Lighting

www.crystalfountains.com

Founded in 1967, Crystal Fountains is now a globally recognized leader in the commercial water feature industry. With a history of product innovation, design, commercial and custom manufactur-ing, the company has expanded from one office to offices in Canada, U.A.E, Singapore and Poland.

There are 2 lamp types commonly used in fountain light fixtures

Incandescent and Halogen

What is Incandescence?

Incandescent tungsten filament lamps were the original electric light sources developed by Thomas Edison. With some refinements, theystill employ basic technology that is over one hundred years old: a tungsten wire filament is placed inside a glass bulb, an electric current is passed through the filament, and resistance in the filament causes it to heat and “incandesce” or glow.

Where as early bulbs contained a vacuum to prevent the filament from combining with oxygen and “burning out,” most of today’s lamps use various mixtures of inert gases – usually a mixture of nitrogen and argon for the same purpose. Unfortunately, incandescent lamps are inefficient. Because they produce light by heating a solid material until it glows, most of the energy they consume is given off as heat, resulting in low performance. In other words they don’t burn as bright for the amount of energy they consume.

What is a Halogen lamp?Tungsten halogen lamps are a refinement of incandescent technology that offer up to 20 percent greater energy efficiency, longer service life and improved light quality.

In a standard incandescent lamp, tungsten from the filament evaporates over time and is deposited on the walls of the bulb causing the sides to turn black, thus reducing light output. The filament gets thinner and thinner and eventually breaks, causing the lamp to fail.

The halogen gas (bromine and iodine are suitable) inside a halogen lamp causes the evaporated tungsten to redeposit on the filament. This process, along with high pressure inside the capsule, slows down deterioration of the filament, improves lumen maintenance and extends the lamp’s service life. Therefore Halogen lamps might cost more, but they last longer

What is a Halogen lamp?

Halogen lamps have higher color temperatures than standard incandescent lamps and their light output contains more blue and green.

Therefore Halogen lamps therefore appear whiter and brighter.

PAR LAMPSPAR is an acronym for parabolic aluminized reflector. PAR lamps have a thin layer of aluminum vaporized inside the reflector. The filament is also precision mounted in the reflector. This along with a lens account for a high beam control. Beam spreads range from narrow spot to wide flood. A PAR lamp which may utilize either an incandescent filament or a halogen filament tube. Commonly used PAR lamps in the fountain industry are the PAR 38, PAR 56, PAR 64.

LAMP SIZING GUIDELamp size or diameter (Maximum) is expressed in eighths of an inch (1/8” .125”)For example an A17 household lamp is 17-eights of an inch or 2 1/8” in diameter at its maximum dimensionA PAR 56 light is 56 X 1/8 = 7” in diameterA PAR 38 light is 38 X 1/8 = 4 ¾”in diameter

Watts, Lumens and EfficacyMany people think that a higher wattage lamp will always produce more light than a lower wattage one. This confuses light output, which is measured in lumens, with the electric power a lamp uses, which is measured in watts. In fact, a 20W compact fluorescent lamp can produce just as much usable light as a 75W incandescent lamp. The most common way to express the energy efficiency of a light source—its “efficacy” — is as a ratio of the number of lumens it produces to each watt of power it consumes. In today’s energy conscious world, a lamp’s lumens per watt (LPW) performance is one of its most critical characteristics.

COLOR TEMPERATURE

• A number indicating the degree of "yellowness" or "blueness" of a white light source. Measured in Kelvins.

• With increased temperature, the light would shift gradually from red to

orange to yellow to white and, finally, to blue white.

• The higher the temperature the whiter the light.

Other forms of fountain lightingFiber optic

How fiber optic cable works• The plastic optic fiber bundled into PVC jackets and used in the swimming

pool industry uses the same principle to carry light into or around the perimeter of a pool, the adjacent water features or the landscaping. Each of the optic fibers in a cable is coated with a "Cladding" of different refractive index that helps keep the light inside the fiber. However, there is still some loss of light from each fiber. This loss amounts to approximately 2% per foot

Fiber Optic Illuminator Fiber Optic Cable

Basic Components of Fiber Optics

Fiber optic Cable Has Light Transmission LossOne of the problems that the fountain industry has with fiberoptics is the light transmission loss. Light Transmission Loss is the percentage of light that is lost over the distance of the fiberoptic cable run. The greater the distance the more the transmission loss. Fountain designers always have a hard time trying to find a location for a fiberoptic illuminator. The illuminator of a commercial project must be:

Within 30 feet of the fountainHidden from plain viewHoused in a weatherproof enclosureSecure from vandalism

Dichroic Filters

What are Dichroic Filters?• Dichroic filters are multi-layer thin-film coatings deposited on

a glass substrate. Each film layer is approximately one one-thousandth of a millimeter thick.

