What kind of lighting can be used in a dacha?
The following type of lighting can be installed at a summer cottage:
1. General.
2. Decorative.
3. Technical.
4. Security.
5. Marking.
Each option has its own characteristics and tasks.
General lighting of a summer cottage
Its task is to illuminate the main area. With light of such intensity, you can not only relax on a cozy veranda, but also carry out any work. The main sources of light emission here are lanterns on supporting poles and wall-type lamps mounted on brackets.
Illumination of the main area
Decorative type of lighting
Organizing decorative lighting for a summer cottage is a real pleasure. The work is creative and does not limit the flight of imagination, which is why many owners prefer to create such lighting in their dacha with their own hands. The most incredible ideas can be used here and any lighting devices can be used: from banal candles to LED strips. Decorative lighting does not carry any special functional load. She simply creates a picturesque picture.
Decorative lamps will decorate the area
Technical lighting
Lighting for a summer cottage of this type is considered necessary. The light from the lamps highlights the garage entrance, greenhouses, and outbuildings. The same type of lighting is used to illuminate the fence in the gate area.
Technical lighting of functional areas
Technical lighting is an integral part of security lighting, so it must be immediately made of high quality, using modern lamps and adjustable guide structures.
Security street lighting in the country
A well-lit area will never attract the attention of thieves. The development of the project should be entrusted to professionals. Only they can arrange the lighting fixtures so that there are no shaded corners left on the site, but at the same time the idyll of contact with nature is not disturbed.
Home security lighting diagram
Marking lighting
It identifies specific areas of territory or buildings that need lighting. Most often, benches, steps, and entrance groups are designated in this way. The category of marking lighting also includes lighting for a fence with a gate.
Marking lighting for steps
Options for planning street lighting for country houses and dachas
Without a pre-developed project for installing supports, poles for lamps, and wiring diagrams, it is impossible to carry out high-quality installation of lighting devices.
Garden lighting has different goals and objectives, each of them has its own ideas and solutions.
Having decided on your ideas, you need to carefully consider the number and location of lighting fixtures
You should select in advance areas that require additional light, connection points, and connecting devices with cables. To do this, you will need sockets with moisture-proof characteristics (they are hidden in junction boxes and lamp supports). Switches are located at the owner’s request (where it is convenient for him).
It is easier to apply the diagram on the territory plan (copy). And if there is no such thing, then you can draw a project (1 to 100), with markings of all buildings.
The following locations are indicated on the plan:
- dots with light;
- switches;
- sockets;
- motion sensors;
- cameras.
An example of drawing up a lighting scheme for a garden plot
During design, it is necessary to carefully consider all lighting elements located on the site. It is important to pay attention to dangerous areas, entrances to buildings, and gates. Installing LED elements on the fence is not recommended due to the possible glare effect.
The height of the spotlight must be correct, since in winter, snow can completely cover the device.
When choosing lighting devices, it is important to take into account the climatic features of the region
The final result will depend on the personal preferences of the residents of the house, their budget and imagination. If you don’t have the opportunity or desire to come up with a design yourself, it’s better to turn to professionals for help. The main thing is to choose good specialists.
Lamps placed on the shore of a reservoir will create a mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere
If desired, the lamps can be placed even at the bottom of the reservoir
Decorative lighting for a country house
There are several ways to organize the lighting of a country cottage. The very purpose of its arrangement is important here. If the owners want to emphasize the architectural charms of the facade, its relief, etc., then the light flux should be poured horizontally onto the wall surfaces. This effect will be achieved by LED strips, LED garlands, and yellow (warm) lamps mounted directly on the walls of the house.
Decorative lighting for a country house
For security lighting of a summer cottage, they do things a little differently. The house is flooded with powerful light emanating from lanterns, spotlights and other similar devices located at a certain distance from it. To maintain the grace of the object and not turn the illuminated area into something like a prison zone, halogen and fluorescent lamps should be used in lanterns.
No. 5. Decorative lighting
Decorative lighting is necessary for recreation areas and objects that you want to admire even after dark. Typically, additional lighting is provided for 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 a lot of ways to organize it - it all depends on the style of the site and the imagination of the owner.
In order not to make a mistake when choosing the style of lamps for your site, you can use a simple rule. The more elaborate and diverse the landscape design of the garden, the more simple and 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.
Lighting the veranda at the dacha
“Chinese lanterns and hidden lighting are actively used in the decorative lighting of the veranda of a country house”
It's no secret that the veranda is a favorite place for spending leisure time at the dacha. It is especially pleasant to sit on it in the evening. Decorative lighting for the veranda at the dacha will help add comfort to the atmosphere and make the corner original and stylish. It is organized both indoors and outdoors.
