Disassemble your lights to clean them. Website operating There's one thing that isn't true about lighting, and electrical connections in general, but that many people believe, is that a temporary setup can be done without much regard for whether it's really safe, or "up to code," or not. The simplest way to protect your outdoor lighting fixtures from the elements is by locating them correctly. Read on to learn some ways to protect your fixtures from water and the possibility of them shorting out. Aluminum doesn’t hold up well around salt and will corrode over time and is not recommended for coastal … They simply plant in the ground on stakes in much the same way as solar lights. Use an electrical tester to make sure the power is off. Have gotten great compliments from the neighbors already. Protecting Your Lights from the Elements. Scott Simpson Design + Build Save Photo. Reply. You must be aware that each light needs to be turned on by hand (as do solar lights), so if it’s raining or snowing outside,  you’re going to get a little wet when you turn them on and off. When this salt-ridden water gets inside it can cause a whole lot of damage … What matters most is the actual wattage of the bulb -- not the "incandescent equivalent." However, many solar lights also have batteries fitted so you can run them as long as you need. In order to protect outdoor LED lighting from failing within an investment payback period of about five years, the lighting must offer high durability and reliability. It's required anywhere you might be plugging something in while you're grounded. Go Green: How to Maintain Solar Deck Lig... Go Green: How to Maintain Solar Deck Lights. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. It's there to keep you from putting in a light bulb that will overheat the wiring in the fixture, which will damage the insulation on the wires. How To Paint an Outdoor Light Fixture Without Taking it Down. As the name implies, these covers will keep the receptacle​ and the plug that's in it, dry -- even in the rain. How to protect exterior lighting from surges and lightning 31 August 2015 When we think about lightning, it is often in the dramatic context of skyscrapers being struck or, for those of you with a nervous disposition, walking across open land such as … These methods are the simplest way to keep your outdoor lighting fixtures safe although they may not always be possible. I am looking for either a tough light fixture or something to guard the lights. In an exposed fixture such as an outdoor flood light, most of us think of this. In the event that the live wire comes loose and touches the light fixture, the ground wire diverts the power and blows the breaker, instead of you feeling an electrical shock when you touch the fixture. View our Privacy Policy here. Buy and use only outdoor-rated extension cords for any temporary lighting you're connecting outside your house. Your exterior lights can be damaged because of fertilizer, snow or heavy rain. Pros and Cons of Using Solar Security Li... Pros and Cons of Using Solar Security Lighting. Copyright© When I took the old brass light fixture off, it barely had any resemblance to the shiny brass that it once was. Since they’re sealed units, water is unable to enter. If your outdoor receptacle isn't under a roof or some other protective cover it needs to have a special cover, known as an "in-use" cover, over it. … Think of it like a sponge that soaks water up into its deepest layers. The reason why these materials work best is due to their high resistance to corrosion. What to Look for in Solar Landscape Lighting, Troubleshooting a Turn Signal that Won't Turn On, Wiring a Light Switch in the Middle of a Ciruit, 5 Tips for Installing an Outdoor Light Switch. This video shows how to replace a light bulb in an outdoor lighting sconce fixture. Indirect Lightning-Induced Surge When nearby electrical equipment … Protect Your Outdoor Lights. This is also a good place to install lights that switch on as soon as they detect motion. Be careful when you're attaching temporary lighting strings and ornaments. I have used Hammered Bronze spray paint from Rustoleum before with great results, but the oil-based brush on version of the … LED lights are generally bought in packs of six. The lamps may be in sockets for easy replacement—or, in the case of some LED fixtures, hard-wired in place. This fixture usually has a plastic cover to protect it from spattered grease. Continue to spray the primer onto the fixture … Keep reading to find out how. Aluminum Outdoor Lighting. Putting solar lights along outdoor pathways is a good way to make sure you don’t have to worry about the elements. Reply Delete. Then make it look and function the way you want it to. Transient surge events in AC power lines, which can damage lighting fixtures, represent a significant threat to outdoor LED lighting installations. Outdoor light fixtures brighten up your property but their surfaces can become dulled by the elements over time. Solar lights absorb energy during the day and expend it at night in the light that they give out. An alternative to solar lights are LED lights. All rights reserved. If you're putting a CFL bulb in a fixture with a 60W rating, for example, you can use one that draws any amount of power up to 60W (which would put out more light than a 200W incandescent bulb). Freshen them up and make them look new with a coat of spray paint this weekend. Not only do they add to your home’s security, but you don’t have to