Can I use a standard dimmer on a flourscent fixture and will it have a negative effect on lamp life if I do.
NO! You cannot use a standard DIMMER CONTROL for a fluorescent light fixture without changing the BALLAST. See our FLUORESCENT WIRING DIAGRAMS for more information. The fixture will not operate properly and may cause the ballast, lamp and dimmer to ultimately fail.
Give us a call if we can give you some help selecting the right fluorescent ballast and dimmer control at 800-239-2939.
Labels: Fluorescent Lights, Lighting Controls, Residential and Commercial Applications
I have read your 12 volt information pages on sizing low voltage wire and find them very helpful and informative. However, I need a layman's explanation to really understand the concept of amperage, wattage and voltage. Help!
You are not alone in your quest to understand
AMPERAGE CALCULATIONS and
CALCULATING WIRE SIZES for low voltage outdoor lighting systems. Most people and some electricians think just because it is low voltage that means you can use phone wire or speaker wire to hook up the lights. To the contrary, low voltage means higher amperage which translates into larger wire. Simply put, for low voltage lighting systems, the higher the voltage the smaller the wire and the lower the voltage the bigger wire you will need. Ultimately, the wire size is determined by the total wattage of the low voltage lighting system and the length of the wire to from the transformer to the lights! Thats why people get dim lights!
Here's are some simple examples of the math behind the concept:100 watts / 12 volts = 8.33 amps
100 watts / 24 volts = 4.17 amps
100 watts /120 volts = .83 amps
12/2 cable is rated for 20 amps.10/2 cable is rated for 30 amps.8/2 cable is rated for 40 amps.
Now here's some Ohm's Law information to digest:The electrical terms that go hand in hand with low voltage lighting systems are volt (for pressure), ampere (for volume), ohm (for resistance), and watt (for total power, volts times amperes). A current flow of one ampere at one volt is equal to one watt. A one hundred watt lamp for a 120 volt power source draws 0.83 amperes. For Ohm's Law, if the resistance is one ohm and there is one volt, then exactly one ampere will flow. If the same one volt power supply is used and there are two ohms of resistance, then one half ampere will flow. If per chance the power supply was too weak to provide one half ampere, the voltage will drop until some combination that obeys Ohm's Law is reached, for example you might end up measuring one quarter volt being put out by that "one volt" source providing one eighth of an ampere flowing through that two ohm resistance. The thinner the wire, the more resistance it has.
The cable lengths in your design will determine many further aspects of your lighting system. You want a cable wire that will deliver the best voltage to each individual fixture, and the best method for selecting this cable begins with a layout of your project. Be sure to include all landscape features, buildings, individual light fixtures, and power supplies in your drawing. Group your light fixtures into clusters of 2 to 6; do not form a group whose total wattages exceed 240 Watts. One cluster at a time, select a fixture - or a point between two fixtures - that is the most centralized and draw a line from the power supply to this point (your center point). From the center point, draw a line to the nearest fixture on the right, and do the same for the nearest fixture to the left. Repeat this process from the two newly connected fixtures until the entire cluster is connected.
Click here to view a sample layout.I am sorry this is not is not an easy subject to understand without considering the math. If you have any more questions regarding 12 volt lighting systems or calculating low voltage wire sizes, please give us a call at 800-239-2939. We have a great selection of
LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING PRODUCTS and we would be happy to help you design a system. Hope this helps!
Labels: Low Voltage Lighting, Voltage Calculations, Wire Sizing
We are wanting to night light effect a very country property that is in a heavy woods! I have a circle drive with island section of heavy woods. The house is surrounded in large Oak and other trees so I want to show off these tree''s plus a walk ways on the sides of the home plus front entries. How can I relate the area well for you to advise. Would a overhead view of the property help for a layout?
Sounds like your property is a good candidate for MOONLIGHTING FIXTURES. Well placed 175-watt mercury vapor down lights mounted high in the trees will provide a soft natural looking wash along the drive and lawn area. Check out our GALLERY SECTION for some landscape lighting installations using mercury vapor and halogen lighting.
In addition, so well placed OUTDOOR BOX FLOODLIGHTS can illuminate the forest creating a spectacular display of light and shadows.
