Mixing it up is honestly the way to go. I’ve had folks want their whole yard to look like a disco ball for Christmas, but then they get tired of the app juggling. You’re right—wiring’s a pain, but once it’s done, you can just swap bulbs for holidays. Ever tried running conduit in frozen ground? That’s a workout I don’t recommend...
Honestly, I hear you on the wiring—it’s a hassle up front, but being able to just change bulbs later is a nice payoff. Conduit in frozen ground? Been there, done that, never again... Still, it saves money in the long run, especially if you’re not buying new fixtures every season.
Conduit in frozen ground? Been there, done that, never again...
Man, that line hit home. I remember one winter trying to run conduit for some path lights—thought I’d outsmart the frost by digging early. Nope. Ended up with a pickaxe and a sore back for a week. In hindsight, I probably should’ve just gone with smart bulbs and called it a day, but I get the appeal of switches too. Swapping bulbs is easy, but when the wiring’s already there, it’s tempting to just upgrade the brains at the switch instead of messing with every fixture. Still not sure which is less hassle long-term...
Frozen ground and conduit is a combo I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Reminds me of the year I tried to trench for irrigation lines in January—let’s just say the shovel didn’t survive. I’ve leaned toward smart switches lately, mostly because I hate tossing out perfectly good bulbs when tech changes. But honestly, if you’re already rewiring or starting fresh, smart bulbs are so much less hassle for those random spots you can’t easily reach. It’s a toss-up... depends how much you like crawling around in the dirt, I guess.
Frozen ground and conduit is a combo I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Reminds me of the year I tried to trench for irrigation lines in January—let’s just say the shovel didn’t survive.
I get where you’re coming from about not wanting to toss good bulbs, but I’ve actually found smart bulbs more flexible in the long run. If a tenant wants a different vibe or color, it’s just a quick swap—no need to mess with wiring or switches. Plus, if you’re dealing with older properties, sometimes the wiring is a bigger headache than just screwing in a new bulb. That said, I do agree that crawling around in frozen dirt is nobody’s idea of fun...