The added value of a day and night garden

If you want to create a garden that residents, visitors and possibly even passers-by can enjoy day and night, then lighting is indispensable. Particularly when the days are short, but also when many people are still tied to their homes and gardens due to home work, the demand for functional and atmospheric garden lighting is consequently high. With a versatile 12V system, the Dutch outdoor lighting brand in-lite gives the garden contractor the means to answer that demand in a simple and at the same time professional way.

"In our regions, it is still mostly customary to use a 230V system for outdoor lighting," admits Philippe Daniëls, in-lite business manager for Belgium. "However, this is complex and a lot of garden contractors are reluctant to try it. Yet it can be much simpler. In the Netherlands, for example, green contractors and gardeners have been using a safe 12V system for many years, which can also be installed without any knowledge of electrical engineering and therefore without the intervention of an electrician."

Professional look

Daniëls emphasizes that in-lite's 12V system in no way sacrifices quality or professional appearance. "The idea that such low-voltage systems are only for the cheaper DIY market is completely outdated. Not only do we have an extensive range of more than 80 lamps and fixtures in various styles and luminance levels, we also offer a five-year warranty on all fixtures and system components."

Testament to in-lite's professional and quality approach are also some more notable fixtures, such as the SWAY, launched last year. "During the day, this ultra-fine fixture blends beautifully into the green landscape - it even gently sways back and forth with the wind - and in the evening it effectively but subtly highlights green elements." The EVO product line, in turn, is characterized primarily by architectural design and consequently comes into its own perfectly in gardens with clean lines and high-quality materials. 

Easy connection

In addition to the fixtures, the in-lite system uses a 12V transformer and ground cables. Depending on the fixtures chosen, their number and their respective VA installation values, the appropriate transformer is selected. "The HUB-50 can thus drive up to 50 VA lighting, the HUB-100 100 VA and the SMART HUB-150 150 VA. An additional advantage of the latter is that three circuits can be realized, each of which can be controlled separately and easily via an app. If desired, they can even be linked to a wireless, PV-powered motion sensor. All that without home automation!"

By the way, the big advantage of 12V is that no short circuits can occur. "You can simply lay the cables in the water, so to speak, and even if a pet gnaws at them, for example, there is no risk. In other words, there is no longer any reason to bury cables: they can be hidden perfectly under a thin layer of soil, grass or gravel. This applies just as much to the Easy-Lock cable connectors, which connect fixtures to the cabling in a simple and guaranteed waterproof manner. The entire outdoor lighting system can therefore be installed quickly and easily, even when no other major works are planned."

Minimal power consumption

However, the demand for atmospheric outdoor lighting is not the only thing that has risen in recent months. Energy bills also went up steadily. "By using energy-efficient LED lighting and a 12V low-voltage system, power consumption is kept to an absolute minimum," Daniëls adds. "With the amount of electricity needed to light one old-fashioned 60W light bulb, we can essentially light an entire garden already."