For lighting the front of the house, I would consider using one of our PRE-PACKAGED HALOGEN LANDSCAPE LIGHTING KITS. The include all the necessary components to beautifully illuminate the front entrance and facade of your house. You can add on some PATHLIGHTS to illuminate the sidewalk because the transformer in the kit has spare capacity.
Labels: Box Floodlights, Moonlighting Fixtures, Outdoor Landscape Lighting
Santa Claus is coming to town very soon, and I am not ready. I promised my children that we would go all out this year on the Christmas Lighting. However, my husband has given me a limited budget. So, I am looking for some discount Christmas lights at a really great price. Can you help me?
Everybody knows that buying christmas lights and holiday decorations right after Christmas is the best time for rock bottom prices. Well, we are running an incredible special right now on OVERSTOCKED AND DISCOUNT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
That's right, it's CHRISTMAS LIGHT SCUPLTURE BLOWOUT TIME at Residential Landscape Lighting & Design.
We have a great selection of LIGHTED CHRISTMAS SCULPTURES and HALLOWEEN SCULPTURES to choose from.
If you are hoping to deck out your home or place of business with a spectacular light display this Christmas, it is never too early to begin stocking all the lights and accessories you will need to complete the project. Residential Landscape Lighting & Design has every kind of Christmas light decoration you can possibly imagine. From TRADITIONAL OUTDOOR LIGHT STRINGS to full-fledged OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAINS, we can help you create a truly dazzling wonderland for your family, co-workers, friends, or anyone else who happens to pass by!
Contact the Christmas Lighting professionals at RLLD at 800-239-2939 for information or to request a quantity discount on large orders. We welcome commercial lighting contractors who are doing Christmas Lights at mall, hotels, offices, highrise buildings and festivals. We also have PRE-LIT CHRISTMAS TREES, TWINKLE LIGHTS, C7 & C9 LIGHT STRINGS, LIGHTED WREATHS and LIGHTED GARLAND.
Labels: Holiday Blow Out Specials, Light Strings, Lighted Christmas Decorations
I have an African Sumac tree, Purple Leaf Plum tree, and a 4'' Pygmy Date Palm that I am trying to uplight. My question is, what would be the difference between using an in-ground well light or a spot light? Also, would it be better to use a wide or spot lamp when uplighting these.
It really depends on the foliage or lack of foliage around your trees. For example, if you are working in the lawn area, a GRADE LEVEL LIGHT would be more practical and attractive. If you are working in a flower bed, a STAKE MOUNT UP LIGHT is better because you can adjust the light as the plants grow as well as hide the equipment.
I typically use SPOT LIGHTS on taller trees or structures that require a narrow beam spread to focus the light. For short trees or shrubs, a WIDE FLOOD LAMP is a better choice.
We have a great selection of PRE-PACKAGED LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING KITS to make things easy or GRADE LEVEL UPLIGHTS if you go that route. Check out our DESIGNING A 12 VOLT SYSTEM information page.
Give us a call at 800-239-2939 for more information or assistance placing your order. Which product you ultimately select with determine the wattage and color of the light.
Labels: Grade Level Lighting, Low Voltage Lighting System, outdoor lighting kits
What would be the average power comsumption of a dual tennis court?
Use this handy ENERGY CALCULATOR to find out the operating costs for the kit of your choice. Just multiple the individual cost by the number of light fixtures.
You can also call customer service at 800-239-2939 for more specific information or assistance with your TENNIS COURT LIGHTING order.
Labels: Energy Calculations, Outdoor Commercial Lighting, Tennis Court Lighting
I am looking for a small recessed down light to use around the perimeter of my home in the soffit overhang. Not really interested in a low voltage light, but I like the MR16 lamp. What can I do?
We have a great solution for lighting your soffit. Aziano lighting manufactures a very small
3" diameter 120 volt down light that uses a special MR16 lamp. That's right, a 120-volt line voltage MR16 lamp! This recessed light can be installed in new contruction with supplied fixture bars or retrofit into an existing home using a simple mounting method. The unique patented knock down housing can be installed through the hole and provides protection from insulation. This is one of the coolest little down lights I have seen in a long time. It will fit just about anywhere you are looking for a recessed down light or soffit light.