In the first case, electric light emitters are used. You can use both devices made for lighting a summer cottage with your own hands, as well as store-bought models. Entire garlands of lamps, spotlights, and floor lamps may appear on the veranda.
Decorative lighting for the veranda
The choice of their design is purely a matter of taste. Extravagant designs made of bright balls and beads, the shine of austere metal, ornate carved or colorful plastic lampshades - all this is appropriate in lighting a summer cottage and has a right to exist.
The main guideline when choosing an option is the atmosphere that is planned to be recreated on the veranda in the evening: intimate and cozy or brightly festive. Chinese lanterns and hidden lighting are actively used in the decorative lighting of the veranda of a country house.
Decorative lighting of the veranda using garland
In the second case, it is more correct to use solar lighting devices for the dacha. Their dim glow will create an amazing soft illumination of the surrounding area.
Fence lighting
“Thrifty owners make the most of the energy of solar lighting for their dachas and instead of electric lamps use their analogues powered by solar panels”
Since the fence is the “face” of the site, to organize its lighting you need to choose aesthetic lamps that have a level of moisture and dust protection within IP 43. The most popular are practical and at the same time inexpensive lamps in the form of a transparent plastic bulb. Models with glass lampshades are more attractive and have better light output, but you will have to pay more for them.
Country fence lighting
Lamps differ not only in appearance, but also in the method of mounting. When organizing fence lighting with your own hands, you need to choose the design that will be more comfortable to work with.
The first option is the so-called cap. Lamps are placed along the top of the fence. The design is practical, well protected, giving the fence an original look. This type of fastener is considered the most reliable, but it is not suitable for every type of fence.
Lamps with hoods are placed on top of the fence
Wall lamps are considered universal and have a chic look. They are fixed with brackets. You can even mount them on fences, but it is more rational to use them not for street lighting of a summer cottage, but by installing them from the inside. From the outside, they can easily be damaged, or even removed altogether.
Wall lights for fence
Thrifty owners make the most of the energy of solar lighting for their dachas and instead of electric lamps use their analogues powered by solar panels. They do not produce too bright a glow, but they are incredibly good at decorative lighting of a country house.
Solar fence light
If, nevertheless, the balance is tipped towards electrical appliances, then equip them with LED lamps, which have excellent characteristics and are economical in “eating” energy. Their service life exceeds 5 years, so the seemingly unprofitable prices are very optimal.
The service life of LED lamps exceeds 5 years
The second element acceptable for lighting a fence in a country house is incandescent lamps. They shine well and cost little, but that’s where their positive characteristics end. An ordinary lamp will generate a lot of kilowatts, it will have to be changed monthly, if not more often, and they can explode when exposed to moisture.
Lanterns with incandescent lamps for illuminating the fence
Planning lighting for a summer cottage or garden plot
Let's start by planning the lighting of our garden plot. To do this, first of all, you need to decide on the location of the illuminated areas, then decide where the external lighting of the dacha will be connected from and, finally, where and which switches are convenient to place.
If you have a passport for your site, make several copies of it; if not, draw a plan on a sheet of graph paper
, on a scale of 1:100. Those. one centimeter on paper will be equal to 1 meter on the ground. It is right on this plan that you need to mark out the lighting scheme. This will be the so-called situational diagram. As an example, look at the figure.
Based on the situational situation, we draw up an electrical diagram. There is nothing complicated about this, you can take generally accepted designations, or you can come up with your own; anyway, the diagrams will be needed to design the lighting for your summer cottage, and not for an exhibition. An example of an electrical circuit is shown in the figure below.
When drawing up the diagram, we assumed that three lamps would be enough for us - L1; L2, and L3 respectively. L3 will illuminate the toilet and be turned on by switch B3 located next to the bathhouse. L2 illuminates the space between the bathhouse and the country house and is turned on by switch B2, L1 illuminates the entrance to the site, and can be turned on in two ways: switch B1 and motion sensor D. In addition, we placed an electric bell button K at the gate. Switches B1, B2, B2. 1 will be placed next to the entrance to the country house. More information about electrical circuits can be found on the page about DIY wiring.
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Installing a motion sensor in the garden
A motion sensor is a relatively recently marketed device that closes a circuit when a moving object comes within its range of action. In this case, the sensor is adjusted to a certain size so as not to be triggered by, say, a running cat. Now, imagine, you arrived at the dacha in the dark, you no longer need to strike matches or shine a flashlight - the lamp will automatically turn on when you approach the gate, and turning on in your absence, when an intruder approaches the gate, will at least make him think and may scare you away.
