What amount of watts do I need. I am looking at putting two 2 x 4 florescents with parabolic lens. Each light has three 32 watt tubes. Is this sufficient?
Need help on table light selection
- Thread starter Seneca Steve
- Start date
I have two 32w daylights above mine, wish I had 4. I like the true color of the daylight bulbs.
two 8 footers?
If you mean T8's with the typical 3" deep parabolic louvers, I think that's a good way to go. You should have plenty of light, but a lot depends on the specific fixture and how high you hang it. You want even illumination out to the edge of the table, and a sharp cutoff - for efficiency and to keep glare as low as possible.
See if you can get the data sheet for the fixture you have in mind, and compare the off-axis output with the height above the table you want, to see how well they match.
A white louver and reflector may give you more even lighting than a specular aluminum-colored one.
The WPA/BCA spec is about 50 fc or 500 lumens minimum anywhere on the table, including rails.
4- 4ft, I have 2- 4ft.
If you double the typical light on the table, make it even, and get rid of the glare, 60-year-old eyes work very much like 20-year-old eyes.
Ideal lighting is a very big diffuse light source, to provide even illumination, reduce shadows, and reduce glare. The light source needs a hood or screen (called louvers in fluorescent fixtures) extending down to further reduce glare. 1" louvers are not deep enough.
Every beer light / distributor light I've seen is horrible for playing pool with. You'd think they would make at least a token effort - it wouldn't cost them any more to make it decent as a light as well as an advertisement.
If the table is 7-ft, one good 2x4 fixture, 3x32w T8, 3" parabolic louvers, 42"-48" above the table, is going to be much better than most setups. Adjust the height as needed.
If you use two 4' fixtures end-to-end, they need to be at least 6'6" off the floor (48" off the table), or they get in the way during play. This is true for 8' and even 9' tables.
A 4' fixture isn't long enough for an 8' table. Too much light is coming from one side, and you don't get enough light to the corner pockets. To me, a 4' on a 7' is pushing it, but it is a lot better than I usually find in local rooms.
Ideal lighting is a very big diffuse light source, to provide even illumination, reduce shadows, and reduce glare. The light source needs a hood or screen (called louvers in fluorescent fixtures) extending down to further reduce glare. 1" louvers are not deep enough.
Every beer light / distributor light I've seen is horrible for playing pool with. You'd think they would make at least a token effort - it wouldn't cost them any more to make it decent as a light as well as an advertisement.
If the table is 7-ft, one good 2x4 fixture, 3x32w T8, 3" parabolic louvers, 42"-48" above the table, is going to be much better than most setups. Adjust the height as needed.
If you use two 4' fixtures end-to-end, they need to be at least 6'6" off the floor (48" off the table), or they get in the way during play. This is true for 8' and even 9' tables.
A 4' fixture isn't long enough for an 8' table. Too much light is coming from one side, and you don't get enough light to the corner pockets. To me, a 4' on a 7' is pushing it, but it is a lot better than I usually find in local rooms.
Friend of mine just installed 8 LED lights above his 9' Brunswick. They look great and make the Centennial balls sparkle.
If you could post some pics as well as the specs of the LED lights he is using, it would be very much appreciated, thanks.
WOW looks great but I`ll bet it really spins the electric meter. Were 7 necessary ?
Yes, I believe they were. Every inch of my table is lit up. It makes a huge difference on how it plays. Believe it or not, but those T8 bulbs are super efficient and use less than you might think. Also, the table light is the only light in my man cave, so those are the only light bulbs using juice. My air conditioner uses far more electricity than my light. The way I figured it, id rather have too much light than not enough, so I went big on it, and I don't regret it one bit.
Joe
Even light
I use 5 48" daylight fluorescents sideways to
the table length with regular house style diffusers.
This is 20' feet of full spectrum light very evenly
distributed.
To give you an ides of how much light this is, two 96"
bulbs is 16'
Hope this helps.
I use 5 48" daylight fluorescents sideways to
the table length with regular house style diffusers.
This is 20' feet of full spectrum light very evenly
distributed.
To give you an ides of how much light this is, two 96"
bulbs is 16'
Hope this helps.
Double tube 4 footers or single tube ?
I know what your motto is...... go big or go home!!!
Table looks fantastic. At least you won't need a heater for that room, but you might need some more chalk :grin:
td