We have a full selection of recessed lights for general lighting, accent lighting, soffit lighting, art lighting, wall washing and many other
RESIDENTIAL LIGHTING applications.
Labels: Line Voltage Applications, Recessed Down Lights, Residential Lighting
I have a picture that is 5 ft wide by about 3 1/2 ft lenght which pictuer light will work for me?
For the TRADITIONAL SERIES PICTURE LIGHT, I would go with the 42" light with 25-watt frosted lamps.
For the SLIMLINE SERIES PICTURE LIGHT, I would go with the 40" model.
If you are interested, the Slimline series can be customed fabricated to lengths up to 8 feet! Contact customer service at 800-239-2939 for information.
Have you consider a recessed framing projector?
Labels: Fine Art Lighting Projectors, Picture Lights, Recessed Framing Projector
We are building a new home and have a considerable amount of artwork we want to hang. I do not want just can lights in the ceilings, but something that I can direct on the artwork. What kind of lighting would you suggest? I am not interested in lighting the rooms so much because I use lamps to do that.
We have several options for lighting your art work:
SURFACE MOUNT PICTURE LIGHTS - These light come in both slimline and traditional styles. When used with a switched hidden receptacle (LEV 688) behind the art these lights can be most attractive.
RECESSED HALOGEN LIGHTS - These adjustable accent lights are perfect for highlighting your artwork. My favorite is the HALO H1499T/1420P 50-watt MR16 low voltage slotted pin hole. This little light is powerful and cost effective!
CONTOUR FRAMING PROJECTOR - This light is for the serious collectors who really want to show off their art. You can shape the light to fit the contour of the art or sculpture.
These are some of many ways that you can illuminate art. Give us a call to discuss any specific need you have at 800-239-2939.
Labels: Phantom Lighting Projectors, Recessed Lighting, Surface Mount Picture Lights
Having a qood quality
OUTDOOR LIGHTING SYSTEM is a necessary requirement for wood swing sets and outdoor play areas for the safety and well being of your children. Why make the investment in a wood swing set or metal swing set if your kid's can't play at night. Adding a few lights around your play set will allow the parents to view the kid's from the house and provide hours of enjoyment for the kids.
Here at Residential Landscape Lighting & Design we take lighting for kid's play areas very seriously. We have a great assortment of
OUTDOOR FLOODLIGHTS,
OUTDOOR HID FLOODLIGHTS and
MOONLIGHTS that provide aesthetic as well as safety lighting needs.
MOTION SENSOR LIGHTS are another great way to illuminate swing sets, play areas and around swimming pools. The lights are on while the kid's are playing and off when thay are not. For swimming pools, if you see the lights come on you know that someone or something is near the pool. It's a great visual cue to see what's going on in the back yard. Motion lights can be switched off if necessary.
Whether you are lighting a new wooden swing set, metal swing set or just lighting a kid's play area, RLLD has a light for you. Contact customer service at 800-239-2939 for more information or a custom quote.
Labels: Floodlights, Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting System, Swing Set Lighting
Lighting 200 ft x 120 ft outdoor horse arena to be used for jumping at night. Interested in required foot candles for appropriate lighting in order to determine proper height of lights and strength of lights needed. Thank you, Cynthia Wiseman
The foot-candle specifications for lighting equestrian and rodeo arenas are 50fc for Class 2 and 30fc for Class 3. We would be happy to assist you in a lighting layout of your horse arena. Do you have existing poles or are you starting from scratch?
We have a wide selection of OUTDOOR LIGHTING PRODUCTS geared towards parking lots, athletic facilities, and of course, horse arenas.
Labels: Light Strenght, Outdoor Horse Arena. Outdoor Lighting Products
Hi. I would like to install low voltage recessed lighting in the lower level of our home while we remodel. I have been unable to find anything that discussed the pros and cons of using remote transformers vs lights with individual transformers. The ceilings are insulated, and I would prefer to use retrofit fixtures vs new construction.
