Q. ONCE THE FIXTURES ARE INSTALLED IN THE TREE, WILL IT GROW UPWARD AND TAKE THE POWER SUPPLY (WIRE) WITH IT?
A. No. The tree will continue to grow upward, but the fixture will not move its position due to tree growth. In a tree that is matured in growth, all of the lighting equipment installed will generally remain in its original placement. Maintenance may be required as needed, as the project is surveyed within a 2 to 5 year period. However, a fixture, ballast box, cord, etc. can grow into a tree, especially a new tree that is rapidly growing. Therefore our systems are installed to anticipate tree growth by suspending such equipment away from the tree for future growth.

Q. HOW LONG WILL THE SYSTEM LAST?
A. The hardware as it relates to the metal components in the fixture, ballast boxes, etc. can last from 15 to as much as 25 years or more. The interior components such as sockets and gaskets, especially in uplighting fixtures, usually have a shortened life as they relate to the housing components of the fixture. Ballasts or transformers have a relatively long life depending on certain exterior conditions and usage. HID (high intensity discharge) lamps have a very long life as compared to incandescent lamps of the same wattage and type. The manufacturers rated life of an HID Mercury Vapor lamp is 24,000 hours. In a job with normal 8-10 hours per night usage, this should equate comfortably to 3-5 years life, before a lamp would need to be replaced.

Q. HOW OFTEN DO WE NEED MAINTENANCE?
A. Ground fixtures (recess lights) are in need of periodical maintenance due to insects and debris buildup. We recommend this to be done every 3 months (lawn care personnel can execute this task). Generally by 3-5 years, you may need to acquire some type of maintenance on lamps, ballasts, wire and photo/cells.

Q. HOW DO YOU TURN THE SYSTEM ON AND OFF?
A. The two most common controls we offer are a timer or a photo/cell. This can also be used in conjunction with each other. We also can provide a switch so it can manually be turned on or off.

Q. IS INSTALLATION MESSY?
A. Generally no, but in some cases, weather sites that are under construction and different stages of landscape will play into the factor of what we can control. Our main digging tools are designed for a clean installation and our personnel are trained to leave the site clean during and after completion of the job.

Q. HOW MUCH WOULD IT ADD TO MY ELECTRIC BILL?
A. Cost is very little. For example: if you have 6-100 watt fixtures, the additional cost to your electric bill per month would be formulated as follows: 600W (total wattage) x 10 (amout of hours operating daily) x 30 (days in the month) = 180,000W ÷ 1000 = 180 (est. kilowatt) x .08 (local power company rate) = $14.40 per month.

If you have any questions that need more specific answers which are not listed here, please call or email us. We would be happy to assist you in all of your exterior landscape lighting inquires. Our goal is to be your company of choice for landscape lighting.