• Dichroic filters permit a narrow band of light frequency to go through. In other works, dichroic filters will permit more of the spectrum of the color you want to pass through. It will block out the other color spectrum.

• Transmission in dichroic filters typically average 90% or better. Dichroic filters are very efficient in blocking unwantedlight. Therefore a blue dichroic lens will only allow the blue spectrum to come through.

• Absorption filters are made primarily from colored filter glass or synthetic gels.

• Commonly utilized to isolate a broad band of wavelengths (see Figure 2), absorption filters are also helpful to block short wavelengths while transmitting longer ones.

Dichroic Filters

Advantages• Dichroic filters permit selection of colors that were not available to

the fountain industry in the past. Glass lens have only 5 colors• Dichroic filters reflect unwanted wavelengths back to the light

source. Other filters absorb the unwanted wavelengths and dissipate them in the form of heat, ultimately leading to performance degradation (melting, bleaching out, scorching, etc.).

• Dichroic filters are highly color selective producing brighter, cleaner appearing, saturated color.

• Dichroic filters will not melt, wrinkle, shrink or fade like gel filters. • Dichroic filters retain their characteristic spectral transmission

properties indefinitely for long life and value. • Dichroic filters are low maintenance and seldom if ever require

replacement. • Dichroic filters offer superior performance and long term cost

savings.

Dichroic Filters

Disadvantages• Dichroic filters are more expensive than colored glass lens• Dichroic filters are inefficient. They block out more light

than they let pass through. Therefore, it takes a lot of wattageto get light through a dichroic filter.

• Wattage = $$$$• Dichroic Filters are used mostly in color changing fountain

lights. LED fountain lights are replacing dichroic filters use in water features.

LEDLED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) are small, purely electronic lights that are extremely energy efficient and have a very long life. The first LED’s were invented in the early 1960’s and were limited to emitting a dim glow of red light. Now, LED’s have increased in light intensity and color range and provide unlimited creative applications.

How do they work• Each LED is about the size of a pencil eraser, so hundreds of

them are used together in an array. LEDs are like tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don't have a filament that will burn out, and they don't get especially hot. LED’s are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, and they last just as long as a standard transistor:

• The most important part of a light emitting diode (LED) is the semi-conductor chip located in the center of the bulb. The chip has two regions separated by a junction. The p region is dominated by positive electric charges, and the n region is dominated by negative electric charges. The junction acts as a barrier to the flow of electrons between the p and the n regions. Only when sufficient voltage is applied to the semi-conductor chip, can the current flow, and the electrons cross the junction into the p region.

3 components required for LED color changing lights.

Lights, Animation Controller, Power/Data SupplyThe animation controller is the computer than tells the lights what colors to

change to.The power/data supply takes the info from the animation controller and sends it

with the power to the color changing lights.

LEDs are Low Voltage• LED's operate at relative low voltages between about 1 and 6 volts, and

draw currents between about 10 and 40 milliamperes. Voltages and currents substantially above these values can melt a LED chip.

LEDs were not bright enough in the past to illuminate aerated water. New High-Intensity LED’s can provide illumination of vertical foamy water.

LEDs are now available in High-Intensity

LEDs can do RGB color changing

• RGB refers to Red, Green, and Blue and can be combined in various proportions and combinations to obtain any color in the visible spectrum. Levels of R, G, and B can each range from 0 to 100 percent of full intensity.

• LED lighting systems provide an almost infinite range of color options that can be achieved using the RGB system. RGB systems provide the color information used in computer monitors, other digital devices as well as your television set.

• The total number of available colors is 256 x 256 x 256, or 16,777,216 possible colors!

RGB Is like your television

LEDs can do RGB color changing

LED advantages

• LEDs last on average 80,000 hours.• LED lights run on very little power (milliamps). An array of LED that

take 25 watts of power can give out as many lumens as a lamp that takes 200 watt of power

• LED lights offer color changing. Over 16,777,216 possible colors• LED bulbs last for years. While halogen bulbs last for months.

Replacing bulbs costs money so increasing the replacement interval can save a fountain owner significant dollars.