leave them on all evening when you go out. It’s also possible to buy outdoor lighting fixtures that are completely weatherproof but if you already have fixtures in place and don’t want to go to the expense and time of replacing them, light shields are an effective solution. One $7 can of spray paint coated six light fixtures! A lot of people also like to add outdoor lighting as part of decorating for the holidays -- some at Halloween and even more at Christmas. These are also individual lights which are sealed units and are operated by batteries. Step 10 Spray the brass or gold fixture with a light coat of primer. One light fixture that always gets overlooked is the one in the stove hood. It can help you see who's calling at night and deter burglars. Either of the other two is built to take outside. All information is provided "AS IS." Painted steel and aluminium will both corrode under the paint and eventually disintegrate. And they're definitely not made to stand up to getting wet. Similarly, you can locate lights under overhangs where there will be a lot less chance of the rain reaching them. Notice: Installing additional electrical wiring for outdoor lighting should be done according to local and national electrical codes with a permit and be inspected. Several light coats are better than one heavy one. In this outdoor space, wall sconces on the house provide adequate illumination for entertaining, while the garden fixtures and the lights strung through the trees bring a whimsical feel to the patio at night. Your best option is to utilize an MOV surge protector installed by a professional outdoor lighting company in Houston. The fixtures should be mounted so that they are slightly above eye-level. Light fixtures in damp areas (protected by an overhanging … Depending on the outlet box location, different arm styles can be selected to position the filament at … Globe or Light Cover: Follow the same procedure as above. Protecting Your Outdoor Lighting with a … A light fixture (US English), light fitting (UK English), or luminaire is an electrical device that contains an electric lamp that provides illumination. Such a simple … Today, we're going to install a porch light to the side of our home. Metal conducts electricity. Even though they'll have special outdoor covers over them, the receptacles themselves need to be able to take dampness, freezing, and heat without being damaged. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Replies . The National Electrical Code includes special requirements for temporary installations that apply in addition to all of the regular guidelines. home improvement and repair website. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. It was pressure washed, which may have had bleach in the mixture. 11 of 11. We all like to be safe too, and to keep our house, our family, our pets, and our guests safe too -- even if they're only staying long enough to pick up some candy or sing a carol. Sep 15, 2019 - Tape around the light fixtures to protect the brick. To clean your solar light fixtures you need a lot of the same equipment. Is there a way to bring back the shining brass and seal it? You may freely link This is especially true in Texas, where the storms can be extremely severe. An easy solution is to place a bucket over the fixture before you mow, or using a weed whacker to trim all around the lights. Aluminum fixtures are very affordable, but are of the lowest quality of the metals we will discuss and are simply not designed to last for a long period of time outdoors. They need to be rated as weather-resistant. An accent light under a manger to give it a glow may be just the effect you're looking for in your nativity scene, for example. To avoid damaging the metal outdoor lighting’s protective lacquer coating: Don’t use all-purpose, chemical-based cleaners. Since I … Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be If you're having trouble finding a standard bulb that's rated for outdoor use, check the fine print on some appliance bulbs. 1. If you plan on installing outdoor light fixtures in a salt corrosive area then you want to make sure you can rinse the fixture with fresh water at least once a month. On the list were these outdoor light fixtures we have hanging on either side of our garage and French doors in our bedroom: They get direct sun most of the day and the finish has become so faded. The cover needs to be cleaned as often as your stove or the cover will become covered with grease and not let the light come through completely. Don't use something that might damage the wires, and avoid anything with metal in it. Use a simple grease-cutting cleaner. Similarly, you can locate lights under overhangs where there will be a lot less chance of the rain reaching them. I’ve been telling my Hubby that I need him to take them down for me so I can spray paint them, but I tired of waiting so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Dry them completely inside and out before reassembly. These conditions can have a detrimental effect on them. I have brass light fixtures, that got dull and one has dark places on it. That's not so. These are small, clear boxes that fit over the outdoor light fixtures and seal them to make sure no moisture can penetrate through to the bulb or the light fitting. We welcome your comments and How do I protect a light fixture such as this or maintain it so that it stays shiny rather than pitted and black? Solar fixtures have three parts to clean. The boxes do not have to