscow and the region, from 6,000-9,000 rubles. in regions with a distance of up to 500 km, in the regions of Siberia from 16,000 rubles. and more;
• the final cost of the project for an area of ​​50 acres is 25,000-50,000 rubles. in middle regions, and slightly higher from 35,000 rubles. in remote areas;
• large-scale projects for decorating large areas of parks and squares with light from 12 hectares - 250,000-400,000 rubles. and more.

The cost depends on the size of the site, the number of lighting fixtures, their design, style, purpose, use of lamps, etc.

Types of site lighting

The lighting of a suburban area is assigned several functions simultaneously, for each of which a separate type of lamp should be provided.

Functional

The tasks of functional lighting are simple and clear. If decorative lighting cannot be used in every summer cottage, then it is impossible to do without general lighting. When highlighting all the important elements to increase the safety of movement around the territory, it is worth remembering that the accents in lighting should be placed on gazebos, patios, houses and other buildings.

Attention!

Garden paths should not be flooded with too much light so that those walking along them experience discomfort.

The most illuminated place on the site is the facade of the house and the porch: it will be more comfortable to move from less illuminated areas to brighter ones. Even late at night, functional lighting should allow you to see the boundaries of the site.

It is also necessary to highlight stairs, curbs, bridges and other most dangerous objects. Lamps should be placed evenly along the paths. The light source can be lanterns, floor lamps with frosted glass diffusers, bright spotlights, spherical lamps and other elements.

Decorative

This type of lighting is needed for recreation areas and objects that you want to admire even in the dark. Often, additional lighting is installed on flower beds, trees, shrubs, fountains, ponds, alpine slides, garden sculptures, as well as gazebos, patios and benches. Decorative lighting complements the main lighting and provides dim light, creating a romantic and slightly mysterious atmosphere. There are many ways to organize it - it all depends on the style of the site and the imagination of the owner.

To choose the right style of lamps for your garden, you can use a simple rule. The more elaborate and diverse the landscape design of the garden, the simpler and more concise the lighting items should be. If the style of the site is close to minimalism, then you can use lamps of the most bizarre and non-standard shapes, placing the emphasis on them in decorating the garden.

Plant lighting

I would like to say a few words separately about plant lighting. Low plants are usually lit from below, but trees can be lit from above, below or from the side. The choice of lighting depends on the texture of the trunk, the height of the tree, the shape of the branches and crown. So, for example, if a tree has a beautiful trunk, it is better to light it from below, placing the lamp at the roots. For trees with a dense crown, you can use several spotlights located around. When the tree is very tall, it is better to mount the spotlight on the trunk. This technique will highlight interesting fragments of foliage from the inside. Spruces and other conifers are usually illuminated from below, placing spotlights on the ground at a short distance from the lower branches. Silhouette lighting of trees is very fashionable now. In this case, the light source is located behind the tree or bush.

The main types of lamps for the garden

It is desirable that the illumination of the area be a stylish and functional addition to it, and also not become a source of high electricity costs. Traditional incandescent lamps cannot be called the most economical option, because... During operation, they become very hot, which consumes most of the energy, quickly burn out, and at low temperatures can even explode. You can replace incandescent lamps:

• luminescent and halogen devices, characterized by economy and long service life;
• LED lamps and strips do not heat up, consume minimal energy, shine quite brightly, and in terms of durability they confidently outperform competitors. In addition, when using this type of lamps, you can easily change the brightness of the lighting. Often, decorative lighting is created using LEDs, arranging hidden lighting for ponds, steps, benches, the facade of a house, or hiding them in the crown of trees or shrubs;
• fiber optic systems are a new word in the field of garden lighting. Can be used as sources of main or additional light, architectural lighting or decoration of pools and ponds. Such a system consists of a projector (light source for the optical fiber), an optical cable or fiber, a common input, threaded attachments and various terminal devices. It turns out that with just one generator it is possible to provide lighting to a large area. The main advantages of the system: ease of operation, long service life, cost-effectiveness and the absence of requirements for waterproofing of lamps.

Separately, it is worth highlighting such non-standard modern solutions for garden lighting, such as paving slabs with LEDs built into them and fluorescent tiles with the ability to accumulate solar energy during the daytime.

