Fountain luminaire reference

Fountain luminaire reference

degree of protection IP67 and IP68, voltage, power, light color, radiation angle, body material, cable length and control system

The lighting reveals the shape of the fountain at night. A fountain can be seen as a brilliant column with concentrated light, and with diffused light, it can be part of a calm and integrated composition. The quality of this image depends on the coordination of the light with the water form, the installation location, the environmental conditions and the control program.

A fountain light must perform three tasks at once: produce adequate light, last in its installation conditions, and be compatible with the electrical and control equipment of the project. More power or the "waterproof" title alone is not enough to choose it.

According to the book's initial index, this chapter examines the specification of lamps in eight main axes, and then introduces documented examples from GSO and international manufacturers.

Product information note: The numbers introduced are from the general pages of the products. For the order and the final version of the printed reference, the exact product code, the version of the technical sheet and the accompanying equipment must be specified. Unpublished data are not supplemented with estimates.

60–1. Types of lights in terms of shape and installation location

Before comparing the electrical and optical characteristics, the appropriate shape of the lamp should be selected for the installation location.

In choosing a built-in light located in the traffic path, in addition to protection against water, load bearing, impact resistance, surface temperature and levelness with the floor should be checked. IP rating does not answer these questions.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 60-1 instead

A page containing real images of floor, ring, recessed and line lights from the company's archives. Under each image, write the model and installation application.

60–2. degree of protection; The difference between IP67 and IP68

The IP code indicates the enclosure's protection against the ingress of foreign bodies and water. The first digit in IP67 and IP68, i.e. 6, indicates protection against dust. The main difference between these two codes is related to the conditions of protection against water.

This distinction is also stated in Schneider Electric's protection degree guide. Source: Explanation of IP protection degrees ^[401]

For a light that works constantly inside the pond, the desired specifications should be clearly written; For example:

"Suitable for permanent underwater work, with IP68 rating, at the depth and temperature stated in the technical sheet."

The term IP68 is not enough information for design without specifying the immersion conditions. Also, protection against submersion does not necessarily mean confirmation of resistance to high-pressure jet washing; The tests for these conditions are different. Source: Schneider Electric's explanation about the difference between tests ^[402]

The light, cable and connection should be checked together

Sealing the body does not compensate for the weak connection of the cable or distribution box. In the certificate of installation, the state of the gland, connector, intermediate connections and the end of the cable should also be clear.

IEC 60598-2-18:2022 deals with specific requirements for fixed lights used in or in contact with water, including fountains. This reference goes beyond putting an IP code on the product. Source: official introduction IEC 60598-2-18 ^[403]

60–3. Voltage and type of power supply

In the specifications of the lamp, the voltage number should be written along with the type of current:

• 24 V DC;

• 12 V AC;

• Or specified input range, according to the same model sheet.

A 24V DC light cannot be connected to a 24V AC outlet simply because the voltage number is the same.

It should also be clear whether the declared voltage corresponds to the input of the complete lamp or the input of the external driver. In some products, the lamp and the driver form a coordinated assembly.

Difference between constant voltage source and constant current driver

The MEAN WELL guide emphasizes that the setup method must be compatible with the structure of the LED module and its current control circuit. A generic power supply is not an automatic replacement for any type of LED driver. Source: LED Power Structures in MEAN WELL ^[404]

Low voltage alone does not mean to confirm the safety of the entire installation. The type of source, protective isolation, installation location of equipment and conditions of people's access to water should be determined in the electrical design of the project.

60–4. Electrical power and optical output

Electric power is expressed in watts; But the amount and way of light distribution have separate specifications.

Two 20 watt lamps may have completely different luminous flux and distribution. Even two lights with the same lumens do not create the same image on the fountain if the angle of radiation is different.

In colored lights, the conditions for declaring the luminous flux are also important. "All channels on" is not the same as "only white light on". Comparisons should be made between similar states.

For the reference table, it is better to record these items separately:

1. Maximum light power; 2. Consumption of startup equipment; 3. Optical flux in the declared state; 4. The output of each color, if published; 5. Thermal test conditions.

60–5. color of light; White, RGB and RGBW

The choice of color should be related to the visual purpose of the project.

