Incandescent or Flourescent ?

Mickey Qualls

Mickey Qualls

You study the watch......
Silver Member
Hello everyone, and thank you in advance for your input...

I currently have flourescent lighting, and I'm considering putting recessed lighting above the table as well. I would wire the switches so I have the ability to either light the table with the current flourescent, or the incandescent recessed lighting.

I intend to replicate a tournament enviroment in my home room.

What type of lighting is typically found in larger venue tournaments (TS, DCC, VF) ? Incandescent or flourescent ?
 
Thanks, Tony...

I have a 2 lamp fixture up there now. Any idea how many bulbs & what the wattage per bulbs are are in the US Open fixtures ?

Or any other tourneys for that matter ?
 
T5 or T8 work well, low noise & consumption, just pick the temperature that suits you.
 
Slasher said:
T5 or T8 work well, low noise & consumption, just pick the temperature that suits you.
Click to expand...

I have T12 Cool Whites in there now. When I go to the electronic T8 ballast, I'm thinking of maybe a 4100K (TL841). That's comparable to cool whites.

I've seen a few rooms/halls where they have incandescent lighting above the tables. Heck, the last time I went to Las Vegas for the BCA event (2008), they were using the 3 bulb fixtures.

Any idea if there is a specific temperature that is supposed to be used in "professional" tournaments, or is it pretty much 'dealer's choice' on what type of bulbs they use ?
 
not sure of tourny lights but my T5's are 8 x 48" x 54w @ 3500k and I really like the color and brightness. This is 2 x 4ft fixtures end to end over a 6x12.

Even without a hood I am getting nice coverage and natural color.

 
Incandescent or fluorescent

Hi Mickey -
Since 2005, the BCAPL event in Las Vegas has used fluorescent lights. Electronic ballasts and T-8. Fluorescent light is basically non directional, where incandescent is directional and wants to make shadows. You might be thinking of VNEA event because they use the Fixtures with bulbs.

We use 4 @5' bulbs for a fixture designed for 7' tables. But they do such a good job that they will work for a 9' table. The older bulbs and ballasts might 'pulse' and newer electronic ones don't.

One of the most important aspects is the grid. The best is the chrome parabolic grid. Do not use the plastic cover - it just lights the room where the proper grid actually directs the light down to the table.

This is similar to the Diamond table light. Our small black light weighs 15 pounds and we had Diamond on the ends.

Mark griffin


Mickey Qualls said:
I have T12 Cool Whites in there now. When I go to the electronic T8 ballast, I'm thinking of maybe a 4100K (TL841). That's comparable to cool whites.

I've seen a few rooms/halls where they have incandescent lighting above the tables. Heck, the last time I went to Las Vegas for the BCA event (2008), they were using the 3 bulb fixtures.

Any idea if there is a specific temperature that is supposed to be used in "professional" tournaments, or is it pretty much 'dealer's choice' on what type of bulbs they use ?
Click to expand...
 
Go with the flo. :thumbup:

T8's are better than T12's. They just seem relatively problem free compared to the T12's.
 
Last edited:
Mark Griffin said:
Hi Mickey -
Since 2005, the BCAPL event in Las Vegas has used fluorescent lights. Electronic ballasts and T-8. Fluorescent light is basically non directional, where incandescent is directional and wants to make shadows. You might be thinking of VNEA event because they use the Fixtures with bulbs.

We use 4 @5' bulbs for a fixture designed for 7' tables. But they do such a good job that they will work for a 9' table. The older bulbs and ballasts might 'pulse' and newer electronic ones don't.

One of the most important aspects is the grid. The best is the chrome parabolic grid. Do not use the plastic cover - it just lights the room where the proper grid actually directs the light down to the table.

This is similar to the Diamond table light. Our small black light weighs 15 pounds and we had Diamond on the ends.

Mark griffin
Click to expand...

Thanks, Mark.

Regarding the year of the lights, I had to think about who was with me when I saw the three bulb incandescent fixtures. It could have been before 2005, as I think about it.
There were varying bulb & wattages in different fixtures then. THAT much I remember, because I lost $20 to a teammate betting that any three random fixtures would be of equal wattage. This was in the 'rear' room at the Riv, so I don't know if that made a difference or not in fixture selection at that time.

Anyway, I know that the temperature can be a contributing factor why T12's "pulse". Sometimes the gas going through the tube makes it look like it's out of an old horror movie.
The T8's are electronic, so they don't have that issue. I find more and more of them in 'cold weather' settings like garages and outdoor signs, simply for the fact that there's no 'warm-up' time. You flip the switch and they come on.

Like I say, I'm considering getting recessed lighting to try and recreate tournament lighting. I'd keep the flourescent as well, so I can select between the two depending on the type of lighting the venue will have.

Does ANYONE use incandescent lighting for tournament tables ?

It's starting to sound like my money for recessed lighting may be better invested in a parabolic T8 fixture, if that type of lighting covers the greater majority of tournaments.
 
Mickey, I'm not real expert in things electrical but when I was looking into this someone said the T8's are also better because there are rarely problems with the ballasts. When a bulb goes bad you just replace it - done deal.
 
I know a company that is @ to make LED pool lights. Less power used and no heat.

Anyone ever hear of LED's being used? Any comments???
 
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