Ben and his staff are very friendly and helpful.
One of the most exciting projects we get asked to undertake has to be outdoor lighting. Yeovil Electrics are your local, trusted, outdoor lighting specialists in Yeovil.
A well thought out design and nice warm light can really set the mood on a summers evening. Likewise, a bright light can provide to be very functional over the long nights of winter. A quick search online shows there really is 100's of options to choose. From decorative lights to security lights and LED tape, the possibilities really are endless.
So, which should I buy?
Well I usually leave the choice of lighting up to my customers, as taste can vary massively. I wouldn’t recommend buying off amazon however, unless it’s a well-known brand. The quality can be a bit hit-and-miss, often with fake reviews. Personally, I like to keep things local (there’s specialist lighting shops in Taunton and Dorchester). If you decide to buy from online it’s always worth checking with your electrician that what you are going to buy is of good quality.
What about the brightness?
As covered on a previous blog, its always worth checking the lumen output and colour temperature of the lights you decide to buy. Although not the best solution, this is where a dimmer switch may come in handy if you wish to use your lighting for different purposes. Some lights are adjustable and can change temperature, some have replaceable light bulbs which is worth bearing in mind. There are lighting systems such as Philips hue which are completely adjustable to the environment, however once you have bought the bridge and switch can get expensive.
What’s an IP rating?
You may often see lights described with a IP rating. Well IP stands for ingress protection, the first number is against solid objects, the 2nd number is against liquid. The number relates to the following...
| Mechanical protection |
| Water ingress protection |
0 | No protection | 0 | No protection |
1 | Protected against solid objects over 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands | 1 | Protected against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation |
2 | Protected against solid objects over 12mm, e.g. fingers | 2 | Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15 ° from the vertical |
3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm, e.g. tools & wires | 3 | Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60 ° from the vertical |
4 | Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires, nails etc. | 4 | Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted |
5 | Protected against dust limited ingress, not harmful deposits | 5 | Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted |
6 | Totally protected against dust | 6 | Protected against strong jets of water e.g. on ships deck, limited ingress permitted |
|
| 7 | Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes |
|
| 8 | Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure |
We hope this guide has been of some help and wish you all the best with your project. If you need any more advice please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local electrician in Yeovil.
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