Often motion sensors are sold in a unit with a photo relay so that the sensor does not operate during the daytime. By the way, as an additional measure to protect your dacha, you can connect a photo relay to a lamp located, say, on the veranda. Then at night a light will turn on here, simulating the presence of the owners. Of course, the lamp must be set to an energy-saving minimum power. An example of such a circuit can be seen in our electrical diagram in relation to L2. If switch B2 is open, then when it becomes dark enough the lamp will be turned on by the FR photo relay. Switch B2.1 is used to turn off the photo relay; when it is turned off, the lamp is controlled only by switch B2.
The given schemes are simple, however, by combining the elements included in them, you can achieve many different effects.
Light decoration of paths
Ground lighting structures have proven themselves well in outdoor lighting in the country. The devices have a metal body, which ensures their high mechanical strength. The presence of a diffuser made from tempered glass allows them to emit light of a soft white spectrum. The fact that they are dug directly into the ground allows the structures to illuminate the paths, and not everything around them, which gives the night garden a special charm. Add to this the low power consumption of the devices, and the issue of choice will be practically resolved, unless, of course, the palm is taken over by models from the line of solar lighting for the garden.
Ground lamp
If the design features of the landscape require alternative solutions, then you can take a closer look at decorative columns, which also provide pleasant diffused light. Such elements can be used not only to mark the line of paths, but also to provide lighting in the dacha to other objects that need it. Regenerative models of such structures, powered by solar panels, will allow you not to bother with the problems of connecting devices to the network.
Decorative columns provide pleasant diffused light
A modern trend in transforming alleys has been the arrangement of their lighting in a summer cottage by installing emitters directly into the constituent elements: into colored gravel bedding, under a boardwalk, into tiles, which gives a stunning decorative effect. Using the same principle, you can arrange decorative lighting for a country house, only the elements should be placed around the perimeter of the blind area.
Built-in track lighting
Almost everything in a dacha landscape requires lighting, so don’t think that by organizing the lighting of a fence, veranda and country house, you have coped with the task. Light compositions should appear on trees, near a pond, and sculptural groups, if there are any on the territory.
It is clear that it will be quite expensive to collect a sufficient number of solar lighting elements for a dacha, like any other, but you can look for alternative solutions in this matter.
DIY lighting ideas for your dacha
In order to be able to enjoy dacha gatherings, which sometimes drag on past midnight, you will have to take care, at a minimum, of lighting the veranda, and ideally the entire area. This shouldn't be scary. Yes, the prices for garden lights and solar lighting for a summer house sometimes make you gasp, but there is still a way out of the situation. More or less affordable designs of devices for street lighting can be found in online stores or... make decorative lighting in your dacha with your own hands.
A completely worthy alternative to design work can be inexpensive garlands and light bulbs in unusual lampshades carefully hung around the area.
Fairy lights
Yes, yes, we are talking about the notorious New Year's decorations that lie uselessly on the shelves of closets in the summer. They can be used to provide decorative lighting for a country house and veranda, or to decorate trees and the banks of a pond. If you want to save on electricity, you can not leave them working all night, but turn them on only during parties.
Garland as an element of landscape decor
The garland can be easily improved by making it itself an element of landscape decor. The easiest way to make hanging spherical lampshades for lighting a summer cottage. You don't need any special talents for this. Cute round lampshades are made from inflated balloons wrapped with PVA glue soaked in: rope, twine, braid. After the winding layer has dried, the ball is burst and wires with light bulbs are placed inside.
Lampshades made of threads
Glass jars
For garlands of illumination of a veranda at the dacha, assembled from large light bulbs, a glass jar can serve as a lampshade. It can be styled as country by wrapping it in jute rope or cutting cotton lace and a cute patterned cotton fabric and decorating it like a vintage one.
Garland of cans
The lighting in a summer cottage looks very unusual, the elements of which are made in the pop art style. To do this, the jars will have to be painted with luminescent paints of various colors. They are applied to the inside of the container in randomly shaped spots. During the daytime, an improvised lighting element for street lighting at the dacha will accumulate sunlight, and at night it will glow, softly shimmering with rich shades. The cheapest way to get solar lighting for your garden. Such phosphor lamps are good for alpine hills, flower beds, and as path lighting.
Bright lamps made from multi-colored cans
Cans
Another opportunity for original decorative lighting for a country house. Nails and a hammer will help you create a masterpiece. Sketch out a sketch of the design that you would like to see on the lampshade, attach the sheet of creativity to the tin and, placing a piece of wood on the inside, punch nails along the contour. Try to make holes at equal distances from each other. All that remains is to immerse the light bulb inside and you can enjoy the result.
