Pool Hall Lighting? WTF

KRJ

KRJ

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Just curious if everyone's poolhalls and/or bars are using florescent light bulbs over the pool tables? They are extremely bright, and seems quite annoying but maybe it is just us folks who wear glasses.

Yes, I use them in my house too, but not on my pool table. I just can't get use to them in my poolhall. There are 18 tables, so doubt they are going to change back since we are talking about a lot of electricity savings.. maybe if it were a two table bar they would switch, but a large establishment, probably no chance.
 
The room I play in the most uses them. They don't seem to bother me, and I wear glasses. But I'm partial to having things brighter, so I like them that way.

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure what the other rooms that I play in use. I'll make it a point to look next time. Interesting.
 
Just an FYI;

One of the very FIRST things I attacked with the tranformation into Sandcastle Billiards was the proper lighting. I had custom light fixtures made for my tables. They are composed of four 8 foot long T12 flourescent bulbs in a metal housing with wrap-around diffuser covers. Anything less would be uncivilized. :wink: I still see many "pool rooms" out there with the lampshades and twisty flourescent bulbs in them. Sorry but I barely survive and I put the players' needs first. These "other" places that blast the music, have their tables 3 feet apart, terrible cloth substitutes, beer stains and tears on their tables, and so forth, make a nice income and STILL don't give back to their regular players. Why choose the billiard business if you want to be a "kiddie club"? I feel difused flourescent lighting, along with 5 feet around all sides of the tables and 68 - 72 degree temperatures at all times are the ideal conditions in a REAL POOL ROOM. JMHO :)
 
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I use 4 flourescent bulbs in my Diamond light. Most of the halls where I shoot also use then. But remember, there are several types of bulbs available. Daylight bulbs seems to work best for me. They give me the best light with the fewest shadows. Also, the color of cloth will make a difference. If you Google flourescent bulbs, you will be suprised at the different types.
 
The room I played in has light-weight un-diffused fluorescent fixtures and at first I didn't like them because I also thought they were too bright, but now I'm missing them. I moved down to columbus and the place near me has the 4 round fixtures over the tables and the corner pockets are not well illuminated (or not as well as with the large fluorescent fixtures). The center of the pocket doesn't change of course, but its kind of annoying.

If those kinds of lights bug you there are lenses you can get with a slight tint that will help your eyes. I haven't seen the need to get them myself, but I can't stand being in places like Best Buy and WalMart because of their millions of stupid fluorescent (actually, just about anywhere with industrial lighting), but I've gotten used to it.
 
Everywhere I shoot has T12's either 4ft or 8ft. I've tried like hell to get them to upgrade to at least T8 and electronic ballasts, but no bites. More light, less energy used, etc.

With all that aside, LED is where it's at. They make 4' bulbs that are the size of a T8 bi-pin fluorescent lamp that has nearly 300 LEDs in there. Don't even need a ballast.

We have installed them in some classrooms in some of the schools I work in and they look good. A gas station down the road from me has LED lights in the canopy over the pumps and its the most well lit station I've ever seen.

They are bright if you look into them, but I'm sure with a diffuser they'd be awesome over a pool table. Probably less shadowing as well.

And if I recall in last year's 10 Best Poolrooms edition of Billiards Digest, there was a small bar/pool hall that had a Diamond table with LED lighting. It looked really nice in the pictures.
 
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I think RJ is referring to a pool hall we both play leagues in. I wear glasses also and it is an issue at times. The bulbs in the lights are just screw in types with no no deflectors and I think four over each table. Not the best but better than shootin in the dark.. LOL!:(
 
Oh you guys mean the curly screw in styles in a fixture meant for incandescent bulbs? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like those, either. They just don't seem to put out as much brightness as the incandescent they replaced.

I realize they are rated to be equivalent, but I can't use them even in my regular room lamps at home. As I said earlier, I like it brighter than mood lighting, personally. I think using those over a table would suck. Give me the long flourescent tube fixtures any day.
 