Economical energy consumption

The incandescent lamp was invented more than a hundred years ago. Everyone knows that light is emitted by a tungsten filament when heated to certain temperatures. Thus, 80% of the energy it consumes is spent on heating the tungsten filament, and only 20% directly on lighting. It turns out that the efficiency of an incandescent lamp is only 20%. The energy consumption of an LED lamp is almost 70% lower than that of an incandescent lamp. For example, a ten-watt LED lamp can replace a hundred-watt incandescent lamp. A 7-watt LED lamp is equivalent to a 15-watt fluorescent lamp. The advantage, again, lies with LEDs. Such savings are important not only because of the constant rise in electricity prices. Modern power lines are overloaded due to the large number of electrical appliances in every living space. Savings in each home translate into significant energy savings for the entire facility. This allows you to reduce the connected power and reduce wear on the electrical network.

Types of street lamps by installation location

A wide range of lamps for lighting a summer cottage and the territory of a private house can be divided into several groups:

• floor lamps - lanterns of different heights;
• wall lanterns - they are used to illuminate a house or fences; they can be hung on the wall at any height;
• pendant lamps - lanterns and garlands that can be hung from tree branches or ceilings in gazebos;

• spotlights with a directional beam of light - installation is often carried out at ground level. They are necessary to illuminate those areas that need to be highlighted on the site;
• indirect lamps (lanterns with a reflector) - direct the light flux downwards, therefore they are used to illuminate garden paths and flower beds.

Fiber optic luminaires are placed in a separate group due to their unique properties and versatility of use.

House facade

Illumination of the territory of a country house begins with the facade.

Here you can use soft diffused light on the surface of the facade and roof, with a slight emphasis on the contours, using colored LED garlands.

Or emphasize the shape of the building due to accentuated contour lines using duralight LED strip.

Or use a combination of these two methods.

Types of lamps by light source

Lamps according to light source are:

• electric. They form the basis for lighting the area, are the most functional and require preparatory work, which includes digging trenches and laying cables in plastic or corrugated tubes;
• Solar-powered lanterns are an original and quite economical way to illuminate certain areas of the site. Such lamps can only be used as a supplement to electric lighting. During the day they accumulate energy from the sun, and at night they emit a soft, pleasant light. Installation is simple - the lamp is mounted where additional lighting is needed, there is no need to dig trenches, and if necessary, it can be easily moved to another place. Such lamps can be of any size, shape and design, they are expensive, but they do not use electricity. The battery will charge even in cloudy weather;
• objects painted with luminescent paint are a non-standard way to decorate your area and diversify its decorative lighting;
• open flame. Candles hidden in beautiful lampshades can be used to create a romantic atmosphere. Another option is kerosene lamps. This is a purely decorative source of lighting, which must be constantly monitored to prevent fire.

Automation of turning on and off country lamps

Even at the stage of drawing up a diagram of the location of lamps on the site, you need to decide how they will be turned on and off. Someone will want to do this on their own every day, but in the case of a large area, it is quite problematic to constantly turn the lamps on and off. This is especially true when you don’t come to your dacha very often. But there is a way out - automation of the lighting system, and there are several options for bringing this idea to life:

• control of a twilight relay, which will turn on the lighting when the sensor installed on the site “feels” the onset of twilight, and turn it off at the onset of dawn. Installation of the sensor is possible in any convenient place on the territory; the relay is mounted in the electrical panel;
• astronomical relay control. In this case, no additional sensor is required - you just need to set the location coordinates once, and the built-in microprocessor will calculate the time of sunset and dawn at a certain time of the year. Such a relay can be additionally configured not to turn on the light if there is no one on the site. Thanks to the built-in battery, the relay retains all settings during a temporary power outage. Mounted in electrical panel;
• controlling a time relay is the simplest and not very functional option. It only adjusts the time after which the light will turn off after turning it on manually. Suitable for areas where there are few light sources. For example, the relay has settings according to which the light must be turned off after five minutes. The owner of the site, having arrived at the dacha in the evening and manually turned on the lighting near the gate, does not have to return to turn it off - the light itself will go out after a specified time.