The presence of RGB does not mean the presence of an independent white LED. In the RGBW lamp, the color temperature and the characteristics of the white channel should also be specified.

To order a white light, terms like "sunny" or "moonlight" are not as accurate as the color temperature number. The order sheet must specify the color temperature in Kelvin and its tolerance; For example, 3000 or 4000 Kelvin, if the same option is offered.

In a project with a large number of lights, color uniformity between units is important. Sampling should be done with the same command, voltage and installation conditions so that the color difference caused by the product is not confused with the difference in operating conditions.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Image placeholder 60–2

A fixed fountain with four light modes: white, red, blue and mixed. The exposure settings and white balance of the camera should be fixed and the characteristics of the lights under the images should be recorded.

60–6. Angle of radiation and adaptation to water form

The angle of incidence describes the range of the beam. In the common photometric definition, the beam angle is determined based on the points where the light intensity reaches half of the maximum intensity; Therefore, the edge of this angle is not the boundary of complete light interruption. Source: Definition of beam angle in ERCO ^[405]

Geometric calculation of beam range

For a symmetric beam in a uniform medium:

$D=2L\tan (\frac{\theta }{2})$

in which:

• $D$: geometric diameter of the beam in the plane perpendicular to the axis;

• $L$ : distance from the lamp along the axis;

• $\theta$ : Full beam angle.

For a distance of 3 meters:

This tutorial calculation does not determine the lux value or height that can be lit. In underwater installation, light refraction at the water-air boundary, water surface shape, scattering and turbidity also affect the result.

A constant fountain height should not be determined for each light power without testing. The visible height depends on the nozzle, selected color, ambient light, viewing angle and placement of the lamp.

60–7. Body material and sealing components

In the technical sheet, the general heading "Steel" should be completed as accurately as possible with the grade. In different products, grades such as 304, 316 and 316L are seen; But the grade name alone does not guarantee durability in all water qualities.

The following must be recorded in the product specification:

For treated water, coastal environment or chemical washing, the compatibility verification should be for the complete set.

The sediment on the glass can also reduce the quality of light; Therefore, accessibility for cleaning is part of product evaluation.

60–8. Cable length and voltage drop

"The length of the cable with the light" is different from the "maximum distance between the light and the driver". The 1 meter cable supplied with the product may be supplemented with a compatible interface cable, but the maximum path length should be checked in terms of power, control and manufacturer's instructions.

For a simple two-wire DC circuit, the approximate voltage drop is obtained from the following equation:

$\Delta V=\frac{2\rho LI}{A}$

In this regard, $L$ is the one-way length of the path, $I$ is the current, $A$ is the cross-sectional area of the conductor and $\rho$ is the specific resistance of the conductor.

Educational example

Assume that the current of a branch is 2 amps, the one-way length is 25 meters, and the cross-sectional area of copper is 2.5 square millimeters. Assuming the specific resistance of copper at about 20 degrees Celsius is equal to $0.0175\Omega m{m}^2/m$:

$\Delta V=\frac{2\times 0.0175\times 25\times 2}{2.5}=0.70V$

In a 24V circuit, this value is approximately 2.9%.

This calculation does not take into account the loss of connections and the increase in resistance due to temperature. The final selection of the cable should also ensure the current capacity, installation conditions and the minimum permissible input voltage of the lamp. In color multichannel circuits, common conductor current must be calculated separately.

The cabling sheet should include the number of strands, cross-sectional area, route length, cover type, intermediate connections and storage location of the service cable.

60–9. Light control system

In the introduction of the lamp, it should be specified whether the control capability exists in the lamp itself or is provided through an external driver.

The presence of the word RGB on the product does not indicate its direct support for DMX. The light may need an external driver.

In the display specifications, the behavior of the light when the steering wheel is cut off, power cut and restart should also be determined. Also, the uniformity of color change and performance at low intensities should be checked in the practical test.

For a project where filming is important, test the camera's image quality in several light intensities and shutter speeds; Dimmer frequency number alone does not guarantee the result in all cameras.

60–10. The GSO family of lights

On the GSO site, Prolight, Proclass and Proflat Medium families have been introduced.

Source: GSO fountain lights ^[406]

This introduction is the classification of families. To determine the power, angle, material and length of the cable, you must refer to the exact model. The characteristics of one sample should not be generalized to the whole family.