RJ,

I'm sure there are players out there who think you're nuts. Lights are lights. The brighter the better? Right? Each year at Super Billiard Expo, the play is divided between two major areas. The main room upstairs has drop lighting by Diamond. The lower level room forces the players to use the florescent lights in the ceiling. Especially for players my age, the quantity and quality of the table lighting is extremely important. My home pool room has drop florescent lights. Some with four bulbs. Some with two. None of the lights have diffusers. Some lights are so bright I have trouble playing. My eyes are overwhelmed. Sure it might be an excuse for poor play but..... I seem to have no problem playing on similar tables in other rooms with similar lighting but with diffusers. Of all the drop lighting systems I've played under, Diamond still appears to have the best, although most expensive, solution. Bulb "color" does not appear to have as much effect.

Lyn
 
Hmmm

Quesports said:
I think RJ is referring to a pool hall we both play leagues in. I wear glasses also and it is an issue at times. The bulbs in the lights are just screw in types with no no deflectors and I think four over each table. Not the best but better than shootin in the dark.. LOL!:(
Click to expand...

Yep....you got it. And "dub" stated correctly they are the screw in curly bulbs...and maybe the table is not as bright, but I get more reflection off my glasses, and if I ever look the wrong way while standing it's kinda blinding....like looking at the sun. Maybe I' ll just switch my home lites to the curly bulbs and then I'll get use to them at league.....
 
I'm glad I ordered a pair of billiard glasses. I find I'm the opposite. The tubes give off enuff light but many places are starting to use the energy efficient curly bulbs and there is too many shadows. But then I can't wear my glasses when playing. Most nights I can see just fine but other nights, the far end of a 9 footer is starting to blur out a bit so hoping a pair of proper glasses will clear things up.
 
LED lights

Could you possibly provide a link for these lights? Thanks


bignick31985 said:
Everywhere I shoot has T12's either 4ft or 8ft. I've tried like hell to get them to upgrade to at least T8 and electronic ballasts, but no bites. More light, less energy used, etc.

With all that aside, LED is where it's at. They make 4' bulbs that are the size of a T8 bi-pin fluorescent lamp that has nearly 300 LEDs in there. Don't even need a ballast.

We have installed them in some classrooms in some of the schools I work in and they look good. A gas station down the road from me has LED lights in the canopy over the pumps and its the most well lit station I've ever seen.

They are bright if you look into them, but I'm sure with a diffuser they'd be awesome over a pool table. Probably less shadowing as well.

And if I recall in last year's 10 Best Poolrooms edition of Billiards Digest, there was a small bar/pool hall that had a Diamond table with LED lighting. It looked really nice in the pictures.
Click to expand...
 
shayne87 said:
Could you possibly provide a link for these lights? Thanks
Click to expand...

WEBSITE:
http://www.hero-ledstore.com/led-fluorescent-light-led-fluorescent-lamp-c-114_74.html

RIGHT TO THE BULBS: 4ft'ers
http://www.hero-ledstore.com/led-fl...22watt-4foot-384led-2000lm-90v280v-p-532.html

8ft'ers:
http://www.hero-ledstore.com/led-fl...33watt-8foot-600led-3000lm-90v280v-p-537.html


There's a couple links. They aren't cheap, but as they become more accepted I'm sure price will drop. Just like home computers were. Too expensive to own, now they are so cheap you can just buy a new one when yours craps on ya.

Supposedly the LED lamps last 10 years. I'm sure there is some kind of warranty. Also, no ballast, and that saves you another 30 bucks. New electronics never last more than 5 years, lol. T8 fluorescent bulbs might last 3-4 years depending on use. We've actually purchased 1300 277v 2 and 3 tube ballasts, and we've had 1 out of 4 failing in the first WEEKS of use. Pitiful from GE...

If I had a home table, I'd shell out the bucks for these bulbs. Just my $0.02 though.
 
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i was just about to design a new lamp for my table (using florescent), when i realized that going with LEDs could potentially save considerable money and effort...i love the idea, i'll let you know how it turns out
 
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