It is much easier to use a RETROFIT LOW VOLTAGE FIXTURE that has a magnetic transformer attached to the fixture. That way you do not have to worry about sizing the transformer, the wiring or problems with voltage drop. We have a great selection of RESIDENTIAL LIGHTING FIXTURES that can be used during your remodel project. My favorite for art lighting is the HALO H1499RT/1420P MR16 FIXTURE It is easy to install and adjust! The best angle for lighting art is between 34 and 45 degrees.
For general lighting of the room, I would stick with a standard incandescent recessed light. The 6" LIGHTOLIER 1003R/1005 is a great light for overall lighting. On a eight foot ceiling you would space them about 6-8'' apart for even coverage.
Labels: Halo Fixture, Insulated Ceiling, Lightolier, Remodled Home, Retrofit Fixtures
Can any whole house fan be put on a dimmer switch? Nutone seems to make one that has a dimmer option. Unfortunately I already have a single speed fan installed, and I want to slow it down for night-time use,
No, not all motors are created equal. You should get the numbers off the motor and call the manufacturer to see if it will accommodate a SPEED CONTROL DEVICE. If you are not sure, don''t try it! That''s the fastest way to damage the motor.
Labels: Dimmer Control, Electric Motor, Speed Control Device
I'm considering 5" or 6" CFL recessed lighting for general lighting in a kitchen (8 foot ceiling). California title 24 makes this an attractive choice, but many contractors have negative comments on the color and look of fluorescent. Manufacturers state bulbs (such as 26W TTT) are available in 2700K or 3000K to approximate incandescent. Do you have any experience to comment on the similarity of the CFL downlight w/ LV MR16 or PAR30? Also, is something like Elco prismatic lens recommended to break up the lamp, or are normal baffle trims OK w/ CFL? Finally, is 26W acceptable for general lighting if fixtures placed 5 or 6 ft spacing? Thanks for a good site!
I can't say that fluorescent, particularly compact fluorescent, would be my recommendation for kitchen lighting - or really any residential lighting for that matter. Fluorescent is a great source for a lot of reasons - great light output for relatively little wattage, even distribution of light, very long lamp life - up to 20,000 hours. It''s an excellent choice in large commercial applications for all those reasons, but I very rarely use it in homes. There are several reasons for this:
GlareCompact Fluorescent is a very efficient lighting source (that's why California likes it). But what that ultimately means is that you're getting a lot of light output out of a very small area (you've essentially taken a 4'' fluorescent tube and compacted all that light down into a 6" bulb). That concentrated amount of light equates to glare when you look at the fixtures, particularly with your 8' ceilings, where the lamp will be well within your viewing angle. A prismatic lens would probably solve this because it would help diffuse the light, but personally I don't like that look - seems very office-y to me, and fairly outdated looking. A baffle trim potentially presents a different trouble, because a cfl emits light in every direction and thus depends on the fixture reflector to push its light out. A PAR lamp has its own reflector built in, so the fixture is much less of an issue in terms of light output Once you put a baffle on a cfl fixture you're significantly reducing the light you can get out of it and negating a lot of the efficiency that made the fixture so attractive to begin with.
Color
You are correct about the color temperatures (2700K and 3000K) that come close to approximating incandescent. Those are at the warmer-looking end of the spectrum and will have more of a yellow cast to them vs the blue/greenish tint that fluorescents are known for. But that's only half the story. All light sources also have a number for their Color Rendering Index (CRI), with 100 being the ultimate, equal to that of the noonday sun. The CRI indicates how well the light source can adequately render the FULL spectrum of colors - cool colors like blues and greens, warm colors like reds and yellows, and everything in between. This is where the fluorescent will fall flat. Halogen is generally the best man-made source for rendering colors their truest, with CRIs in the 90s (which is why it is the first choice for art lighting, etc), Incandescent is also good, with a slight preference for the warmer tones, and next is fluorescent. If you do decide to use fluorescent, look for one with the highest CRI you can find--one at least in the 80s, not the 70s. A low CRI will be unflattering to people, make food unappetizing, and will not enhance your decor including countertops, cabinets, etc.