have lids since … This can save large sums of money on utility bills. Keep the ones that say "indoor" inside. These covers will be marked "Suitable For Damp Locations.". Thanks. All outdoor light fixtures need to be maintained and cleaned to preserve the life of the product. I have been searching internet without much success. So the top tip of all is to make it safe. Rinsing the … Photo by: HEAD Productions HEAD Productions. That means that we want the lights, power cords, controls and everything else associated with our outdoor lighting to be done with safety in mind. It can let you make the most of your patio on warm summer nights and can create stunning visual effects of light … Define the Purpose for Landscape Lighting… Because they're not permanent installations, temporary lighting and power connections can be more dangerous. But if it doesn't, then you need to install a GFCI receptacle there. A wall fixture that goes next to your door but doesn't have a roof over it needs a higher rating -- weatherproof, weather resistant, and "suitable for wet locations" are the words you're looking for. For starters, always choose lighting fixtures that have received the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) seal of approval. Where you have outdoor lighting fixtures that are on the mains system but are out in the open, you can buy light shields to protect them. Do make sure your paint is not too thick and try to apply evenly. suggestions. Solar fixtures should get a quick wipe down once a month, and a thorough cleaning twice a year. Remove the screws holding the light fixture. Outdoor lighting fixtures are useful additions that set off your landscaping and for guiding people safely along the path to your door. This can help to … But if you've also scattered a lot of hay, or straw, around the stable, the effect you get might be a little bit different. It can illuminate your path to the front door. … Use Decorative Lights Made for Outdoor Use, Install a Cover for Damp Locations Under a Roof, Install a Cover for Wet Locations in the Open, Attach Holiday Lights With Non-Metal Non-Binding Materials, National Electrical Code (NEC) Rules for Outdoor Wiring, National Electrical Code Regulations on GFCI Protection, The 7 Best Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights of 2021, Electrical Code Requirements for Outlet Receptacles, 9 Reasons Why Light Bulbs Burn Out Too Quickly, Choosing a Safe Electrical Extension Cord. Place clear goggles over the eyes, gloves on the hands and a filter mask over the nose and mouth to protect against paint fumes and flyaway spray particles. Have the porch lights close to the front door where the rain can’t reach them. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. The labeling should say "indoor" or "indoor/outdoor" or "outdoor." Refinish exterior brass light fixtures 2003. The good news is, you can protect the glass part of the fixtures by using a protective glass treatment. The recommended materials to have outdoor lights made from in coastal areas is either bronze, copper, stainless steel, or plastic (polycarbonate). This way you know your lighting is weatherproof and won’t catch fire or short out in wet or even damp conditions. Q. A fixture that is specially designed to resist rust regardless of exposure to moisture or salinity is your best bet for long lasting lighting fixtures. It’s harder to find truly rust-resistant lighting fixtures than you may think. Simply apply the paint either long way around the shade or short, up and down strokes, making your way around the shade. The easiest solution to prevent light fixtures from rusting is to buy rust-resistant fixtures. But it'll pay you in terms of the life of the bulb and the ease of replacing it to do the same with your porch light. Follow the tips here, of course, but keep in mind that safety is goal #1. If the wiring that feeds your outdoor receptacle has GFCI protection from a circuit breaker or some other GFCI device upstream, you can install a standard weather-resistant receptacle in the outside box. Whatever it says, respect that. There’s no wiring involved so there’s no danger of wires becoming damp and creating short circuits. I painted, cleaned, and prepped 3 exterior light fixtures in about 2 hours time. It’s a safety feature. Really fun and easy to do. On a typical door this measures out to approximately 66 inches above the threshold of the door. It’s easy to install as many or as few lights as you wish. Cloudy plastic or acrylic can be cleaned with a small amo… All light fixtures have a fixture body and one or more lamps. After a year of being outside, this light fixture is starting to show signs of turning black which I suppose is called Patina. The ground wire is designed to protect you. Remove the wire nuts and wires from the light fixture. For two quick examples, a light that's under your porch roof and never gets wet needs to be rated for damp locations, or say "outdoor" on it, because it will still get damp, cold and hot, and it needs to be able to take that. Be careful to keep lighting materials that generate heat, like many light bulbs, away from other materials that can ignite and burn easily. The rules for outdoor lighting are principally about using fixtures that are rated for use in damp or wet locations: Light fixtures in wet/exposed areas must be listed for use in wet locations. Avoid any cleaning products that contain ammonia or alcohol. Most fixtures, indoor or outdoor, will have a sticker or label that says "Maximum Wattage: 60W", or 75W or 100W. Plastic cable ties are one popular and inexpensive choice for this task. