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Are you tired of fumbling in the dark when you get home? Do you want to make your outdoor spaces more dramatic and secure? Waterproof exterior home spotlights make a big difference! In this guide, you’ll learn everything from how to choose outdoor led spotlights for house to installation.
But, why exterior home spotlights?
- A well-lit area deters intruders.
- Enhance architectural features or create a welcoming ambiance.
- Steps and pathways must be navigated safely.
Ready to install exterior home spotlights? We’ll cover all the possible questions like:
- How to install exterior home spotlights?
- Where to put outside lights in a house?
- Is there a difference between a floodlight and a spotlight?
- How many lumens should an effective spotlight have?
- How much does an outdoor spotlight cost?
It’s time to switch on a brighter future for your LED exterior home spotlights!
How to install exterior home spotlights
We’ll cover everything you need for a safe and successful project.
You’ll need a few essential items for a successful spotlight installation. Gather these beforehand: exterior home spotlights (choose the beam angle – flood or spot – and brightness that suits your needs), a weatherproof junction box, outdoor-rated electrical wire, wire connectors, electrical tape, screws, wire strippers, a drill with bits, a screwdriver, caulk, and safety glasses and gloves.
Before installing you need to do proper planning. You can consider the following:
Light location: Where do you need it? You might want to highlight walkways, entryways, or landscape features. It’s important to place things both for security and aesthetic reasons.
Find a GFCI-protected outlet nearby. You might need an electrician to add a circuit if you don’t have one.
Brightness and beam type: How much light you’ll need at each location (in lumens or floodlights).
Exterior home spotlight installation steps
Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Verify the wires aren’t connected to anything.
Mount Junction Box: Install the weatherproof junction box where your wire will originate, ensure proper attachment to your home’s exterior.
Run Wire: Run the electrical wire from the power source to the junction box, and then to each spotlight location.
At each spotlight location, connect the spotlight wires:
Make sure the connect and spotlight wires are stripped. Connect the wires securely with wire connectors. A black to a black, a white to a white, a ground to a ground
Wrap connections in electrical tape for extra safety.
Mount Spotlight
Attach the spotlight to its mounting location use the supplied hardware.
Use caulk to seal any gaps around the junction box and spotlight base for weatherproof. Turn power back on at the breaker and test your spotlights!
Read Also: How To Install Low Voltage Bollard Lights? Troubleshooting Outdoor Bollards.
Where to put outside lights in a house?
You need to think about the following when placing your exterior home spotlights:
- Entryways: Front and back doors should be well-lit for safety and visibility. Use overhead fixtures and wall-mounted lights beside doorways.
- Pathways and Steps: Light up walkways for safe navigation with path or step lights.
- Landscaping Features: Highlight trees, architectural details, or garden features with spotlights or up lights for added drama.
- Dark corners: Use motion-sensor lights to deter burglars and make your property more secure.
- Accents and Ambiance: Use soft lighting on porches or around patios to create a warm and welcoming feel.
Remember: Balance functionality with aesthetics. Avoid to create overly bright areas or direct light into neighbors’ properties.
Read Also: Easy DIY Outdoor Under Deck Lighting Installation (LEDs Made Simple)
What are the 3 types of spotlights?
On the basis of beam angle:
Narrow Spotlights: They create dramatic illumination of specific objects or areas with a focused light beam (typically under 45 degrees).
Medium Spotlights: A balance between a narrow beam and wider coverage (around a 45-degree angle), offers versatile highlight.
Floodlights: The largest beam (often over 45 degrees), designed to wash a large space with light for general illumination.
Based on the light source:
LED Spotlights: Most common nowadays. It’s energy-efficient, long-last, and comes in different colors.
Halogen spotlights: A traditional option. They’re bright and warm, but they’re more energy-intensive and shorter.
Incandescent Spotlights: The least common option today. The most light color, but the least efficient and longest-lasting.
Based on your application:
Landscape spotlights: They’re great for highlight trees, buildings, and other outdoor features.
Security Spotlights: They usually have motion sensors to deter thieves.
Track Spotlights: Those spotlights you can adjust on a track.
Note: There can be overlaps between these categories. For example, you can have a narrow-beam LED landscape spotlight!
Is there a difference between a floodlight and a spotlight?
There’s a big difference between a floodlight and a spotlight in how they distribute light. With floodlights, you get a broad wash of bright light. You can light up driveways, backyards, or sports fields with them.
A spotlight, on the other hand, projects a focused beam of light. You can use them to highlight signage, architectural details, or a specific area in your yard because of their concentrated beams. It’s common for spotlights to have a narrower beam angle than floodlights.
Read Also: How To Replace An Outdoor Light Socket? Want To Change It With A Screw Under The Bulb!
How many lumens should an effective spotlight have?
Lumen count for exterior home spotlights depends on the purpose and brightness level of the spotlight. As a general rule, spotlights should have at least 700-1000 lumens to provide enough illumination for most outdoor uses.
How much does an outdoor spotlight cost?
Outdoor home spotlights vary in price depends on brand, features, and quality. For a single outdoor spotlight, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $200. You’ll pay more for high-end models with advanced features.
Read Also: How Do You Use Outdoor Task Lighting? 5 Amazing Benefits That You Must Know
In conclusion, installing exterior home spotlights not only adds a touch of drama and charm to your home’s exterior, but also increases your home’s security and safety.
Follow these steps and consider factors like placement, lumens, and cost to transform your dark and dull outdoor spaces into well-lit and inviting places. What’s the point of waiting? Get your home’s exterior lit up and live a brighter life!
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