Control
As a designer, I recommend using dimmers in nearly every room of the house There's just no reason not to - they are a nominal expenditure to give you control for different needs (nighttime trip to the bathroom, dinner party, etc), different times of day, they save energy, and, on incandescent loads, can increase lamp life exponentially. Kitchens are an especially advantageous room to have a dimmer in since, these days we''re often entertaining guest in the kitchen, perhaps eating a meal, etc. Full bright fluorescents all day, every day hardly set the mood. That said, fluorescent loads cannot be dimmed without a special dimming ballast (all fluorescents require a ballast to operate), which is a costly adder for each fixture. Maybe you say, well, if I install it and I feel like there's too much light I'll just replace the lamps with a lower wattage. With fluorescent you don't have that option as you would with incandescent (again, unless you buy a costly ballast), since the ballasts correspond to the wattage they are controlling.
Since my work is concentrated in Texas, it is hard for me to comment directly on the California code, but here are some things to keep in mind. Lighting makes up for only about 15% of the average household's energy consumption. Air conditioning, heating, appliances, and electronics consume much more, and all of those areas are worth looking at for saving energy (in addition to good home insulation, windows and doors, etc.). If you use halogen/incandescent PAR lamps, look for IR lamps (a relatively new technology in the last several years which allows the lamps to reharness it''s own energy, giving you equal light with fewer watts. You can, for example, get a 37w MR16 that has equal light output to a 50w.) And, in your layout, instead of trying to light up the whole room brightly, spend your wattage where it makes the most difference--on your task areas and countertops.
And last, on spacing, 5-6'' sounds plenty close - too close if you have cfl downlights without a dimmer in an 8' ceiling. If you go with incandescent/halogen that's probably fine, since you will have a dimmer. All that said, it's hard to say exactly what spacing will work best without seeing your kitchen plan - as I said, I'd recommend looking at where you really need the light and placing fixtures there vs. doing a blanket grid across the whole room.
Good luck on your endeavors!
Labels: Color Chart, Control, Glare, Kitchen Lighting
Our kitchen light dimmer switch has a very slight glow. Is this normal?
This is normal for some dimmer controls. You bought a LUTRON DIMMER CONTROL with a built-in night light feature. This glow is designed to help you find the switch in a dark room.
Labels: Kitchen Lighting, Light Dimmer Switch, Lutron Dimmer Control
The transformer for the light has a 120 V AC input which plugs directly into an outlet. It has a 12V AC 1800 mA output What kind of dimmer do I need and which side of the transformer should I wire it to?
The LUTRON DIMMER CONTROL should be installed in front of the transformer to control the wall outlet. You will be dimming the power going to the transformer, which in turn will be reducing the out put voltage of the transformer. You must first identify if your transformer is an electronic or magnetic type. It is important that you select a dimmer control that is matched to the load.
Labels: Electronic and Magnetic Transformer, Light Transformer, Lutron Dimmer Control
With just months until Christmas, true holiday lighting aficionados are thinking about seasonal lighting and Christmas decorations. After all, a well planned Christmas lighting display takes careful thought, some ingenuity, a lot of creativity and of course, lots of
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
At Residential Landscape Lighting & Design we take holiday lighting very seriously! We work hard during the off season to find vendors who have a good selection of stock and that are willing to offer deep discounts.
This year is no exception and we are pleased offer a tremendous selection of
HOLIDAY SCULPTURES, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, ROPE LIGHTS, HALLOWEEN SCULPTURES, HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS, and even HALOGEN UNDER CABINET LIGHTING at Blowout Prices!Whether you are looking for
PRE-LIT TREES,
C7 & C9 STRINGS,
REPLACEMENT LAMPS,
NET LIGHTS,
LIGHT ROPE SCULPTURES,
SHINGLE CLIPS,
TIMERS or any holiday lighting accessory, you will find everything you need at Residential Landscape Lighting & Design.
Visit our website at
www.rlldesign.com or contact customer service toll free at 800-239-2939 for a customized quote or assistance selecting
Christmas lighting and decorations.
Labels: Artifical Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights., Holiday Decorations
Hi, I am looking for a dimmer that has a lengthy turn on time (i.e. 30 minutes from 0 to 100% power). It would be most helpful if I would find such a dimmer that also had timer capabilities. Any help?Thanks
You have to go to a pretty sophisticated system to get those kind of features on a DIMMER CONTROL. The LUTRON GRAFIK EYE has an adjustable fade rate which will accomodate your design if you set a scence. It does not have a timer to turn them on.