In addition, at least one lamp in the country must be equipped with a motion sensor. When someone passes within the range of the sensor, the light will turn on. This is convenient if you often come to your dacha in the evening - you don’t need flashlights, candles and matches. In addition, such a solution provides additional protection against entry into the territory of third parties.

Attention!

Motion sensors are often tuned to a specific object size, so they won't go off if a pet runs nearby.

Basically, they function together with a photo relay, which prevents the motion sensor from triggering during the day.

Very long service life

The service life of LED lamps is almost 100 times longer than that of an incandescent lamp, and 10 times longer than that of a fluorescent lamp. LED manufacturers generally guarantee 50,000 hours of operation. This is more than five years of continuous operation and almost 11 years when used five hours a day. The remarkable thing is that over time, such characteristics as luminous intensity and luminous flux remain practically unchanged, which cannot be said about other lamps. No flicker or ultraviolet radiation. All fluorescent and incandescent lamps flicker at a rate of about 100 flashes per second. This is because these lights use alternating current. LED lamps operate on direct current, which eliminates flicker and makes them completely safe for human eyes. They do not generate ultraviolet radiation, which attracts insects.

What to consider when choosing garden lamps?

The lamp in the country will be constantly influenced by negative environmental factors: precipitation, sunlight, high and low temperatures. This means that you need to choose only those products that are intended for outdoor use. They must be sealed or semi-sealed. In the latter case, you will need to take care of the presence of canopies from snow and rain.

When purchasing, you should check whether the inside of the lamp mount is painted or not. In the latter case, you should not count on long-term use. Lamps made of stainless steel and aluminum alloys have proven themselves better in use. Do not forget about the warranty period; ask the seller for a safety certificate, which should indicate the degree of protection.

Original do-it-yourself site lighting

The cost of garden lamps may make some owners doubt that decorative lighting is necessary for the site. If you use your imagination, find some free time and use available materials, you can make original lamps with your own hands.

From glass bottles

1. The easiest way is to place a New Year's garland in a non-standard shaped bottle. If you use a battery-powered garland, you can use an improvised lamp away from the outlet. It is possible to replace the garland with a flashlight inserted into the neck, and fill the container of the bottle with beads or transparent reflective balls.
2. You can pour sand, pebbles, multi-colored stones into the bottom of glass jars and put candles. The outside of the container can be decorated with rope, fabric, lace, etc.
3. A lampshade from a glass bottle of a non-standard shape or color is prepared by cutting off the bottom. There is nothing complicated about this: you need to tie the bottle with a thread soaked in kerosene where you need to make a cut, and pour cold water into the container itself to the same place. All that remains is to set fire to the rope - the cut will be smooth, but if necessary, it can be sanded a little. Now all that remains is to insert the power cord into the bottle, connect the socket and screw in the light bulb.
4. The inside of the bottle needs to be painted with luminescent paints, making spots of different shapes and sizes. In the evening, an ensemble of several bottles will look quite unusual.

From tin cans

You can make a custom lamp from any tin can, in which you can place a candle or a garland. The penetration of light will occur through many holes made in the shape of a pattern, make them on the can with nails of different sizes and using a hammer. You can simplify the task if you first make a sketch on paper, which you then attach to the container and transfer the drawing onto it.

It is better to place a piece of wood in the shape of a cylinder inside the can so as not to deform the can when creating holes. Lamps can be arranged or hung around the site.

Made from wood or rope

Stick small twigs onto the inflatable ball, overlapping it randomly. After the glue has hardened, carefully remove the balloon and deflate it.

Attention!

Branches can be replaced with thread or rope.

The result will be cute lampshades of any size, which can be used as a lampshade for a light bulb, or as a way to decorate a regular garland.

Made of plastic

Plastic bottles will help you create lamps of various shapes, colors and sizes - the main thing in this matter is your imagination. A simple ball lamp can be made from the bottoms of several bottles. They need to be cut, glued together, bent along the radius and given a spherical shape. All that remains is to install it on the base with a light bulb and connect it to the power supply.