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Outdoor lighting gives you loads of benefits. GFCI outlets should be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and even attics, crawl spaces, and unfinished basements. A frequent problem is that outdoor lighting fixtures are at the mercy of the elements and are most affected by rain and snow. It would have taken me longer to replace them. Add a soft brush to your toolkit for the tough grime. And that certainly includes when you're standing out in the yard. Precaution: Identify the lighting circuit or power source, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the electrical wiring and light fixture connections. Install a Cover for Wet Locations in the Open. They're usually light and flexible, so they're easy to keep out of the way. This is also a good place to install lights that switch on as soon as they detect motion. Many outdoor light poles are made from porous materials which means they are NOT salt resistant outdoor lighting. Cover the socket with painter’s tape to protect the exterior of the socket and secure the newspapers. How do I refinish outside brass light fixture before painting the exterior of my house. As the name implies, these covers will keep the receptacle and the plug that's in it, dry -- even in the rain. Over time, the aluminum will oxidize and the paint will fade quite a bit. The extension cords used indoors are made for that. Disassemble the light fixture and remove the glass panes. If your outdoor receptacle isn't under a roof or some other protective cover it needs to have a special cover, known as an "in-use" cover, over it. I chose Rustoleum Metallic Burnished Amber. Fixtures may also have a switch to control the light, either … Bill Lewis is a freelance writer and professional electrician with over 25 years experience. Most of us have some lighting outside our home that belongs to us, and that we control. Keep the spray can at least 4 to 6 inches from the surface of the fixture to avoid overspray and running primer. Weather-resistant, of course. 6 Tips for Installing Outdoor Solar Ligh... 6 Tips for Installing Outdoor Solar Lighting in Your Yard. Have the porch lights close to the front door where the rain can’t reach them. They give out a stronger light than solar lights so they can be better for darker areas of the garden or for a main path to the house. Of course, even that won’t protect your lights from a … 6 Clean the exterior light glass with glass cleaner and paper towels if … If you want to hang some lighted pumpkins or skulls or candy canes or icicles on your eaves or porch railing, only use ones that are made to go there. If you're installing a lighting fixture outdoors, it must be designed and built to be there. Protecting your outdoor lights from serious surges can save you a lot of money over the years. Porous materials allow everything from stains to moisture and salt in the air to penetrate beyond the first layer. You want it to “soak in”. Remember to put up enough protection for over spray! Porch lights or security lights, for example. If it can survive in a freezer or an oven, it can probably survive outdoors. GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, protection is one of the most important electrical safety improvements of the last forty years. I am looking for ideas on how to protect my wall mounted garage light fixtures from damage due to my boys playing basketball in the driveway. A well-lit landscape should have both functional and decorative light fixtures. Keep away from using abrasive cleaners or rough-textured cleaning cloths. That’s the only purpose the ground wire serves. Many metal fixtures are topped with a powder coat or baked enamel that is … The simplest way to protect your outdoor lighting fixtures from the elements is by locating them correctly. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Framing small boxes to prevent insulation from touching fixtures is a common solution to the non-contact rule. If you have an outdoor receptacle that's on your porch or your screened-in patio or in some other location that's protected from direct protection, then you can cover it with a "trap door" cover that will close, and keep it protected, when nothing is plugged into it -- and it's OK, then, to plug something into that receptacle and leave it there for a few days. The only downside is that the energy stored in the light won’t last all night. If you are looking for a different way to clean the bathroom fixtures, you can also use vinegar and baking soda.This would allow you to give all of the fixtures a good cleaning periodically without having to go to a store to buy professional products.Be careful not to get any of it on your clothing due to the potential to stain and smell.Make both of these solutions by … You totally inspired me and I did the same thing to my outdoor light fixtures this weekend. You should always plug temporary outdoor loads into outdoor receptacles, rather than running a cord out through a doorway or window from one of the receptacles inside your house, and those receptacles need to be weather-resistant. Iryna @RedBarberry.com March 18, 2015 at 2:21 PM. Since I love these fixtures, I was happy to bring them back to life. Imaging if you never washed your car how it would look in two years especially if you lived beachside.
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