3 or 4 bulb table light???

R

Ruark

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Please excuse me, but I need to ask another newbie question, as I continue to set up my pool room. It's time to order a table light. This is a standard 8 foot table. The room will be very dark (dark blue walls/ceiling, with dark burgundy accent). The sole sources of light will be a couple of neon beer signs (Corona), a small LCD TV by the bar, and the table light. Maybe a couple of small, focused track lights over the bar.

I don't want any excess light beyond what is needed. So... should I get the 3 bulb or the 4 bulb table light? I'll probably run it through a dimmer switch, for what that's worth.

Thanks yet again,
Ruark
 
Ruark said:
Please excuse me, but I need to ask another newbie question, as I continue to set up my pool room. It's time to order a table light. This is a standard 8 foot table. The room will be very dark (dark blue walls/ceiling, with dark burgundy accent). The sole sources of light will be a couple of neon beer signs (Corona), a small LCD TV by the bar, and the table light. Maybe a couple of small, focused track lights over the bar.

I don't want any excess light beyond what is needed. So... should I get the 3 bulb or the 4 bulb table light? I'll probably run it through a dimmer switch, for what that's worth.

Thanks yet again,
Ruark
Click to expand...

If you are going to use a dimmer switch anyway, then get it brighter than you need it and turn it down to where you want it. After you install it is not the time to decide you should have gone with another bulb or two.
 
Thanks, Ron, but I wanted the light to just light the top of the table, and not spill past it. That's why I'm wondering of a 4-bulb would spread light to "wide" or a 3 bulb wouldn't be wide enough. I guess I have kind of a perfectionist streak... (-;

Ruark
 
Mine is the 3 light over an 8 footer and it does great. (It's in the exact center of the table). It is in the basement where I have plenty of other lighting if I need it but usually thats all I have on.
 
Ruark said:
Thanks, Ron, but I wanted the light to just light the top of the table, and not spill past it. That's why I'm wondering of a 4-bulb would spread light to "wide" or a 3 bulb wouldn't be wide enough. I guess I have kind of a perfectionist streak... (-;

Ruark
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The light fixture design will have a lot to do with how long and wide the light footprint is. Every fixture design will be different, but they are all adjustable by simply moving the light fixture up and down until it lights the area desired.

For your purposes, you should look at designes that have the bulbs recessed farther up into the body of the fixture so that the light is directed more downward than sideways. The start with the fixture too low and raise it ultil the light is just lighting the whole table.
 
Why are you so concerned about excess light?? If you have an 8 foot table, three is all you need anyway. Three on a 9 foot is nowhere near enough.
 
Ruark said:
Thanks, Ron, but I wanted the light to just light the top of the table, and not spill past it. That's why I'm wondering of a 4-bulb would spread light to "wide" or a 3 bulb wouldn't be wide enough. I guess I have kind of a perfectionist streak... (-;

Ruark
Click to expand...

It seems to me that it is not number of bulbs that will spill light but rather the shape of the shade. The light shade will direct where you want the light to focus.

Was it you that has marine blue cloth? If so that cloth is on the dark side and brighter lightening would be needed imo.

Hope this helps

Steve
 
Ruark,

FWIW, I have a Brunswick 8-footer (the standard 8-footer, NOT the Super8-footer). I use a four-light fixture over my table. The light has the round, squatty teepee-shaped (don't know how else to describe them) hoods. The bottom of the shades are 38" from the top of the playing surface. I had a three-light fixture that left the end rails with some shadows that bugged the crap out of me. The setup I'm using now is perfect. BTW, I use 75-watt soft-white light bulbs. Good luck and I hope you get it right the first time!!!

Maniac
 
The heighth above the table will determine, to a large degree, the size of the footprint. I say get 4 bulbs, 60w each and alter the heighth to get what you want.
 
My personal preference is that I don’t like incandescent light at all. I would rather play under florescent light. Further, ( for me) I don’t like it dark outside of the table area because it causes your eyes to dilate when you look out into the room and contract when you look back under the table light constantly back and forth tires my eyes. I’d much rather have at least a dimly lit surrounding area so as not to make my pupils go nuts all night. But that's just me ... :)
 
Thanks for all the replies. I ordered a 3-light fixture; we'll see how it works out.

As far as extra light, that has more to do with the ambience and feel of the room more than anything else.

Ruark
 
Don't use incandesant lights. They make the room hot and use lots more electricity. Using the spiral-looking lights is the way to go. I have them setup in my light fixture.
 
TX Poolnut said:
Don't use incandesant lights. They make the room hot and use lots more electricity. Using the spiral-looking lights is the way to go. I have them setup in my light fixture.
Click to expand...

I recently switched to these myself and like them much better. They take a bit of time to come to full brilliance, though.
 
Ruark said:
As far as extra light, that has more to do with the ambience and feel of the room more than anything else.

Ruark
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know ... but I'd never put ambiance over playability period. Perhaps its the level of excellence you wish to pursue vs having a game room that looks cozy. :shrug:
 
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