Outside lighting is an important part of any home. Whether you want to illuminate your front porch, back garden, or driveway, installing exterior lights helps brighten up the outside of your property and increase safety and security at night.
However, fitting outdoor lights does involve working with electrical wiring, which some homeowners may be hesitant to take on themselves. So the question arises – do you absolutely need to hire an electrician, or can you handle fitting an outside light as a DIY project? Let’s take a closer look at the factors to consider.
When You Might Need An Electrician For Outdoor Lights?
Here are reasons you may need an electrician to fit an outdoor light:
- Electricity can be dangerous. Electricians know how to work with it safely.
- Some lights use power from inside the house. This is strong electricity. Electricians are trained to handle it.
- If wires need to go inside walls, electricians have the right tools to do this safely.
- Outside areas can be wet. Electricity and water are a bad mix. Electricians make sure lights stay dry.
- There are rules called codes about electricity. Electricians follow the codes.
- Some lights go on roofs or high places. Electricians won’t fall like you might from a ladder.
- Electricians are trained. They know best how to install lights properly without issues.
- Electricians can get permits if needed. Permits make sure the work meets safety rules.
- They have the right equipment for any job, like to reach high places safely.
- Let the expert do tricky electric work. Then lights are safe to use without worry.
Advantages Of Hiring An Electrician
It’s best to hire a pro to install your outside light. Doing electric work yourself can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. An electrician knows how to do it safely. They follow all the local rules about electric work. That way you won’t get in trouble or have to fix problems later.
Most electricians promise their work is good. And they have insurance in case something goes wrong. You don’t want to get hurt or pay for damage if the light installation fails. Leave it to the professionals – it’s worth paying them to do things the right way.
Outdoor Lighting Without Hiring An Electrician
Battery lights: Battery lights use regular batteries instead of plugging into an outlet. They are inexpensive to buy. Battery lights are easier to install yourself. But the batteries will need replacing eventually. They are better for small accent lights that don’t need super bright light.
Plug-in lights need wiring which requires an electrician. Solar lights and battery lights let you add basic outdoor lighting without a professional. They don’t need electricity from your home. So solar and battery are handy alternatives if you just want lights that stay on without being plugged in.
Solar-powered lights: Solar lights run on sunlight during the day. They charge a battery and turn on at night when it’s dark. Solar lights don’t use electricity from inside your house. They are good if your yard gets a lot of sun.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Light Technician?
To be a lighting technician, you’ll want to get some education and training. Here are a few options:
- Take a college course for a Certificate or Diploma in lights for performance arts. These teach you about lighting for things like concerts, plays and movies.
- Get a Certificate in lighting, sound and stages for technical theater. This covers the equipment used behind-the-scenes for performances.
- Complete a T Level in media and broadcast production. The T Level program includes hands-on experience and can help you get a job in TV, film or live events that use special lighting.
The classes will train you on how to operate, install and maintain different types of stage and event lighting systems safely and properly. You’ll learn the technical skills needed for a job working with lights.
FAQ’s
Can I install my own light?
While not required by law, any changes to household wiring should involve a licensed electrician, as light replacement projects could become complicated if wiring doesn’t match or a dimmer switch is added due to electrical safety codes needing an electrician.
What is the highest level of electrician?
Being a master electrician is the top qualification level. States have different rules, but generally one needs a minimum of 7 years experience working as a journeyman electrician, with about 4000 hours spent on electrical jobs over that time, before applying to become a master.
What is the lowest level of electrician?
States license electricians in stages based on education attained and exams passed, usually as an apprentice, then journeyman upon gaining work experience, and finally as a master electrician with advanced qualifications and years of experience in the field.
What is another name for a lighting technician?
Stage lighting technicians, also called lighting techs, work live music, concerts, and other entertainment shows. They set up and operate stage lights, designing and running lighting effects for performances and productions that use specialized lighting.
What is the difference between an electrician and a wireman?
An electrician interprets blueprints and understands building electrical systems. A wireworker connects residential or commercial electric units to existing outside power lines and other power sources, bringing electricity into buildings from the outside.
Final Thoughts
Thinking about putting lights outside your home? It’s important to decide if you need an electrician or if you can do it yourself. Electricity can be dangerous, so the safest thing is to hire a pro if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Electricians know all the rules for electrical work and how to do it safely.
But there are some options you don’t need an electrician for. Battery lights and solar lights run without being plugged in, so you can install them yourself. They are good choices for basic lighting without hiring a pro. Just make sure to get lights that are easy to set up if you want to do it alone. For any work with wires, let the electricians handle it instead of risking shocks or fires.
