Landscape lighting in a tree.

[ibmrduck]

Does anyone have tips for installing a spot light in a tree? I want to use it to light up my grill area. I also want to put in an outlet to run some globe lights across my patio. I live in the Houston TX area so we can grill and bbq year round. Winter time it is too dark next to the grill.

I have easy access to my breaker box for power. Just curious About tips, trick and maybe even electric codes.

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[NKlamerus]

I'm not much help but the only thing I can recomemd is to light the mount off of the tree bark. Atleast 3 to 4 inches and make sure all the branches and leaves are atleast 2 to 3 feet away.

What kind of tree? A line tree is too dry yo handle too much heat. And they also flex too much. While oak is stronger, it has too many branches, turkey oaks actually grow in a spiral. So mounting anything to them will end up in the wrong direction faster than you think.

 

[NKlamerus]

Line tree....*PINE tree

 

[pattenp]

I'm assuming you want to run a 120V 15 amp line for the spot light in the tree. You can use 14/2 UF cable. Bury it at least 12 inches and protect it up the tree with 3/4 inch PV conduit. Feed the circuit from a GFI breaker in the main panel.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Another solution might be low voltage lighting.
It would be much easier to install. The wire used looks like a waterproof lamp cord.
You could mount the transformer on, or even in the house.

 

[pattenp]

This is actually the better way to go.

Another solution might be low voltage lighting.
It would be much easier to install. The wire used looks like a waterproof lamp cord.
You could mount the transformer on, or even in the house.

 

[Falcon67]

Another solution might be low voltage lighting.
It would be much easier to install. The wire used looks like a waterproof lamp cord.
You could mount the transformer on, or even in the house.

This is what I'd look for. If it's a pine, Lob lolly and slash pines in Houston get tall and make a good target for lightning. Lived there, seen that, made the insurance claim. I would not tie one to the house power. If it's smaller like an oak or some such, maybe. But low volt would be my first pick.

 

[Beemer533]

I would also agree with using LV fixtures, much easier to deal with.

I've purchased several landscape lighting fixtures from superbrightleds.

The quality has been good and the prices are reasonable.

 

[Trey T]

globe lights are awesome. I had some at my old house but sold it. I'm looking to get another set for my new place.

 

[tfi racing]

Houston? Low voltage led lighting and solar power would be the way to go.

 

[ibmrduck]

I have been looking at low voltage and I like what I see. Although, the globe lights I have been finding are all 120v.

The tree I am going to mount it to is oak. Not sure what kind. It isn't the tallest tree, I have a huge pine, on my property so I am not too worried about the oak. lightening.

My plan is to come off next to the other two lines I have run around to the front of my house. I have two dedicated lines for my Christmas lights.

I will use a gcfi breaker for sure no matter what I do.

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[southalabama]

Our city park hung lights it the oak trees. They used flood lights and ran power up thru conduit. The tree is growing around the conduit in places. Also keep in mind the tree will grow and your need for more wire will increase year by year if this is a long term project.

 

[Trey T]

Can you elaborate on your lightning issues? I know and heard people that have lightning hit and their TV, air handler, fridge gets circuit board fried, but they don't have anything plugged outdoor.

This is what I'd look for. If it's a pine, Lob lolly and slash pines in Houston get tall and make a good target for lightning. Lived there, seen that, made the insurance claim. I would not tie one to the house power. If it's smaller like an oak or some such, maybe. But low volt would be my first pick.

 

[bassman]

its a NEC code violation to run line voltage on a tree. Bad idea, go LV

 

[pattenp]

Right and wrong. Service overhead cables are not allowed to be supported by vegetation, but luminaries and associated equipment can be supported by trees. NEC 410.36

its a NEC code violation to run line voltage on a tree. Bad idea, go LV

 

[Trey T]

If it's a NEC violation, can you explain in detail the risk? I mean, he hasn't explained his method of running the wire yet.

its a NEC code violation to run line voltage on a tree. Bad idea, go LV

 

[wafer]

I recently looked into lighting my bbq area. I went with low voltage, but most of the inexpensive LED's I found require DC. My existing outdoor transformer was 12v AC, so I hooked up this 12v DC power supply in my garage and connected some of these outdoor LED lights.

I found discussions on the internet about if/how to use DC LED's with an AC transformer, but I didn't go that route.

Another option I looked into was these outdoor battery powered LED's with motion sensors.

I also thought about isolating the circuit by using a 12v solar battery charger and a 12v marine battery for the power, but I didn't investigate this option in detail
.

 

[augustus]

I like the lv idea for this, if you went 120ac, I'd go with a led flood light to keep the heat down since you're in a tender box. Also I'd be worried about animals nesting in or around it.

 

[ibmrduck]

I really like the low voltage idea, but it doesn't give me the ability to add the http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RKEDKW/?tag=atomicindus08-20 globe lights as well. So I think the plan is 14/2 uf with a gcfi breaker run under ground to the base of the tree. I may try to put some slack in a box at the base of the tree to help with the issue of the tree growing.



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[rburke65]

I have ran a 14-2 UF to an weather proof outlet box to the base of a tree controlled by a switch. Then I ran a piece of SO cord......plugged into the outlet.....up to another weatherproof lamp holder.... or flood lamp holder ..... And I just wedged the box into a joint of the tree. No screws into the tree. Worked ok for me.

 

[tommyrs70]

[QUOTE The tree is growing around the conduit in places. Also keep in mind the tree will grow and your need for more wire will increase year by year if this is a long term project./QUOTE]

True ...the tree will get taller and increase in girth but you shouldn't have any need for more wire length as the light will not move upward with tree growth...Trees get taller by adding new cells at the tips of the branches. Whatever height the light is installed at will remain the height in 50 years...