The performance of any light fixture depends
very much on the light source (bulb) used. Different sources
produce different effects. Light is measured in terms of:
- Wattage — The
amount of electricity consumed by a bulb.
- Lumens — The
amount of light that a bulb produces.
- Footcandles — The
amount of light reaching a subject.
Incandescent
General Service
General service bulbs are inexpensive and readily available
in a variety of wattages and shapes. They produce a yellowish-white
light that is emitted in all directions. Available in either
clear or frosted.
Types:
General (A)
Globe (G)
Decorative (D)
(flame, teardrop, and other shapes)
Reflectorized
Reflective coating inside the bulb directs light forward,
giving you better beam control than general service bulbs.
Flood types (FL) spread light. Spot types
(SP) concentrate the light.
Reflector (R) bulbs put approximately double
the amount of light (footcandles) on the subject as General
Service (A) of same wattage.
Parabolic Reflector (PAR)
bulbs control light more precisely. They produce about four times the light
of General Service (A) and are used in recessed
and track
lighting. Weatherproof casing makes them suitable for outdoor spot and
flood fixtures.
Tungsten-Halogen
Produces a bright, white light. Has longer life and provides
more light (lumens) per watt than regular incandescent
bulbs. Maintains maximum efficiency throughout
life of bulb. Available in both line- (120 volts) and low-voltage (12 volts).
Low-voltage types require a transformer to step down the voltage. Among
the most popular tungsten-halogen bulbs are:
Line Voltage
- PAR 16, 20, 30 and 38 reflectorized bulbs provide better
beam control than regular incandescent PAR bulbs. Available
in numerous spot and flood beam spreads. Used in track, recessed,
outdoor spot, and floodlights.
- T-3 Double-Ended bulbs
are available in a variety of base types and are used in
wall sconces, torchiers,
and outdoor
flood lights. The direction of the light is controlled
by the fixture.
- T-4 Single-Ended bulbs
come in both "mini-can" and "bayonet" base
types and are used in wall sconces, bath brackets, torchiers,
and pendants. The direction of the light is controlled
by the fixture.
Low Voltage
- MR-11, MR-16 (Mini-Reflectors) provide
excellent beam control. Available in numerous spot
and flood beam spread. Miniature
size permits use in smaller track and recessed
fixtures, such as those featured in Sea Gull Lighting's patented Ambiance® Lighting
Systems. Also used in outdoor spotlights, well
lights, and specialty landscape lighting fixtures.
- PAR-36 provides superior
beam control, especially over longer distances. Available
in a broad selection of spot and flood
beam spread. Used in track, recessed, and outdoor fixtures.
- T-4
Bipin, also known as a "peanut" bulb,
is a miniature lamp used in pendants, halogen desk
lamps, and
some track fixtures. The direction of the light is
controlled by the fixture.
Flourescent
Use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as incandescents with
comparable lumen ratings and last up to 20 times longer.
Compact types are used in smaller, trimmer fixtures such
as recessed downlights, wall sconces, close-to-ceiling
fixtures, and track lights. Screw-in types can be used
in place of incandescents in standard lamp sockets. Available
in a wide spectrum of colors. Warm white tones best duplicate
the color of incandescents.
High-Intensity Discharge
High-intensity discharge (hid) bulbs have a longer life and
provide more light (lumens) per watt than any other light
source. Available in mercury vapor, metal halide, high-
and low-pressure sodium types. Used residentially for outdoor
security and landscape lighting.
This is just an overview of the wide variety of light sources
that are on the market. For help in determining what bulbs
to use in specific applications, talk to the professional
lighting consultants at your local Sea Gull Lighting distributor.
They can help you choose the best available light sources
to suit your needs.
Energy Savings & Efficiency
Lighting uses 12 to 15 percent of the electricity consumed
in a home. Suggested ways to economize on electricity bills
with lighting are:
- Turn lights off when you don't need them.
- Use dimmers to save energy.
- Use photoelectric cells or timers to turn outdoor lighting on and off automatically.
- Use the more efficient reflector bulbs, especially for task and accent lighting.
(Example: a 50W "R" bulb can put as much light on an object as a 100W "A" bulb.)
- Use energy-saving fluorescents wherever possible. They give more lumens-per-watt
(more light from the electricity consumed) than incandescents. New compact fluorescents produce
light that is similar in color to that of incandescents, making them an excellent choice for residential use.
They are now available in styles that can accommodate a wide variety of decorative and functional fixtures.