Labels: Dimmer Control, Dimmer with Lenghty Time, Lutron Grafik Eye
We recently bought a home built in 1982, for a couple of days now one section is markedly dimmer than a week ago: the unloaded transformer still puts out 12V, when I connect the section in question the Voltage drops to 5.5V: I guess a short somewhere in some 100 feet of wires. How to locate the problem???Thanks Mike
It is most likely in the wire or one of the splices at the fixtures. Start by disconnecting the fixtures one at a time. If you have removed all the lights and you still have the problem, you must have a cut in the wire which is preventing full voltage from getting to the lights. I would replace the wire or find the cut and splice it. Check out our HOW TO DESIGN A LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM page for more information. 12/2 LANDSCAPE LIGHTING CABLE is what you need as a replacement wire.
Labels: Landscape Lighting Cable, Low Voltage Lighting Shorts, Voltage Drop
Our current home has recessed lighting. The baffles have black interiors. We would like to change the interiors to White. Is there an easy/cheap way to change the interior only to White?Thanks!Neil
Sure, heat to the local hardware or auto parts store and pick up some high heat paint in white. Just pop out the baffles or remove the fixture for painting. Should you decide that you would like to replace the RECESSED LIGHTING TRIMS we have a full selection to choose from.
Labels: Change the Interior, Lighting Trims, Recessed Lighting
I have a 50'' by 50'' outdoor area that I''d like to light for sports play, e.g. small basketball court, etc.... What would you recommend?
We have some SPORT COURT LIGHTING KITS that are designed for home recreational use. If you are looking for some OUTDOOR FLOODLIGHTS to mount to an existing pole or an adjacent tree we have many to choose from. You could get by with one, but two will give you better covearge and light levels.
Labels: Outdoor Flood Lights, Sport Play, Sports Court Lights
With just over 4 months till Christmas, it is time to start planning for the holiday season. Now is the time to order your
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS because all of the vendors are receiving stock and have good supplies on hand. As you get closer to Christmas, supplies dwindle and it makes it hard to get the
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. At
Residential Landscape Lighting & Design we have a great selection of christmas lights and decorations on hand.
We have such holiday decorations as:
Christmas Light Bulbs & AccessoriesChristmas Light StringsPre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees & DecorationsHoliday Outdoor Christmas Light SculpturesChristmas lights are not just about impressing the viewer. Artfully arranged Christmas lights display can evoke a spirit of wonder and generosity for all who gaze upon it. Exciting childhood memories, a sense of endless hope, and time made magical by its being shared with family and friends—such are the thoughts and emotions that wind about a string of Christmas lights as it is hung each year on a chilly winter’s night. Outdoor Christmas lights from
Residential Landscape Lighting and Design, combined with the love and care of the hands that arrange them, can make this Holiday Season truly unforgettable.
Labels: Christmas Decorations, Christmas Holiday Lighting, Christmas Lights, Holiday Season
We are considering remodeling our kitchen and plan to use a stainless steel back spash to match our commercial cooktop and appliances. Do you know of a good looking xenon light that will compliment our kitchen design?
We have a full selection of
UNDERCABINET LIGHTS in a variety of sizes, lamp types and operating voltages. We also have lots of information on
KITCHEN LIGHTING to help you with your selection.
The
XENON SERIES TASK LIGHTS from American Lighting come is brushed steel that would be perect with your stainless steel counter tops. You can get them in hard wired and with cords. Since you are remodeling, I would get the hard wired models. Your electrican will know what to do. Ask him to install a
LUTRON DIMMER CONTROL so that you can set the light levels when you are entertaining friends and family.
Labels: Dimmer Control, Kitchen Lighting, undercabinet lighting, Xenon Series Task Lights
I''m planning to run 12-2 home run wires from a 600W multi-tap transformer to six hubs. The hubs will be located between 10'' to 100'' from the transformer. I then want to run 25'' of 16-2 wire to three or four fixtures from each hub. Each fixture will have an MR-16 20W bulb and already have approximately 36" of 18-2 lead wire pre-attached. Can I mix these three sizes of wire and should this approach prevent voltage drop? Alternatively, I could use the T method of wiring each group of three or four fixtures. I understand that with a group of four fixtures, I can hook up the 12-2 home run wire to a T connector placed between the middle two lights and then continue to run the 12-2 wire to both fixtures on either side of the T connector. But,how do you hook up the T method for a group of three lights? Do you wire the home run wire with the two wires running to either side and with the lead wire from the middle fixture?
