Lucite Downlight...
 

Another LED light I'm considering has a cylindrical screw-on dome that gives the light an interesting design quaility, and strongly affects the dispersal pattern.


The light assembly requires a hole of about 1 3/8" in diameter. Spring clips will hold the bulb against the ceiling.



The lucite is about 1.8" diameter and has a height of about 3/4".



Of the bulbs I have checked out, this one has the widest dispersion pattern. The lucite has a 'light-pipe' quality and side dispersion is as strong as wide downward dispersion.




Seeing this light in opperation really makes me realize just how much directivity is part of the LED light effect we expect. In this case, there is essentially no directional directivity, and more bulbs are required to achieve a useful lumen level.

This light definitely has a 'warm' look but in use, I didn't notice objectionable yellowness.

These LED lights come with a regulated LED power supply that will work with power from 110 to 220 VAC.

Best,

-AC

HEY ..

What is the power of the LED ?
And remember, up high pointed down might give you a nice effect ..

The ones I've looked at so far are 3-watts. The first one was made up of 3 1-watt LEDs and the second had one 3-watt LED.

(* I'm not sure when you say, "...up high pointed down...", if you mean using a downlight aimed upwards as a source for bounced lighting, or if you mean putting the downlight assembly at the very highest point in the room? I'm assuming you mean the former...*)

I think you are quite right about that, and I have considered each of these bulbs in that context. One thing that I consider is the merits of CFL vs. LED lighting. CFL is usually less directed than most LED lights, but CFL has a higher light output per watt (at least at this point in the development of the technologies). So I consider CFL to usually be a better candidate for fill or indirect lighting.

However, regarding your comment... for my very specialized application (inside a very small shower) indirect, bounced or fill light could be a problem.

I am trying to anticipate potential water intrusion, and light assemblies that could be, at best water-proof, or at least water-resistant, are what I'm looking for.

Best,

-AC

I'm using an LED light inside my truck topper. It's 12V, about 1 watt, and sold as a marine light in the boating section at Walmart. The wiring is potted in some sort of plastic and it looks reasonably well built. Cost me $18 and change.

Thanks, do you have any photos of the light in action?

Best,

-AC

Photos you want, photos you get. I took some photos after dark with the light on. This fixture has a switch. The switch is sealed underneath a rubber membrane.

Photo taken with a flash to show the fixture:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/...ps74b5f833.jpg

Taken without a flash:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/...ps91c9133e.jpg

Showing how it lights up inside the topper:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/...ps11758f7d.jpg

It makes enough light in there to read a newspaper. Barely.

I take it that you charge the Battery with the Boat Alternator ?

Looks pretty good... you said you got them at Walmart?

-AC

Are you trying to find just a single fixture that will light up the room? It would seem that you'd need multiple/dispersed lighting to not have shadow problems in the small area.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm finding out. I've also learned that point-source light makes the problem worse.

Like I mentioned previously, if I had it to do over, I'd make the ceiling out of translucent plastic and use many small lights above the translucent plastic.

So far, the lucite covered lights seem to be the best candidate... maybe use 4 of them.

LED strips might be appropriate, too.

-Best,

-AC