Documentary example: Proclass LED RGB 110

In the text of the page, the term "natural white" is also mentioned, but the product table is RGB; From this expression, the existence of an independent white channel cannot be concluded. The allowed immersion depth is also not specified in the reviewed table. Source: Proclass LED RGB 110 ^[407]

Figure note from the source manuscript

Image placeholder 60–3

Real photo of Proclass RGB 110, including front view, stand and cable entry; Along with the image of the license plate of the delivered model.

60–11. OASE reference sample

ProfiLux LED XL RGBW Flood/DMX/02 model with code 36091 is an example of a display light with separate optical and control information.

The manufacturer has introduced wet and dry installation for this model. This feature is related to the same product and its instruction conditions. Source: OASE official page ^[408]

The value of this sample for technical reference is the separation of the total flux from the white flux and the identification of the immersion depth and control equipment. Its introduction does not mean equivalence with the GSO model.

60–12. Crystal Fountains reference samples

The following two families show the difference between the independent lamp and the lamp around the nozzle:

Sources: Crystal LED040 ^[409], Crystal LED160 ^[410].

In each family, the final configuration must be selected. The term "white types" or "RGBW" does not mean that there are all options in one unit. Angle, cable length, allowable depth and order code must be extracted from the same configuration sheet.

60–13. Power supply selection and energy estimation

The capacity of the power supply should be determined based on the actual load of the lights, control equipment, path loss and thermal conditions.

Educational example

Suppose 24 lights, each with a maximum input power of 20 watts, are installed:

$P_{lights}=24\times 20=480W$

If the consumption of peripheral equipment and losses on the output side of the source are assumed to be 20 watts in this example:

$P_{DC}=500W$

If, for this example, the designer chooses to operate at a maximum of 80% of the usable capacity of the source:

$P_{supply}\ge \frac{500}{0.8}=625W$

This coefficient is an example design assumption and is not a general requirement for all sources. Capacity reduction due to temperature, limitation of each output and start-up conditions should be controlled according to the manufacturer's data sheet.

If the resource efficiency is 90% this time:

$P_{grid}=\frac{500}{0.90}\approx 556W$

For six hours of steady work a day:

$E_{day}=0.556\times 6\approx 3.34kWh$

Variable color display consumption should be derived from the actual application or measurement. The rated capacity of the power supply is not equivalent to its constant consumption.

60–14. Placement, heat dissipation and service access

The light should shine on the part of the water that is to be seen. Improper placement may result in lighting the bottom of the pond, creating glare, or leaving the top of the fountain in the dark.

In the installation plan, the following items should be recorded:

• The position of the light relative to the axis of the nozzle;

• The angle of adjustment and the method of locking the base;

• The level of the light relative to the minimum water level;

• cable exit route;

• space required for opening and replacement;

• Restrictions on working outside the water.

A lamp that depends on water for cooling should not be left on dry without the manufacturer's approval. In contrast, some models are explicitly introduced for both modes; This difference should be seen in the product sheet.

For the ring nozzle, the inner diameter of the lamp must be compatible with the nozzle and its adjustment fittings. The possibility of opening the nozzle and light should also be checked before construction.

60–15. Sample test and acceptance criteria

Test an actual combination of lights, nozzles, cables and drivers before buying a large quantity. The test result should be compared with the predetermined criteria.

A comparison photo should be recorded under constant conditions. A camera's automatic exposure can make a weaker light appear brighter in a photo; Therefore, the photo alone is not a performance measurement document.

60–16. Reference form for choosing and ordering lights

In the evaluation of the alternative product, the wattage or the diameter of the lamp is not enough. Light distribution, color, control, installation conditions and connections should also be adapted to the needs of the project.

60–17. Guide to pictures and documents of the season

Schematic image can be prepared to teach the radiation angle and placement. Product image, sealing details and dimensional drawing should be selected from actual archive and technical documents.

Hard copy completion note: To convert the GSO products section into a complete ordering reference, complete each model's separate sheet with allowable depth, dry working conditions, lens option, cable length, driver code, and optical report. The family and model specifications should also be separated in the layout so that the reader can refer each number to its exact product.