Photo courtesy of Rod Tapp, Land Design Inc
Top Ten Most Common Lamp Problems Not Seen On The David Oborn Show
Common people call them light bulbs, professionals call them Lamps.
Number 10. The sprinklers have just come on while the outdoor lights are in operation. Dangerous environment for a burning lamp, one drop of water may crack the lens.
Number 9. Low-voltage lamps in line-voltage sockets. A lot of systems are still 110 volts. Always check with volt meter before inserting lamp.
Number 8. Under-volting. Halogen Lamps require at least 10.2 volts to operate efficiently. If less than 10 volts are applied to the system, the lamp life will be shortened by as much as 80%.
Number 7. Cracked lens. It can happen either in shipping or installation and allows oxygen to enter into the lamp, causing the filament to rust and significantly shorten lamp life.
Number 6. Cheap lamps. You get what you pay for. NightscapingŪ uses GE lamps which are the best in the business. There are many cheap lamps coming out of China that are of poor quality. Spend a little extra and you won't be disappointed.
Number 5. Touching the lamp. Halogen Lamps burn at very high temperature. By touching the lamp you leave oil from your fingers which cause that area to burn even hotter, possibly creating a fracture.
Number 4. Man-handling the lamp. Low voltage lamps are highly efficient, 1/3 more output compared to 110 volt lamps, and must be treated with care. Pulling, tugging, bending, is not conducive to a long life.
Number 3. Lamp life. Do you know how 'Lamp Life' is determined -- The industry has a test for this.
All lamps are turned 'On' and they begin timing them. When 50% of the lamps burn out, the time is stopped and marked. This amount of time is the
'Average lamp-life'. Some burnout much faster, while others may last much longer, which is why they take the average.
Number 2. Connections. Bad connections cause heat and heat will prematurely burn out a lamp. Make sure all screws are tight and that there is no broken wire between transformer and socket.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR LAMP FAILURE IS............
TOO MUCH VOLTAGE.
Even if there is one extra volt applied to a 12 volt system you will lose as much as 2/3 of the lamp life. Always check the voltage at the fixture.
David Oborn
Southern California Manager
T: 714 746 1215
F: 714 848 1816
David@Nightscaping.com
Photo courtesy of Rod Tapp, Land Design Inc
Contractor of the Week, Rod Tapp
Since 1966, Land Design Inc has been making a distinctive mark throughout Southern California. Land Design Inc allows their customer's imagination and vision to come through customized projects. They provide complete Landscape Architectural services, including:
- Landscape design and Installation
- Irrigation design and installation
- Pools, spas and fountains
- Outdoor lighting and special effects
- Fireplaces, patios and walls
- Outdoor acoustic systems
Land Design Inc is an award-winning, full service, Landscape Architectural practice. Under the leadership of D. Rodney Tapp, the firm has been responsible for a diverse range of private and public projects including residential homes, corporate landscapes and urban spaces.
In addition to Rod's responsibilities as senior principal, he has lectured and taught for over thirty years at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is a strong supporter in offering students a hands-on opportunity to work with real clients. All staff at Land Design Inc continue to be Cal Poly Pomona alumni and student interns.
"The Story Teller"
The project was complete, the built drawings were complete, the evening-light adjustment had been made...
To offer my gratitude for the opportunity to serve my client, I brought wine, hors d 'oeuvres and all the compliments including a colorful red and white table cloth. The wood deck extended from the top of the slope into a dark live oak canyon with large California oak trees above the deck. Under one of the 100 year old oaks was the table that I had set for three.
I presented their garden for the first time with a Dominator remote in hand; NightscapingŪ became the guide. First, zone A, the lighting for access and safe traversing. Second, I displayed zone B, the lighting to distinguish the canyon and form the surrounding space. Third, zone C, the deck perimeter handrail lights and immediate garden plantings. Finally, zone D, the lighting to reveal the oaks structure, the single smooth trunk of an 80' tall eucalyptus, and the soft downlight to highlight the table and evening ceremony. The wine, conversation, and lighting were all admirable.
As I left that evening, I knew why I had practiced the art of lighting for the past 40 years.
D. Rodney Tapp
Land Design Inc
351 S. Thomas Street, Suite A
Pomona CA 91766
909.622.1472 phone
909.622.0917 fax
rod@landdesigninc.com
www.landdesigninc.com
It is a privilege to introduce Bill Locklin, a humanitarian, a mentor, and friend to so many. Who is Bill? A rodeo buff in his youth, a World War II submarine chief electrician, husband and parent, industrial electrician, inventor, Arabian horse breeder, rancher, and president and founder of NightscapingŪ. Also my friend for over 40 years, Bill has always contributed to our youth - supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Redlands, our students in landscape architecture at Cal Poly Pomona, scholarships for the ASLA Foundation, and so much more. Now, the "father" of 12-volt exterior lighting brings to the profession the story of his "hobby gone wild."
Enjoy the writings of this wonderful man, William J. Locklin.
Professor Emeritus, FASLA
D. Rodney Tapp
--Rod Tapp wrote Bill's introduction on the back cover of his recently published book, A Hobby Out Of Control.
--Available for purchase: $17.50 soft-back, includes shipping; $26.50 hard-back, includes shipping. If you are interested, please call Connie @ 805.544.484 ext.18, or email us @ info@nightscaping.com
Photo courtesy of Rod Tapp, Land Design Inc
Underwater Lighting Tips
I know I've said before that uplighting was probably the most abused lighting technique, but surely underwater lighting runs a close second. In the first place, our modus operandi is to mimic the beautiful effects of nature wherever we can.
Well, the sun and moon have never shone from beneath the water. Natural light has always come from above. On the other hand, it is possible to illuminate from within and achieve a nice effect -- especially if the water is crystal clear. It basically has to be drinkable. Just remember, when you light from within, you're highlighting the water, so any small algae particles, dirt, or other schmutz will be greatly magnified. This will make for a murky, unappetizing view. That's why it's such an advantage to light from above or from the sides.
Lighting from within will also cancel out the beautiful reflections possible on the surface of a pool. With smaller bodies of water--tiny artificial ponds or fountains--lighting from within may be more advisable, as they're easier to keep clean. If lighting from within, a place to take advantage of is where waterfalls cascade down on rocks. Placing a light at this point illuminates the white foam and air bubbles that is beautiful when lit from below. You can watch the bubbles dance away. Although water falling on lights is a nice effect, always remember, the source must be fully shielded.
It is also important to remember that if there are fish in a pond you must not use copper in either the plumbing or lighting fixtures. The reaction between pond water and copper creates a deadly environment for fish.
William J. Locklin