I would would stick with 12/2 wire for the secondary feeds and 10/2 for your home runs back to the transformer. I like to never put more than 100 watts on 100 feet of wire to just be safe. With the 10/2 you can double that total. If you use 12/2 DIRECT BURIAL CABLE on the secondary runs as mentioned, you can use the supplied CONNECTORS to attach each 18/2 fixture lead to the cable. Why don''t you check out our handy POWER CABLE CALCULATOR for more information.
Labels: Direct Burial Cable, Power Cable Calculator, Quick Connectors
I am interested in purchasing some christmas lawn decorations, but they are currently out of stock. If I place my order today, I presume I will get the sales price.
YES, we honor our posted prices and will ship the item when we receive our shipment. Please contact KIM in customer service when placing the order.
Labels: Christmas Decorations, Christmas Sale, Discounted Price
Just moved into a house with a 12V light system. Has worked on occasion, but now I have only the first light in the string on, with good voltage (11.5V) getting to the next light, but that and the remaining lights don''t work. I''ve tried that light only and eliminating that light, still no luck. Any ideas?
I would uncover the DIRECT BURIAL WIRE on your outdoor lighting system and check for cuts, nicks or bad splices. Have you looked at our "Designing a 12 volt system" page? Sounds to me like a wiring problem!
Labels: Direct Burial Cable, Low Voltage Lighting, Wiring Problem
I was directed to your website by American Lighting. I am looking for the following 7.5 watt frosted bulb by American Lighting:P/I: 1031Item #: B7.5C-FRDo you carry this item? And if so, how much do they cost? I need approx 110 bulbs... do you have a quantity discount? Let me know. Thank you.Claudine Gossett
We do have the 7.5 WATT FROSTED CANDELABRA BASE BULBS that you are looking for. Yes, we have those in case and bulk packs in the options on the website product page.
Labels: American Lighting, Frosted Candelabra Base Bulb, Long Life Lamp
I need a switch that will turn on when the sun comes up and off at night. can you help?
That''s a new one on me. We have devices such as PHOTOCELLS and OCCUPANCY SENSORS that will automatically control the lights. However, they are the reverse of what you are looking for. Hope this helps!
Labels: Automatic Switch, Occupancy Sensors, Photocells
I am looking for a outdoor darker colored luvered step light that fits in a single gang masonary box 120v.
The FOCUS SL02 STEP LIGHT is the only one that we have that will fix flush on a single gang box. Unfortunately, it only comes in low voltage. We have some small ELECTRONIC TRANSFORMERS that will fit in the box to convert the voltage.
We do have some SURFACE MOUNT 120VOLT STEP LIGHTS (select lamp option 120V) if you can use one of these.
Check out our other STEP LIGHTS.
Labels: Electronic Transfomers, Focus Step Light, Gang Masonary Box, Step Lights
I recently bought a home and wanted to install some low voltage landscape lighting in the front yard. This is my first home and I know very little about lighting equipment. From what I have seen on your website Focus has a good selection of products. How is the quality and what can you tell me about the company?
FOCUS INDUSTRIES is a dedicated landscape lighting manufacturer. All fixtures and transformers are made in their own facilities in the U.S., nothing is imported. Focus Industries offers a complete product line... fixtures, light bulbs, power supplies and accessories. A-Z, 5-175 Watts. Each fixture comes complete with light bulb, stake, stem and quick connector, all in one box. Here is a little history on the company:
FOCUS Industries, Inc. was born on September 29, 1989, manufacturing 12 volt power supplies and accessories from 100-600 watts for the landscape lighting Industry. The first facility was located in Santa Fe Springs, California occupying approximately 3,000 square feet.
In 1991,
FOCUS moved its operation to Santa Ana, California. The product line now included 15 fixtures as well as the transformers and a few accessories. We outgrew this 5,000 square foot facility in 2 years.
