Hi all

More kitcheny stuff here!

Our kitchen is a single storey extension, the "free end" of which has a side
access along it.
Part way down this access is a side gate with fence panels perpendicular to
the end wall IYSWIM.
I was considering putting a light on the kitchen end wall to illuminate the
access path.
I have already cabled for lights back and front, so don't want to go too
daft.
The thing is, if I put the light at "normal" height (easily reachable) then
the gate/fence will block a lot of the light to the unlit side.

So is there a restriction on the height of outside lights or can I fit the
side one high enough to cast some light beyond the fence/gate?

TIA

Phil

In article ,
"TheScullster" writes:
Hi all

More kitcheny stuff here!

Our kitchen is a single storey extension, the "free end" of which has a side
access along it.
Part way down this access is a side gate with fence panels perpendicular to
the end wall IYSWIM.
I was considering putting a light on the kitchen end wall to illuminate the
access path.
I have already cabled for lights back and front, so don't want to go too
daft.
The thing is, if I put the light at "normal" height (easily reachable) then
the gate/fence will block a lot of the light to the unlit side.

So is there a restriction on the height of outside lights or can I fit the
side one high enough to cast some light beyond the fence/gate?

There's no height restriction.

As with any outside lighting:
Choose fittings which avoid light being directed above horizontal;
this increases in importance the higher the light output.
If the light spills off your property, check with your neighbour
that it isn't a nuisance for them, and check that it doesn't cause
glare for road users. Use of anything over 60W [equivalent] outdoors
is probably misguided unless the installation is designed by
someone with a reasonable knowledge of lighting design.

Generally, using a fitting mounted as high as possible which directs
light downwards with a spread appropriate to the area to be lit is
the best option. If you want to use low level lighting (generally
more decorative), then several lower brightness are preferred over a
single higher brightness one.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Jul 22, 5:51*pm, (Andrew Gabriel)
wrote:
In article ,
* * * * "TheScullster" writes:



Hi all

More kitcheny stuff here!

Our kitchen is a single storey extension, the "free end" of which has a side
access along it.
Part way down this access is a side gate with fence panels perpendicular to
the end wall IYSWIM.
I was considering putting a light on the kitchen end wall to illuminate the
access path.
I have already cabled for lights back and front, so don't want to go too
daft.
The thing is, if I put the light at "normal" height (easily reachable) then
the gate/fence will block a lot of the light to the unlit side.

So is there a restriction on the height of outside lights or can I fit the
side one high enough to cast some light beyond the fence/gate?

There's no height restriction.

As with any outside lighting:
Choose fittings which avoid light being directed above horizontal;
this increases in importance the higher the light output.
If the light spills off your property, check with your neighbour
that it isn't a nuisance for them, and check that it doesn't cause
glare for road users. Use of anything over 60W [equivalent] outdoors
is probably misguided unless the installation is designed by
someone with a reasonable knowledge of lighting design.

Generally, using a fitting mounted as high as possible which directs
light downwards with a spread appropriate to the area to be lit is
the best option. If you want to use low level lighting (generally
more decorative), then several lower brightness are preferred over a
single higher brightness one.


AIUI there is a height restriction when it becomes considered a risk
to passing aircraft.

If you mount the light hgh up, you'll get much more even light spread,
but consider a few points for best result
- make it reasonably easy to change the bulb, or it'll get left dead
- if you use traditional fittings, any glass that doest direct light
downward can have ali foil glued to it, otherwise you lose much of the
light.


NT

Generally, using a fitting mounted as high as possible which directs
light downwards with a spread appropriate to the area to be lit is
the best option. If you want to use low level lighting (generally
more decorative), then several lower brightness are preferred over a
single higher brightness one.


AIUI there is a height restriction when it becomes considered a risk
to passing aircraft.

If you mount the light hgh up, you'll get much more even light spread,
but consider a few points for best result
- make it reasonably easy to change the bulb, or it'll get left dead
- if you use traditional fittings, any glass that doest direct light
downward can have ali foil glued to it, otherwise you lose much of the
light.

NT

And thereby hangs the problem!

For some inexplicable reason almost every lantern that you can buy nowadays
has the lampholder at the bottom, so that everything under the lantern is
rendered into inky blackness. You are basically paying to light the street
instead of your door or passageway. We have one v old lantern with the
lampholder at the top, so that the light shines out of the bottom, otherwise
modifications are required...

Otherwise, what I have had to do is buy a lantern designed for porches that
hangs by a chain, and cut the bottom off to let the light out. I notice
that Screwfix now do do a wall lantern with the lampholder at the top, but
they have still ruined it by putting a decorative closure over the bottom!
But it is v cheap...

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94827/...ern-Wall-Light

If it is made of the same material as the ones I've adapted, it is easy to
cut the bottom off, and both let the light out and make it easy to change
the lamp. If you are careful you can also cut a piece of clear plastic to
sit inside the bottom to keep the flies and spiders out. You will find a 7
or 9 watt cfl to be quite sufficient once the light can get out!

S

On Jul 22, 11:48*pm, Owain wrote:
On 22 July, 23:17, "Spamlet" *wrote:

For some inexplicable reason almost every lantern that you can buy nowadays
has the lampholder at the bottom, so that everything under the lantern is
rendered into inky blackness. *You are basically paying to light the street
instead of your door or passageway. *We have one v old lantern with the
lampholder at the top, so that the light shines out of the bottom, otherwise
modifications are required...

Use something like thishttp://www.coughtrie.co.uk/products10/products10c.html
which has a 20mm screwed entry at the top and make your own bracketry
out of conduit.

Owain

Another option is to take the standard offerings and paint the
itnerior white. Then add the ali to redirect the direct light output
that goes upward.

Actually... wouldnt spaced out 1w LEDs nearerer the ground be more
appropriate nowadays?


NT