• LED lamps produce very little heat. LED lamps can be UL approved for wet/dry fountains.

• LED bulbs save energy.!!!! Energy = $$$$

LED disadvantages• LED lighting controls are more complicated than other controls.• LED lighting controls are not user friendly• You require the design services of a fountain designer who knows LED

lighting systems• LEDs are more expensive than Halogen lamps

There are 3 voltages that are used in waterfeature lighting :

120 VOLT• North America• Very common. 120 volt is the standard for most water features.• South America • Very Common. Latin America follows North America standards

12 VOLT• North America. 12 Volt is required on all interactive water features.

Electrical standards have been changing region by region over the last 10 years. In the near future, 12 Volt will become the standard in the water feature industry

• South America Not very common at this time. The requirement of transformers add additional costs to the waterfeature. Latin America is a low cost region that wants value. Electrical standards will only change after supply of 120V is rare.

• Asia Common to water features• Europe Common to waterfeatures. No other voltage is permitted• Middle East Not presently common. Demand will depend upon the

influences in by British or American Specifiers. These two countries do most of the consulting in the region and will specify the standards that they are used to.

There are 3 voltages that are used in waterfeature lighting :

24 VOLT• Middle East A common voltage until the last recent 10 years. The Middle

East is also a dumping ground for different voltages such as 120 volt and 12 volt depending upon the specification

There are 3 voltages that are used in waterfeature lighting :

Typical requirements for high voltage lighting

Typical requirements for low voltage lighting

• Because of the addition of a transformer, low voltage lighting is more expensive than high voltage lighting.

Line Loss Affects Low Voltage Lighting• In order for low voltage lighting to work properly, you must supply 12

Volts at the lamp. Line loss is the resistance in the cable. The greater the line loss, the less voltage at the lamp. The lesser voltage at the lamp, the less the lamp will illuminate brightly

In order to overcome the line loss, you need larger cable going to the lamp.• The greater the size of cable, the less the voltage will be affected by line

loss

DWG L

DWG M

Low Voltage Lighting

Advantages

• SAFER!!!!. • Local codes are changing over to low voltage lighting for that reason.• Low voltage lights have a higher color temperature. They are whiter than

higher voltage lights.

Low Voltage Lighting has a Higher Color Temperature

12 VOLT LIGHTING 120 VOLT LIGHTING

Low Voltage Lighting

Disadvantages

• Low voltage takes more amperage• More amperage = bigger cable requirements • Bigger cable = More $$$$$ for cable & More $$$$ for

installation• You need a transformer• You still need a GFCI in front of the transformer• LOW VOLTAGE COSTS FOR MONEY

Cable Sizing• Standard high voltage (120V) underwater cable to lights is 16-3. This

means that the underwater cable has 3 conductors of 16 gauge each. • 1- black conductor 16 gauge• 1-white conductor 16 gauge• 1-green ground conductor 16 gauge

Underwater cable for low voltage (12V) lights will use 2 sizes of cable depending on the wattage of the lamp.• 16-3 cable for lamps up to 75W• 10-3 cable for lamps from 76W to 300W

To determine the cable size to run from the transformer to the light

• Determine the total wattage to be used i.e.: 3 lights at 75watts each = 225W.

• Convert the total wattage into amps. 225 watts/12 = 18.75 amps

• Determine the length of cable run i.e.: 40 feet

• Check chart for sizing

Cable Sizing

Transformer Sizing• A transformer changes the current from one current to another. i.e.:

120V to 12V• All transformers have a primary side and a secondary side• The primary side is the voltage that is provided in the building and the

secondary side is the voltage that the waterfeature light requires.

P

Transformer Sizing• Off the self transformers come in standard sizes

300 VA 500 VA 600 VA Etc

• VA closely relates to WATTS. Therefore a 300 VA transformer canhandle up to 300 WATTS of light.

• To size a transformer, take the number of lights X wattage of each lighti.e.: 8 lights X 75 watts each = 600 watts

• Multiply the total wattage X a service factor (safety factor) of 1.25 = 750 VA

• Therefore you need a transformer that can handle a minimum of 750 VA or greater.

Multi-Tap Transformers• Transformers can also come with different voltage taps on the secondary

such as 13 volts and 14 volts.• If you are only getting 11 volts at a lamp because of line loss, you can

change your voltage on the secondary side to a higher voltage and get your 12 volts at the light.

• Multi-tap transformers provide some good insurance incase you need extra voltage during the start up.

• Always ask your electrician to provide multi-tap transformers.