In 1994,
FOCUS moved again, this time to
Tustin, California, into a 9,800 square foot building. The product line doubled in size with over 30+ fixtures, many accessories, and larger power supplies, up to 900 watts. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first distribution center is opened to better service east coast business.
By December of 1997 it was time to move again.
FOCUS purchased its first building, 24,000 square feet in Lake Forest, California, and continued to expand, refine, innovate, and improve products. In this period, four more distribution centers are opened: St. Louis, Missouri -- Miami, Florida --
Norcross, Georgia --
Carrolton, Texas. FOCUS expands distribution outside the United States to over 18 Countries.
With the turn of the century, the year 2000 brought many exciting opportunities and challenges.
FOCUS begins developing the land next door to build a 40,000 plus square foot facility to now own over 65,000 feet of manufacturing, distribution and sales. Today, FOCUS is proud to be one of the few dedicated manufacturers of landscape lighting products in the industry.
FOCUS offers the largest, most extensive product line -- multiple finishes, materials, voltages, light sources, and accessories. Just about any exterior application can be completed by FOCUS.
Keeping up with current lamp technology, fixture performance/design, maintenance issues, and power delivery systems,
FOCUS is dedicated to value engineering, giving our customers the best products at a competitive cost.
FOCUS INDUSTRIES does make some of the best landscape lighting products around. Their
cast brass and
spun copper fixtures are very durable and will give you years of enjoyment, even if you live in a salt air environment.
Labels: First Home, Focus Industries, Front Yard Lighting, Low Voltage Landscape Lighting
We have installed some high output fluorescent T8 fixtures in
our manufacturing plant as a test. I needed them to be able to dim, so I h
ad the manufacturer change out the ballasts to do that. They said it was "no problem".
Each fixture is 6-4 foot T8 bulbs. They are installed in banks of 5fixtures of 6 - 4' T8 bulbs. The intent was to have each bank be able to dim the 5 fixtures together on one dimmer switch. (each dimmer is controlling 30 T8's)
Long story short- It don't work. Maintenance has no clue why. The biggest problem is that only about 1/2 the bulbs in the fixture may light, the other have out. There is enough electrical noise to knockout all radios in the area. Bulbs burnout in no time flat. Has you had a similar problem? Can these things be dimmed?
Yes, wiring up
LUTRON ELECTRONIC FLUORESCENT BALLASTS can be tricky and will reek havoc on any light bulb if done incorrectly. We experienced a similar problem on a job we supplied for a customer earlier in the year. Turns out the wiring diagram from
Lutron is not very clear. SO we contacted
Lutron Technical Support and they provided him a much better wiring diagram which allowed him to rearrange the wires and solve the problem.
FYI - The manufacturer requires that you burn in the lamps at full intensity for 100 hours before using the dimming function. If you don't follow this advice your lamps will most certainly prematurely fail!
for more information on
LUTRON DIMMING PRODUCTS and
LUTRON FLUORESCENT DIMMING BALLASTS contact the experts at Residential Landscape Lighting & Design toll free at 800-239-2939.
Labels: Lutron Dimmer Control, Lutron Electronic Florescent Ballast, Lutron Florescent Dimming Ballast
I have looked over your sight. You have a photo on one of your galleries of a building in The Woodlands. What type of lighting did you use to illuminate the front of the building such as: HID, housing style, etc.Rusty
You must be referring to the Club at Carlton Woods. We used INCANDESCENT lighting on the building and MERCURY VAPOR lighting for the trees. It is always best to use a warm light source on the building and a cool colored light source on the plant material for contrast.
Labels: Illuminated Lighting, Incandescent Lighting, Mercury Vapor Lights, Woodlands
IF I were to use phantom lighing in a cove base over a tub in a master bath what is the suggested fixture. Also where and how to I mount the transformer?
PHANTOM LIGHTING is great choice for indirect lighting in a cove. TRANSFORMER is usually located in the attic or in a nearby closet or cabinet. You can use a LUTRON DIMMER CONTROL to regulate the intensity.
Labels: Indirect Cove Lighting, Lutron Dimmer Control, Phantom Lighting, Transformers