A cute lampshade can be made from plastic leaves. First cut rectangles from a green bottle, from which you can then cut out leaves; their edges can be melted with a soldering iron to make them more similar to real leaves. From individual elements, you can use wire to form entire branches, which will become a lampshade.

Country house lighting from solar power plants

The most convenient option is lighting a summer cottage using solar energy. You can choose two ways: assemble the power plant yourself, purchase the necessary components, or buy a ready-made solution.

Making your own garden lighting from solar panels

If you wish, you can make your own lighting for your dacha using solar panels. But to do this, you need to study the main types of systems, their features and installation subtleties.

Varieties

There are:

1. Network. It is distinguished by its affordable price and ease of use. Consists of an inverter and solar panels. The voltage from the latter is transformed into a voltage of 220/380 V. The disadvantage of the system is the need for a support network, without which the operation of the system is impossible. In addition, such a power plant is not very profitable. For example, if the device produces 5 kW, and the cottage consumes only 3 kW, the remaining 2 kW will go into the network, but the meters will count the energy as consumed.
2. Hybrid. The system includes solar panels and a controller, a battery and a hybrid inverter. The main element is an inverter, which “mixes” the energy of the external network with that received from the battery. The optimal mode is when the cottage is powered by stored electricity and only when necessary switches to an external network (for example, in cloudy weather or when discharged). Allows you to sell excess electricity at a feed-in tariff.
3. Autonomous. Its advantage is that it provides power only from the battery without an external voltage source. The system may include an autonomous inverter, battery, solar panels / controller.

Sometimes, additionally or separately, a low-power hydroelectric power station, a generator (gasoline, gas, diesel) or a wind power plant are installed, providing energy to the facility and charging batteries.

Controller - what is it

Regardless of the type, the solar power plant is equipped with a special controller.

This device is connected in series to the electrical circuit between the solar panels and the battery, and monitors the functioning of the latter (the degree of charge and discharge, the supplied voltage, dynamically regulates the supplied current to the battery during charging, etc.).

Principle of operation:

1. Solar panels produce a voltage that is a multiple of 12 V.
2. The controller receives the voltage and converts it to the required value.
3. A suitable voltage parameter is transmitted to the battery, inverter, converted to 220 volts and then supplied to the electrical network of the summer cottage. The sequence of current flow depends on the type of system used (stand-alone, hybrid or networked).

This is a simplified diagram, but it allows you to understand the principle of operation of the controller.

However, they come in two types:

1. PWM They operate with solar panels whose voltage does not exceed the parameter required for the battery.
2. MPRT. Even clearly overestimated voltage is processed. They have higher efficiency and, accordingly, have a higher price.

Solar panels

They consist of the following components: mono- and polycrystalline, amorphous.

The panel includes:

• glass;
• EVA film;
• solar cell;
• “sealant” film.

Each of the elements is selected taking into account increased requirements. For example, glass must have special fittings that reduce light reflection and refract light at an angle.

The EVA film must have the necessary transparency, because the amount of energy falling on the element depends on this.

The elements themselves also differ in quality. They come in types Grade, A, B, C, D (the highest quality option is A). The finishing film must be of optimal quality and cover the surface tightly.

Solar panels also differ by manufacturer. Most often these are China and the Russian Federation. When choosing a manufacturer, it is necessary to assume that the solar panel has passed a full test cycle and meets the declared characteristics.

DIY collection rules

Before purchasing and installing, you need to calculate the complex in order to avoid mistakes with its placement and laying of cable products.

General algorithm of actions:

1. Route the cable between the inverter and solar panels. If there is a large distance between the elements, it is necessary to lay the cable with a margin of thickness and current.
2. Install the panels on the guides. As the latter, you can use aluminum corners installed using homemade fasteners.
3. Connect the panel units in series. For connections, you can use good connectors that guarantee excellent contact and tightness.
4. Charge the battery. This can be done using a car charger.
5. Connect the battery to the inverter. To do this, use a 25 square cable. It is worth considering that at the first connection you may notice a spark. Polarity confusion is not a big deal. The cross-section is sufficient for 100-110 A, which will occur when connecting a five-kilowatt inverter.
6. Connect the load at home and the external network.
7. Connect solar panels. The main thing here is to connect “+” and “-” correctly.
8. Turn on the inverter, then configure the battery type, operating mode, charging currents and other data.
9. For convenience, install a utility on your computer that shows the operation of the inverter online.