Here are some energy-saving examples:
| Incadescent Wattage |
Fluorescent Replacement(1) |
Rated Fluorescent Life |
Yearly Savings(2) |
| 2-60W 1-20W |
Straight Tubes |
9,000 Hours |
$21.17 |
| 1-100W 2-20W |
Straight Tubes |
9,000 Hours |
$11.96 |
| 2-75W 1-40W |
Straight Tubes |
20,000 Hours |
$23.21 |
| 2-60W 1-32W |
Circle Tube |
12,000 Hours |
$18.57 |
| 3-60W 1-32W+1-40W |
Circle Tubes |
12,000 Hours |
$22.08 |
| 2-100W 2-40W |
U-Tubes |
12,000 Hours |
$24.53 |
| 1-60W 1-13W |
Compact Twins |
10,000 Hours |
$10.01 |
| 1-100W 2-13W |
Compact Twins |
10,000 Hours |
$15.34 |
| 1-75W 1-18W |
Compact Quad |
10,000 Hours |
$12.09 |
| 1-60W 1-15W |
Compact Screw-In |
9,000 Hours |
$9.53 |
(1) Includes allowance for ballast wattage.
(2) Calculated @ .10 per KWH based on use of 6 hours per day,
365 days per year.
Accent Lighting
For lighting objects on a wall, the wall itself, or any vertical
surface, position the track and the fixtures as shown here.
- Generally, fixtures should be aimed at a 30 degree angle
from the vertical to prevent light from shining in anyone's
eyes and to avoid disturbing reflections on the surface
of the object. Usually, one fixture is required for each
object
being accented.
- Measure the distance ("B" to "C")
from wall, on ceiling as shown in the table below.
- Mount
track at "Location" ("A" to "B")
from wall, on ceiling, as shown in the table
A to B Location
in inches |
B to C Distance
in feet |
13"
20"
27"
34"
41" |
2 feet
3 feet
4 feet
5 feet
6 feet |
|
Wall Washing
For non-textured surfaces, mount the track 2 to 3 feet from
the wall, on ceilings up to 9 feet high. Mount between
3 and 4 feet on ceilings between 9 feet and 11 feet high.
Space the fixtures the same distance apart as the track
is from the wall.
Wall Grazing
For dramatic shadows on textured surfaces (such as draperies,
stone, or brick) mount the track 6 to 12 inches from the
wall, with the fixtures the same distance apart and aimed
downward for a grazing effect.
General Lighting
General lighting can be provided by track fixtures aimed
at the wall or by spill light from fixtures used for accent
lighting or wall washing.
Recessed Lighting
General Lighting
General service "A" bulbs in recessed fixtures
provide wide light distribution. "R" and "PAR" bulbs
concentrate light. Coverage per fixture is based on providing
15 to 25 footcandles of light. In rooms with darker color
use higher wattages.
Number of fixtures needed in a given
area: Consult your local Sea Gull Lighting distributor experts
for advice, or order
the Sea Gull Lighting Catalog. The "spacing ratio" number
must be multiplied by the fixture's mounting height above
the lighted area (tabletop, floor, counter, etc.) to give
the maximum spacing for even illuminations.
| Fixture Trim |
"A"Bulb |
"R"Bulb |
| |
75w |
100w |
150w |
50w |
75w |
150w |
Cone
Baffle
Lens
Diffuser |
25
20
25
20 |
40
30
35
30 |
50
50
55
45 |
15
10
--
-- |
30
25
--
-- |
65
60
--
-- |
Wall Washing
Use the chart to choose the desired light level. Find the
spacing (S) for the fixtures. For the required number of
fixtures, divide the length of wall by spacing (S). Place
the fixtures the same distance from the wall as (S). Example:
For Medium Light Level with wall washers with 100W "A" bulbs,
five fixtures are needed to wash a 10-foot wall.
| Lamp & Wattage |
Spacing(s) for
Medium Level
(15-20 footcandles) |
Spacing(s) for
High Level
(30-45 footcandles) |
| 100W "A" |
2 ft. |
-- |
| 150W "A" |
4 ft. |
2 ft. |
| 150W "R" |
3 ft. |
2 ft. |
Accent Lighting
Use the chart to select a bulb for the size of beam desired
to accent the subject. Light levels range from 20 to 60
foot-candles at the center of the beam. Example: A 2-foot.
mounting distance, a 50W "MR-16FL" bulb will
cast an 8 x 3-foot beam.
Lamps aimed 30 degrees from vertical.
(L) & (W) indicate where candlepower drops 50% of maximum.
| Distance from
Wall (D) |
Lamp
Selection |
Beam
Length (L) |
Beam
Width (W) |
2 Feet from
Wall
(8 ft. Ceiling) |
50W PAR-36 WFL (12V) |
5 ft. |
2.5 ft. |
| 50W MR-16 FL (12V) |
8 ft |
3 ft. |
| 75W R-30 SP |
4.5 ft. |
2 ft.
|
| 75W R-30 FL |
Wall Bottom |
7 ft. |
3 Feet from
Wall
(10 ft. Ceiling) |
75W PAR-38 FL |
5.5 ft. |
2 ft. |
| 25W PAR-36 NSP(12V) |
2 ft. |
1 ft. |
| 50W MR-16NSP (12V) |
2 ft. |
1.5 ft. |
| 50W MR-16 NFL (12V) |
5.5ft. |
3 ft. |
| 75W PAR-38 SP |
3 ft. |
1.5 ft. |