Q

Multi-Tap Transformers

Location of Transformers• Transformers can be located both inside the pump room or outside near

the fountain.• Locating a transformer inside a building could require a larger cable to

ensure that you have the correct voltage at the lamp$$$$.• Locating a transformer outside a building • could require the transformer to be enclosed in a water resistant Nema 4

enclosure • Is sometimes difficult to find a location

to mount the enclosure or hide the enclosure from physical view.

• Keep away from locating a transformer panel in the deck of a fountain. Rule of thumb: if you dig a hole, water will eventually get into it.

R

Lamp Beam SpreadThere are 2 typical lamp beam spreads used in Waterfeatures

Narrow Spot• Narrow spot lamps focus the light to approx 13 degrees beam angle.• Narrow spot lamps are used on nozzles sprays over 10 feet in height

Wide Flood• Wide flood lamps focus the light to approx 44 degrees beam angle• Wide flood lamps produce a wash effect onto streams or structures• Wide flood lamps are used on • nozzles sprays less than10 feet high• short water walls less than 10 feet high• short water fall less than 10 feet high

Wet/Dry Lights• Wet/Dry lights are lights that can be used in

water or out of water.• Wet/Dry lights are usually low voltage• Wet/Dry lights must be approved by UL as for

use in wet/dry applications• To meet UL standards, wet/dry lights must not exceed a certain

temperature rating on its body. That why wet/dry lights are usually only 35 watts. The body of the light cannot dissipate the heat of higher wattage lamps

• When a light is not submerged, you don’t require the lamp to have as much wattage as a light that is submerged. Surface water restricts the lumen output of a lamp

Wet/Dry lights are used mostly on dry deck fountains.

Wet/dry lights are used also on waterwalls that have remote collector tanks

Wet/dry lights can also be used in winter.They can Illuminate the accumulated snow in a

waterfeature.

Basic Components for Fountain Lights• A fountain light is a housing

manufactured to incorporate a stock lamp from a lighting manufacturer.

• All fountain lights incorporate the standard components

Lens• Lens for fountain lights are made of tempered glass.• Lens must conform to UL standards• Lens are available in standard colors Clear, Red, Blue, Green, Amber,

Turquoise• Lens are available in 2 standard sizes 5 5/8”and 8 3/8”.

This helps with replacement of lens from different manufacturer• Lens are also custom made for certain lights by individual manufacturers

Lens Gasket• Lens gaskets are circular and U shaped.

This helps prevent leakage• Lens gaskets are made of either neoprene or silicone• Neoprene gaskets are stronger than silicone gaskets but cannot take the

heat loads that silicone can withstand.• Silicone gaskets are soft and spongy. They are not as strong as neoprene

gaskets but can withstand stronger heat.• Lens gaskets must conform to UL standards. They check this by putting

the gasket in an oven for a period of time which accelerates the life of the gasket.

• A lens gasket should never be used more than once.

Lamp Sockets• Lamp sockets are made of porcelain. Porcelain is excellent for holding

away heat• Lamp sockets must be UL approved

Cable• Underwater light cable must be water resistant• The cable must be UL approved and indicate “water resistant” on the

jacket and the cable must be permanently attached to a light.• The light cable must be attached with a strain relief (cord seal)• Underwater light cable is available in 2 styles STW and SOW• SOW means Soil – Oil Resistant jacket – Wet Location• STW means Soil – Thermoplastic Jacket – Wet Location

Body and Face Ring

• Fountain light bodies are made of bronze• UL approved fountain lights cannot be made of Plastic or Aluminum• All fountain lights are pressure tested during production to ensure that

the light will not leak.

Strain Relief• This is commonly known as a strain relief. • Its purpose is to accept the strain or load that is put upon the cable so

that it does not pull out of the light.• All cord seals must be UL approved

Rock Guard• Rock Guards are made of bronze or stainless steel• Rock Guards must be UL approved. They cannot allow an object of

2” in diameter to come in contact with the lens

UL (Underwriters Laboratories)

• UL is a testing lab that certifies products that meet their safety codes. Many installers will not install components that are not UL approved

• The fountain industry is subject to UL Standard 676• All fountain lights require UL 676 approval• UL 676 states that you cannot have a fountain light made of plastic or

aluminum• UL 676 states that the light CANNOT be supplied with a plug or

receptacle• UL 676 states that the light MUST be installed with a rock guard• UL676 states that a light must be removable from the water for

maintenance• UL 676 indicates that lights must have a strain relief (cord seal)

NEC (National Electrical Code)• The NEC produces the rules for electrical

construction and operation. The fountain industry adopts these rules and incorporates them into the design and installation of waterfeatures.

