Lighting Tips From Sea Gull Lighting
Different Light Source Types

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Lighting Tips - Sources
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Light Sources

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

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:

  1. Turn lights off when you don't need them.
  2. Use dimmers to save energy.
  3. Use photoelectric cells or timers to turn outdoor lighting on and off automatically.
  4. 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.)
  5. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. Measure the distance ("B" to "C") from wall, on ceiling as shown in the table below.
  3. 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.
 
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