Useful tips

If you have taken on the task of making lighting in your dacha with your own hands, it will be useful for you to study the advice of experienced specialists on this issue:

• When installing garden lamps, it is better to choose models with a visor. They are much better protected from external factors and will last longer;
• To reduce energy consumption, install solar-powered lighting devices. They are completely autonomous and are perfect for marking or decorative lighting.
• If you are afraid of the costs of purchasing lighting fixtures, make original devices yourself.
• Using a battery, an inverter and an automatic switching system, you can create autonomous lighting.
• Do not connect wires using twists - this is not only unreliable, but also quite dangerous. Give preference to clamps, sleeves, soldered and bolted connections, and be sure to cover them with insulating material.
• When laying cable lines underground, use a pipe or channels; they will protect the conductor much better and can significantly simplify the process of replacing the cable if it fails.

Wind power plants for summer cottages

The topic of wind power plants is very broad and requires special attention. Such power plants are used for dacha lighting less often than solar panels, but this option should not be completely ruled out.

Components

The wind power plant includes:

1. Blade rotor. There can be 2, 3 or more blades.
2. Gearbox. Changes the rotation speed between the generator and the rotor.
3. The “tail” of the windmill directs the structure into the wind.
4. Frame. Protects internal elements of equipment from mechanical impacts.
5. Battery. Accumulates electricity and releases electricity under adverse weather conditions.
6. Inverter. Converts direct current to alternating current.

Classification

Wind turbines are classified according to several criteria that must be taken into account when choosing equipment.

In the direction of rotation of the blades:

• horizontal;
• vertical (more stable).

Number of blades:

• two;
• three;
• multi-lobed.

According to the material:

• hard;
• sailing (more affordable, but less durable).

Control type:

• fixed step;
• changing step.

Operating principle

A wind power plant works on the following principle. The wind rotates the blades fixed on a metal mast. As a result of rotation, the generator rotor begins to work, which produces alternating current.

The latter enters the converter, where the alternating voltage is converted into direct voltage. A wind of 4-5 m/s is sufficient for operation.

According to the operating principle, wind generators can:

1. Work in parallel with solar power plants (batteries), gasoline (diesel) generators, backup batteries.
2. Autonomous.

Selecting the size and installation location

When choosing dimensions, it is necessary to determine the amount of energy consumed. For the calculation, the formula is used: AEO = 1.64*D*V, where:

• AEO - the amount of electricity consumed per year;
• D—rotor diameter (m);
• V is the average annual wind speed (m/sec).

Taking into account the information received, a decision can be made on the parameters of the wind turbine.

When determining the installation location, consider the following:

1. There should be no trees, buildings or other objects nearby that could interfere with the work.
2. Installation is carried out on a special structure, which must be several meters higher than the obstacle located at a distance of at least 200 m.
3. The distance from the windmill to residential buildings is about 30-40 m to reduce the sound from the rotation of the blades.

Wind power plants have certain advantages. Their effectiveness does not depend on the time of year, and the payback period is 5-7 years. Parts wear out slowly, so the equipment can last more than three decades.

But there are also disadvantages: a high mast, the need for constant maintenance and the risk of equipment damage when weather conditions worsen.

How do they work

Light emitting diode (LED) means “light emitting diode”. The operating principle of an LED lamp is significantly different from the operating principles of other lamps. It is essentially a semiconductor device that emits light when a direct current is passed through it. The LED consists of a semiconductor chip located on a copper or aluminum substrate, a housing with two contact leads, and a plastic lens. The more current passed through an LED, the brighter the light it emits. The color of the glow directly depends on the chemical composition of the semiconductor and doping impurities. The first LEDs were red, yellow and green. It was only in 1993 that a Japanese engineer was able to create the first high-brightness blue LED. After this, RGB devices were created, because the four primary colors - red, blue, green and yellow - made it possible to obtain almost any shade of light, including white. As already mentioned, LED lighting sources have a number of significant advantages.