Are There Different Types or Tiers of Permanent Lighting?

Some permanent lighting companies offer a menu of system tiers: a budget option, a mid-range option, and a premium option. The idea is to give homeowners a lower price point to get in the door, then upsell later or leave them with a system that underperforms.

Number One Lights takes a different approach. We install one system: the GOULY Gen 3 24V RGBW. It is the best permanent lighting technology available, and we believe every homeowner deserves it, not just homeowners with the biggest budgets.

This guide explains why we do not offer lower tiers, what makes the Gen 3 system different, and how voltage and generation matter more than most homeowners realize.

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Why we only install Gen 3 24V RGBW

The permanent lighting industry has evolved quickly. Early systems were 12V RGB-only with basic Bluetooth controllers. They worked, but they had real limitations that homeowners discovered after installation.

We evaluated every generation and voltage class on the market before choosing what to install. The GOULY Gen 3 24V RGBW won on every metric that matters for Alberta conditions:

• Brightness consistency across long roofline runs
• True white output from a dedicated white LED chip
• Cold weather performance rated to -40°C
• WiFi control with the GOULY app for reliable, range-free operation
• Individually addressable LEDs for per-node colour and animation
• IP68 waterproofing that survives full immersion, not just rain
• cUL-certified control hardware for safe, code-compliant installation

When every component meets this standard, there is no reason to offer something lesser. A lower tier would save a few hundred dollars at install and cost the homeowner in frustration, warranty claims, and eventual replacement.

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What Gen 3 includes

The GOULY Gen 3 system is a complete permanent lighting package. Every install from Number One Lights includes:

RGBW LED puck modules

Each LED puck contains four LED chips: red, green, blue, and white. The dedicated white chip is what separates RGBW from older RGB-only systems. It produces clean, natural warm white and cool white tones without the greenish or pinkish cast that RGB mixing creates. See our warm white vs cool white guide for colour temperature details.

Aluminum hat track

The residential track system is a purpose-built aluminum channel that mounts to your fascia or soffit. It holds the LED modules at consistent spacing, hides all wiring, and blends with your roofline when the lights are off. It is colour-matched to common fascia tones and built to handle Alberta's wind, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles.

Certified control box

The control box is the brain of the system. It includes a 24V transformer, WiFi controller, and all the circuitry needed to drive individually addressable LEDs across your full roofline. It is cUL-certified, weatherproof, and connects to your home's WiFi network for reliable app control from anywhere.

GOULY mobile app

The GOULY app lets you control everything: colours, brightness, patterns, schedules, zones, and animations. Choose from thousands of pre-built designs or create your own. Set schedules that turn lights on at sunset and off at midnight. Share designs with other GOULY owners. It all runs through the app.

Professional installation

Every system is installed by our trained crew with proper safety equipment, correct fasteners for your specific fascia material, sealed mounting points, and thorough testing of every zone and connection. See what a quality install looks like in our detailed guide.

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12V vs 24V vs 48V: why voltage matters

Voltage is one of the most important and most overlooked specs in permanent lighting. Here is why it matters:

12V systems

12V is the cheapest option and the most common in budget permanent lighting kits. The problem is physics: lower voltage means higher current for the same power output, and higher current means more voltage drop over distance.

On a typical Alberta home, a 12V system running 50+ feet of LED modules will experience noticeable dimming at the far end of the run. The lights near the control box are bright; the lights at the end of the roofline are noticeably weaker. This is not a defect. It is an inherent limitation of 12V architecture on runs longer than about 15 metres.

24V systems (what we install)

24V cuts the current in half compared to 12V at the same power output. This means:

• Longer runs without voltage drop or dimming
• Consistent brightness from the first puck to the last
• More reliable connections due to lower current draw
• Better cold-weather performance because lower current reduces stress on connectors in freezing conditions

The GOULY Gen 3 24V system maintains consistent brightness and colour accuracy across runs that would cause visible dimming on a 12V system. For most Alberta homes with 100 to 200+ feet of roofline, 24V is the right architecture. Read our full 24V permanent lights guide for the technical details.

48V systems

48V systems exist in commercial and industrial applications. They are uncommon in residential permanent lighting because the higher voltage requires different safety certifications, thicker insulation, and more complex control hardware. The cost increase over 24V is significant, and the performance benefit on residential run lengths is minimal. 24V is the sweet spot for homes.

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Why we do not offer a budget tier

Some companies offer three pricing tiers to capture every segment of the market. The budget tier uses 12V hardware, RGB-only LEDs, basic controllers, and cheaper mounting systems. It looks like a deal on the quote, but here is what homeowners actually experience:

• Uneven brightness. The far ends of the roofline are visibly dimmer than the sections near the control box.
• No true white. RGB-only LEDs cannot produce clean warm white. The best they can do is a bluish or greenish approximation.
• Shorter lifespan. Budget components degrade faster, especially in Alberta's temperature extremes.
• Limited app features. Basic controllers often lack WiFi, scheduling, zone control, or firmware updates.
• Weaker weatherproofing. Lower IP ratings mean moisture intrusion becomes a matter of when, not if.

We have seen homeowners who bought a budget system from another company and replaced it within two to three years. The initial savings were wiped out by the second purchase plus the labour to remove the old system and install the new one.

By installing only the Gen 3 24V RGBW system, we ensure that every Number One Lights customer gets a system that performs from day one and continues performing for years. No buyer's remorse. No "I should have gone with the better one."

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What about Gen 1 and Gen 2?

The GOULY system has gone through three generations:

Gen 1 was an early-market product with Bluetooth control, basic RGB LEDs, and limited weatherproofing. It worked for early adopters but lacked the features and durability for long-term Alberta use.

Gen 2 improved on weatherproofing and introduced WiFi control, but still used RGB-only LEDs without a dedicated white chip. Colour mixing for white tones produced inconsistent results.

Gen 3 is the current generation and a significant upgrade: RGBW LEDs with a dedicated white chip, improved IP68 waterproofing, cUL-certified control boxes, faster app response times, and better cold-weather performance.

We do not install Gen 1 or Gen 2 hardware. Even if older stock were available at a discount, the performance gap is too large. Every homeowner we install for gets the latest generation with the best available technology.

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Every homeowner deserves the best technology

Permanent lighting is an investment that stays on your home for years. The difference between a budget system and the Gen 3 system is not a luxury upgrade. It is the difference between a system that works well and one that works poorly.

Consider what you are really buying:

• Year-round lighting that handles every occasion from holidays to home security
• True white architectural light that makes your home look finished every night
• Alberta-rated hardware that survives -40°C winters and +35°C summers
• App control that works from anywhere, not just Bluetooth range
• A system that holds its value and adds curb appeal to your home

The cost difference between a 12V budget system and the 24V Gen 3 system is a fraction of the total project cost. The performance difference is enormous. That is why we only offer one tier: the right one.

Explore the full GOULY system to see every component, or check out our gallery to see Gen 3 installs on real Alberta homes. When you are ready, our virtual quote process gives you honest, transparent pricing with no pressure and no upselling, because there is nothing to upsell.