• Some of the more common rules for waterfeatures are

• Underwater lights shall be protected with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

• Fountain equipment over 15V shall be protected by a GFCI

• Underwater lights must be protected from overheating by a low-water cut off or other approved means such as a water level sensor.

• Underwater junction boxes must be filled with an approved potting compound to prevent entry of moisture

Thermal Cut-Offs and Water Level Sensors• The NEC dictates that underwater fountain lights must be protected by a

low-water cut off or other approved means.• There are 2 types of low water cut off devices :

– Thermal Cut-Offs– Water-level Sensors

Thermal Cut-Offs• Thermal Cut-Offs are heat sensitive sensors that are mounted inside the

light fixture. If the heat of the light does not get dissipated by the water of the fountain, the thermal sensor will cut off power to the light. Only when the heat is lowered will the light turn on again.

• Thermal Cut-Offs are available in different heat cut off settings.

Thermal Cut-Offs

Advantages to using thermal cut-offs• Thermal cut-offs are small and can be placed in all light fixtures• Thermal cut-offs do not require any maintenance• Thermal cut-offs are inexpensive• If you fountain has many pools, you don’t need a float sensor in each pool

Disadvantages to using thermal cut-offs• Thermal cut-offs can fail or cause nuisance tripping even if the light is

cool.• Thermal cut-offs are hard to replace in a light. In many cases the entire

light will have to be replaced• A fountain still requires a water level sensor to cut-offs the power to the

pump. Why not have one sensor protect both the pump and lights???

Water Level Sensors• Water level sensor are electronic water level

floats that if you have a low water level situation,it will send a signal to a control panel which will then turn all the lights in the pool off.

• Water level sensors can also turn off other • equipment in a fountain such as pumps.

• Water level sensors can also turn on equipment such as electronic water fill solenoid valves or activate alarms to indicate high water in a pool

Water Level Sensors

Advantages to water level sensors• Water level sensors seldom fail.• Water level sensors failures are easy to diagnose• Water level sensors are easy to replace• Water level sensors can turn on or off several items at one time.

I.e.: pumps, lights.• Water level sensor can also signal a solenoid fill valve that will add water

to a fountain• Water level sensors provide electronic signals. They can be used by a

fountain operating computer eliminating the need for a water level control panel.

• Water level sensor require very little maintenance

Disadvantages to water level sensors• Water level sensors are required in each basin of a fountain

that has lights. This will add costs to a fountain• Water level sensors need to be periodically checked to make

sure the float is operating properly.• Water level sensors and control panels cost more that

thermal cut off systems.

WARNING:• Never use a water level electric conductivity probe system.

These probes work by sending electricity through the water to function. Electricity + Water + People = DANGER!!! .

Water Level Sensors

Electric Conductivity Probes. Do not use these

Placement of lights in a fountain• Don’t keep the lights more than 2” underwater. • The deeper they are underwater, the more lumens you will need to

penetrate to the surface of the fountain.

Place Lights close to what you are illuminating

Secure lights to floor to help stabilize lightsIf lights are under a waterfall they will move or fall over if they are not secured

Place lights on the underside of arching nozzles

Use wall mounted lights as accent lighting only

Use underwater lighting to highlight surrounding architecture

Use underwater lighting to reflect off materials

Place enough underwater lights when lighting up waterwalls.

Try to prevent dark spots

Poor Lighting Good Lighting

Some water features may require other lighting sources to help light up the top of tall structures.

Flood lights mounted in ceiling area

The sloped angle of a stepped cascade makes illumination difficult

Submersible lighting can be ineffective to illuminate a stepped cascade.Submersible lights will illuminate the bottom of the cascading water leaving

the top dark.

Stepped Cascade features

Use Wet/Dry lights above the pool level to help illuminate the stepped cascade

To get a water stream to light up properly, you must light up both sides of the stream. A minimum of 2 lights should be used on streams over 4’high

Large Water Features may require many lights per nozzle

Aerated water eats up light.More wattage and lights are required

Clear water jets reflect light easily.Less wattage and lights are required

Consider the effects of natural lighting when you design fountains.

Atrium lighting

Atrium Lighting

Use Lights to Highlight Waterfeature Structures

Use Lights to Highlight Cold Fog