gallery lighting
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markw
gallery lighting
Oh how I hate low voltage lighting - the dam things seem to weld themselves into the holders - blow transformers or just blow bulbs. Had one strip of lights go fizzz bang this morning. I keep checking the prices of LED lights but they are still very expensive. with 26 lights in one room LV does keep heat levels down - when we used normal spots it would get unbearably hot at times. One thing that always amuses me - and its generally the more advanced in years that do this - they take the samples outside to view them in daylight - despite my taking great care to illuminate my counter with balanced lights. maybe they dont have electricity at home yet!
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Roboframer
I hate LV too - and they ain't no cheaper to run!
We get 50w/240v GU10 spots for about EIGHTY PENCE each - damn good ones too - Osram.
Lesser quality retail for £4.99 each in Focus Do It All!
We ran a bike shop once (as well) - long story but as we sold bike lights, we got into batteries, battery supplier sold other electrical goods
........
People come in the shop and ask for all sorts of weird things - we have several posh barstools around the place, people want to buy them!
They also want to buy our spots, so we oblige £2.99 - that's a 3.7+ markup and still £2 cheaper than focus for a better quality/longer lasting product.
Sometimes, if I have my Basil Fawlty head on and customers ask to take a sample 'to the light' I say "Oh - hang your pictures OUTSIDE then do you?"
We get 50w/240v GU10 spots for about EIGHTY PENCE each - damn good ones too - Osram.
Lesser quality retail for £4.99 each in Focus Do It All!
We ran a bike shop once (as well) - long story but as we sold bike lights, we got into batteries, battery supplier sold other electrical goods
........
People come in the shop and ask for all sorts of weird things - we have several posh barstools around the place, people want to buy them!
They also want to buy our spots, so we oblige £2.99 - that's a 3.7+ markup and still £2 cheaper than focus for a better quality/longer lasting product.
Sometimes, if I have my Basil Fawlty head on and customers ask to take a sample 'to the light' I say "Oh - hang your pictures OUTSIDE then do you?"
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Merlin
- Posts: 1540
- Joined: Thu 05 Jun, 2003 5:50 pm
- Location: Cornwall
- Organisation: Merlin Mounts
- Interests: Aviation
We gave up with LV spots last year MarkW for exactly the same reasons.
We got a Shop Fitter lighting guy in and fitted recessed lighting with difusers and over the counter a stabilised flourescent tube. We also went with daylight tubes (cannot remember the number - as am not in the shop at the moment).
What a big difference it made. The place looks really light and bright, also shows up the dust a lot more as well..
We got a Shop Fitter lighting guy in and fitted recessed lighting with difusers and over the counter a stabilised flourescent tube. We also went with daylight tubes (cannot remember the number - as am not in the shop at the moment).
What a big difference it made. The place looks really light and bright, also shows up the dust a lot more as well..
John GCF
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John
- Site Admin
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- Location: Ireland
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We went with 'daylight' fluorescent fittings after persevering for 15 years of LV spots.
Click here to see. (requires Quicktime)
I have heard, though not had it confirmed, that this type of lighting outputs more UV than does tungsten. Though after 2 years, we have observed no noticeable effects.
Click here to see. (requires Quicktime)
I have heard, though not had it confirmed, that this type of lighting outputs more UV than does tungsten. Though after 2 years, we have observed no noticeable effects.
HOW Much!?
EstLite Picture Framing Software
EstLite Picture Framing Software
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markw
John - thanks for the pic. I have one big problem with the gallery - A tudor framed coaching inn - as you can imagine it doesnt lend itself well to any lighting - and suspended ceilings are a definite no. Having given this some thought I have come to the conclusion that you have to buy the best quality LV tracks and they last quite well. There are lots of new LED track systems just waiting to reach an affordable level and we then might see low cost low energy lighting - untill then I shall replace with better quality LV.
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RobinC
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Sat 23 Jul, 2005 3:50 pm
We have just had our shop refurbished after 18 years of hard use. We had a combination of flourescent tubes and standard 100w spots.
After looking at several types of lighting we opted for Britespot metal halide spots, supplied by JCC lighting in Bogner Regis. They take a 35w bulb with a GU10 fitting and look about the same as a low voltage halogen. A 35w bulb gives as much light as a 100 incandescent bulb (or 2 50w halogen). So although they were expensive (the best price I have found for replacement bulbs is £30+ VAT each), they use less electricity than halogens, I only needed 42 fittings instead of 140 halogens, they generate less heat, therefore my air conditioning will be less expensive to run and they look absolutely fantastic, very bright white light. The bulbs should last for 6,000 hours or 2 years of 7 day trading. The only downside (apart from the price) is that they cannot be used with a dimmer switch, so in our viewing area we have had halogens fitted. The calculations show that over 2 years they should work out cheaper than the halogen alternative, but time will tell, and I will keep you posted.
Regards
Robin
After looking at several types of lighting we opted for Britespot metal halide spots, supplied by JCC lighting in Bogner Regis. They take a 35w bulb with a GU10 fitting and look about the same as a low voltage halogen. A 35w bulb gives as much light as a 100 incandescent bulb (or 2 50w halogen). So although they were expensive (the best price I have found for replacement bulbs is £30+ VAT each), they use less electricity than halogens, I only needed 42 fittings instead of 140 halogens, they generate less heat, therefore my air conditioning will be less expensive to run and they look absolutely fantastic, very bright white light. The bulbs should last for 6,000 hours or 2 years of 7 day trading. The only downside (apart from the price) is that they cannot be used with a dimmer switch, so in our viewing area we have had halogens fitted. The calculations show that over 2 years they should work out cheaper than the halogen alternative, but time will tell, and I will keep you posted.
Regards
Robin
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less
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon 15 Aug, 2005 10:26 am
- Location: Crediton, Devon
Hi,
I have just purchased an lv track system for my first floor gallery (first exhibition in progress!) and I will also be fitting the same system in the shop. It has cost a great deal of money to buy and install but it does definitely seem worth it for the gallery area - I have had loads of positive feedback from a variety of people, especially the artists a few of whom have already initimated their intention to exhibit in the coming months.
BG Electricals (recommended to me by John at Merlin) bent over backwards to help me get the system delivered and installed in time for the current exhibition - the only customer service I know is better than theirs is mine!!
Like Mark W I cannot have suspended ceilings so the track system seemed to be the only sensible way to go. It's high quality, looks good and functions well.
Regards
Les Sutherland
aka less
I have just purchased an lv track system for my first floor gallery (first exhibition in progress!) and I will also be fitting the same system in the shop. It has cost a great deal of money to buy and install but it does definitely seem worth it for the gallery area - I have had loads of positive feedback from a variety of people, especially the artists a few of whom have already initimated their intention to exhibit in the coming months.
BG Electricals (recommended to me by John at Merlin) bent over backwards to help me get the system delivered and installed in time for the current exhibition - the only customer service I know is better than theirs is mine!!
Like Mark W I cannot have suspended ceilings so the track system seemed to be the only sensible way to go. It's high quality, looks good and functions well.
Regards
Les Sutherland
aka less