Decorative lamps made from tin cans
Plastic
An original futuristic chandelier for illuminating a veranda at the dacha can be assembled from ping-pong balls.
Garlands of ping pong balls
Multi-colored disposable cups, glued together in the shape of a ball, will decorate the sconce that has lost its shade. This magnificence can take part in lighting a fence, for example, or decorative lighting of a country house.
Vinyl records and compact discs will be good working materials for creating lighting masterpieces of futurism.
Lamps made from plates
Even a plastic corrugated pipe can act as a table lamp. You just need to bend it in an original way
home stuff
Out-of-use saucepans, sieves, colanders and graters can also help you find interesting solutions for organizing lighting for your dacha. Damaged enamel and signs of rust are easily masked with bronze or silver paints. Add a light bulb - and a retro-inspired lamp with a slight touch of technogenicity is ready.
Original lamp made from old dishes
Candles as lighting for the garden
A great, romantic alternative to electricity. Although they provide very little light, what a charming spectrum they provide! Instead of light bulbs, they can be installed in tin and glass homemade lampshades. For greater stability of the lighting part, small colored pebbles or sand should be poured inside. This will protect the bottom from wax sticking and make it easier to replace the cinders.
Candles will create a magical, cozy atmosphere
Do-it-yourself lighting installation for a summer cottage
Now about the installation. Wire connections are placed in junction boxes. It is best to choose boxes with the ability to connect wires with clamping nuts. You can connect the wires by simply twisting them well together with pliers, but in this case it is highly advisable not to be lazy and solder each connection. The twists are securely wrapped with electrical tape.
Increased demands are placed on electrical equipment for outdoor lighting. Wires placed on the walls of buildings must be placed in a corrugated sleeve
made of non-flammable plastic. The wire used to supply electricity to remote objects (in our case, to the toilet) must have at least double insulation. To avoid the need to install intermediate poles for hanging the wire, use a thin cable, galvanized or in a plastic sheath.
Carefully choose lamps, switches, junction boxes and sockets (if you want to install an outlet on the street). They must be designed for outdoor use and be sealed or at least semi-sealed. In the latter case, it is necessary to provide protective canopies from rain and snow. It is advisable to choose lanterns with porcelain sockets, the same applies to mounting panels of switches and sockets.
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Typically, alternating electric current with a voltage of 220 Volts is used in everyday life. If the terminals of the DC power supply are named “plus” and “minus”, then the alternating current ones are “zero” and “phase”.
When you touch the neutral wire, you most likely will not feel anything, but touching the phase is not only very painful, but also dangerous. There is a rule - the electrical circuit must be mounted in such a way that the switch always opens the phase wire. When the switch is open, when replacing, for example, a burnt-out lamp in a flashlight, you will be dealing with a neutral wire, which means there is no risk of getting an electric shock.
You can determine which wire is zero and which phase using an indicator. This is a device that resembles a screwdriver, with a light bulb built into it, and a metal terminal located at the end of the handle. Holding your finger on the terminal (this is not dangerous), the tip of the indicator touches the wires. When you touch a phase, the light comes on. It’s good to have such a device on hand, it costs mere pennies, but sometimes it’s very important to check whether the wire is live or not
.
Of course, you cannot install outdoor lighting in your summer cottage under voltage. The sequence is as follows: install, check, connect.
External lighting connection point to the network
You can use a regular outlet as a connection point. In this case, if necessary, you will de-energize the entire circuit by simply pulling out the plug. You can connect to the outlet according to a permanent circuit, turning off the general voltage supply at the metering panel, remove the outlet body and connect to its terminals.
To generally turn off the current, “electrical plugs”, porcelain cylinders containing fuses, were turned out on old panels. Nowadays, safety circuit breakers are usually installed on metering panels; they are turned off by a lever located on the front panel.
Anecdote on topic
An electrician is working on a pole, and a granny is walking nearby. Electrician: - Grandma, give me the wire! Granny, bending down, takes the wire: “Here, son!” Electrician: - That means zero...
Here are the main things you need to know when installing outdoor lighting yourself.
Of course, in addition to the devices described in the article (motion sensor, photo relay), there are others. You can find out about them by going to any electrical equipment store and talking with the manager for five minutes. And how to use the capabilities of these devices in creating outdoor lighting at your summer cottage is only a matter of your imagination! The site also has a lot of information about electricians, in particular about wiring, installation of sockets and switches. Ask questions in the comments or by email. Send your works and photographs, we will publish them on the website. Order work from specialists! Support the project! Good luck to you, good to your home! Leave your tips and comments below. Subscribe to our newsletter. Good luck to you and good luck to your family!
