*Amazing LED Flat Panels* - the next generation of pool lighting
- Thread starter Bbutler
- Start date
I downloaded a light meter app for my phone and at the centre of the table it was showing 8.6 kLux, which is about what they use in operating rooms. At the edges it was down to about 7.2. I was going to take some more readings of the lights at varying heights over the next while so when I do I'll post the results.
I really appreciate you taking the readings!
For the pictures you posted (such as the below), can you put the balls out near the corners of the table so that we can see what the shadows will look like? We know there will be light out there, but what effect the shadows will have is the only question that needs resolution before I pull the trigger on some of these panels.
What size would be appropriate for an 8' table? Could I get away with a 1x4 panel and still get good coverage or would 2x4 be necessary?
I would be interested in hearing what would suffice for an 8ft table as well as I will be getting an 8ft table for my living room soon.
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Would also like to know about the light for the 8 foot table.
I think the 2x4 should give enough light for an 8foot table. The lights shown in the pictures are over a 9foot and the people who play on them regularly are giving them rave reviews. You could also try a 1x4 panel, if you want to save a little money. That's definitely an option.
The entire issue with shadow and light coverage is simply one of cost, quite frankly. For example you could try and get away with a single panel for any of a 9foot, 8foot, or 7foot table and it would, in my opinion, work really well. However you could also go with more panels and increase the light levels and decrease the shadow, but you're also going to increase costs. However, I still think you could get insane light and still spend less than you could on a Diamond or Brunswick fixture, especially when you consider with those that you still have bulbs and their replacements and then the power to pay for. With LED panels you will vastly reduce your power consumption and they last practically forever.
Feel free to message me here with your phone number if you want to discuss some options, and I'll give you a call. No matter what you want I'm sure we can work out a solution that works.
The entire issue with shadow and light coverage is simply one of cost, quite frankly. For example you could try and get away with a single panel for any of a 9foot, 8foot, or 7foot table and it would, in my opinion, work really well. However you could also go with more panels and increase the light levels and decrease the shadow, but you're also going to increase costs. However, I still think you could get insane light and still spend less than you could on a Diamond or Brunswick fixture, especially when you consider with those that you still have bulbs and their replacements and then the power to pay for. With LED panels you will vastly reduce your power consumption and they last practically forever.
Feel free to message me here with your phone number if you want to discuss some options, and I'll give you a call. No matter what you want I'm sure we can work out a solution that works.
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Bumping but there's been a lot of interest and my inbox is getting close to full. Please feel free to email me for inquiries at brian_butler@hotmail.com
The_Hammer
New member
I have had a chance to play under these lights they are very very good.Okay so as a pro player I've played under all kinds of lighting conditions - everything from fluorescent to incandescent to daylight to freakin' glow in the dark pool. So far I've never seen anything that compares to this, the LED Flat Panel. In fact, they impressed me so much I joined with the supplier Design 21 Lighting to bring them the pool world, starting here with AZB.
I know it looks in the picture like a whiteboard or something, but believe me it's a light, and a pretty awesome one at that. It's less than 1/2" thick, draws only 84 watts of power, and yet it gives off a full 4500 Lumen of pure white light, perfect for lighting any pool table -- and at only a fraction of the power usage of fluorescent bulbs. And each panel will last an average of 50,000 - 60,000 hours with NO loss of light output. They're really incredible.
Here it is hung. This panel is 2' x 4', weighs right around 18 lbs, and is hanging at about 7.5' off the floor. You can see that it easily gives off enough light at that height to bathe the table in tons of soft, white light with very little glare or shadow, and by the way no heat either!
In this particular room the owner has hung the lights using very thin cable, which gives them the effect of floating over the table (very cool), but for those of you that have 'T-bar' drop ceilings they just fit right into those, so you have hardly any installation troubles at all. Just replace one of the ceiling panels with the light panel and that's it! You can also say goodbye to the days of having to replace or repair ballasts, or deal with broken or faulty fluorescent tubes or light bulbs -- that's done! LED panels are self contained and totally maintenance free.
The panels we're selling are made specifically for the North American grid and are set for a higher light output than most, to accommodate the more stringent lighting requirements you need for pool. They're also 'controlled current', which means they can be set on a dimmer switch if you like, and because they're so bright you can also hang them quite a bit higher than normal, which opens up your space a lot better. You tall players don't have to worry about banging your heads on the lights if you stand up fast, and room owners don't have to worry about a stray cue or cue ball breaking the light blubs and showering the table with glass.
And yes, there's more, because the best part is that LED panels are really affordable, like a fraction of what you're going to spend buying an elaborate light fixture such as the ones made by Diamond or Brunsick, ESPECIALLY when you factor in the power savings over the total life of the light (these things are a no-brainer for a room owner -- you'll cut your power bill by at least half and maybe more, guaranteed!).
If you're interested PM me here with your table sizes and locations for a full quote that includes shipping, but to ballpark it our Design 21 panels are about $320 for a 2x4 panel (9' table) and ~$220 for a 1x4 (7' table), and we can ship them right to your door, even in bulk.
