Lighting Palms - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

SOUTHERN LITES · 02-28-2008, 04:17 PM

I had a potential customer call today and inquire about lighting some palms around a lake. Now, providing I get over the flu, will look at the actual job Monday. My question is how many have used down lighting on palms. The lady that called expressed a great concern for safety and security. She also asked about putting the lights in the palms. What are the posotive's and negative's about down lighting in the palms? I willhave more info. to post Monday.
Thank you for all your help,
Steve

NightScenes · 02-28-2008, 09:18 PM

Well, what kind of palms are we talking about? I have used down lighting from plams many times. The trees must be tall enough to achieve a nice effect and attaching fixtures can be a little tricky sometimes.

MALCO.New.York · 02-28-2008, 09:28 PM

I have done many a tree lite. I ALWAYS do a down light but with a separately switched canopy light. An up-light. Requires not much more work and a couple of switches and light heads. Have ALWAYS used a remote control relay-switch to turn on and off.

With todays LED technology, you could install various colors from one light source that will virtually never burn out.

http://www.intermatic.com/Default.as...cid=74&sid=346

SOUTHERN LITES · 02-29-2008, 09:17 AM

I am not sure what type palms were talking about yet, I'll know Monday. How high would they need to be to achieve the right effects,25-30 ft? Do you down light with a single fixture or do you use more? I will post Monday after I have looked at the job.

I appreciate all the input,

NightScenes · 02-29-2008, 09:55 AM

I only down light from palm trees if I'm illuminating something, whether that be a particular work of art or a flower bed or something else. You will not be able to "moonlight" from a palm because you won't have anything to filter the light.

I would say that about 15' would be minimum with a good glare shield.

MALCO.New.York · 02-29-2008, 10:13 AM

I do the down light to illuminate the yard more for usability at night and not so much for effect.

SOUTHERN LITES · 03-03-2008, 05:31 PM

Okay scratch the palm idea. The owner has a lake with a sidewalk surrounding it. They want the sidewalk to be lighted but the palms are to spread out to do the job. I believe they are now leaning towards some pathlights. There is roughly 1200 ft. of walk to light.

Steve