LED is the lighting of the future, and believe me, all you pool nuts will love it! There's very little glare, the edges are sharp, and you can play under them for hours and hours with no ill effects. Try them out, you won't be sorry.
Any questions or comments fire away...
The light the panel gives off is near white no yellow or off colour at all, the slight shadows at the ends will not hinder any shot but if that seemed like it might be an issue then 2 panels over a 9 foot is very doable.
The tables in the pictures above are in a quality hall and were previously 3 light hanging lights there is no comparison what so ever to be made between the lights now and previous.
Brian is a professional player with a ton of knowledge and i back him 100% on this these are the next "great thing" and will make a huge difference in any hall any where.
Well CRT televisions were the standard for a long time, until plasmas, LCD's, LED's and now 4K televisions came along. Now I don't even think they make CRTs. Times change.
Fact is Diamond makes a great light fixture that I agree looks and functions great, but when it comes to money you have to remember you're looking not just at the expense of the Diamond light fixture itself -- which by the way is close to DOUBLE the cost of two LED panels (a Brunswick fixture is THREE TIMES as much) -- but also the cost of the bulbs, and you still have to pay for the power! Eventually the bulbs wear out need replaced, and often so do the ballasts.
With LED panels for a home table you're talking basically about a one-time expense for the lifetime of the table. Not only do they give off more light than standard fluorescent tubes but they draw less power, give off NO heat or UV rays, and last 50,000 hours.
Another interesting factor is that the light is uni-directional, meaning the entire output of the light is directed right at your table. With standard lighting on the other hand the light output is being cast 360 degrees around, and then the fixture has to compensate for that by reflecting it or diffusing it somehow. However a lot of the light output of your bulbs is lost in the process. With the panels this is moot, because the light is focused only downwards, which means that the entire output is aimed right at your table. This makes for a much, much, brighter and sharper playing area.
Bottom line, I've played under Diamond lights many times and there's no question they're a great product. However are they as bright as these? Not even close. The panels are quite literally better in every single way. They're cheaper, last longer, give off more light, and take up virtually no space over your table.
Short of dragging your table outside and playing at high noon, I'm not sure how you could do better
If your LED lights are cheaper than the Diamond it makes a great case to use yours. I haven't heard of the brand but if the 72 foot candle on the edge (7.2k lux) and 86 in the center are true that is a great uniformity. In my work I am selling LED fixtures which are more expensive than a fluorescent which is a much harder sale.
You mention they are rated at 50,00 hours. Is that a L70 rating? At L70 the fixture puts out 70% of it's light at 50,000 burn hours .In reality LED's seldom burn out and just get dimmer over time. The last foot candle recommendations for billiards was 50 so you may be good at 100,000 plus hours!
You mention they are rated at 50,00 hours. Is that a L70 rating? At L70 the fixture puts out 70% of it's light at 50,000 burn hours .In reality LED's seldom burn out and just get dimmer over time. The last foot candle recommendations for billiards was 50 so you may be good at 100,000 plus hours!
From the photos, it looks *very* bright directly beneath the panel and not so bright around the edges of the table. This does not sound like a particularly good solution on its own. Perhaps 2 of these oriented 90 degrees to what is shown, at each end of the table might work better. I can certainly understand the benefits here. However it doesn't *look* like it gives very even light from rail to rail. Perhaps the pictures are deceiving?
KMRUNOUT
The pics are a little deceiving,
I played under them for 4 hours yesterday and I really like the light,
So much that I will most likely be putting some over my home table...
That's right I said "some
"My current light has 12 4' flouresant tubes in it and provides excellent light and coverage.
I plan to mount 4-2x2 led panels in my existing box.
I feel that the led panels will be much brighter than my tubes, and if 4 panels are too bright, no biggie...they're dimmable!
Here's a couple pics of my existing light.
Once I pull the trigger on the LEDs, I will post new pics.
I'm just waiting to order until I make some choices about some under/over counter led lighting also
Yes I guess we'll know in ten years or so when the first buyers start to experience some light loss. You are right, though, the most likely scenario is that they just dim some at the 50,000 hour mark. One person I talked to said that could be as little as 10% and as much as 30%.
Regardless, even for pool room use, 50,000 hours is probably close to ten years of regular use. For homes it's virtually lifetime.
The frame is aluminum, I believe, and the light panel itself is a real hard plastic. They're pretty durable, though -- I have a sample that I've been banging around just to check it out and it can take a lickin'. LED's don't use traditional bulbs they're tiny little diodes, so they can't break in the same way that a light bulb would regardless.
Besides, if that is a real concern just hang them up a little higher. I've seen people swing cues quite a few times, but never up at the 8 foot level, no matter what type of shot they blew
If a LED diode burns out is that diode replaceable? Are these LED diodes in 2"x2",4"x4",6"x6" replaceable blocks/sections ...etc.....
Is the light repairable if a diode burns out? Or will it just have a dead spot?
NYC cue dude
Banned
Sending email, now.....
You most likely won't even notice unless several go out.