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Old July 4th 05, 08:55 PM
Glen Sayers
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Thanks Herb.

The huge array of lights in the test box was so I could turn some off one at
a time (eight are switched) until I got down to what I want. Trouble is the
missus saw them and just went "Oh I want them all" so I came looking for
some sort of guide lines so I could talk her out of some. Never mind.



I'm on a $300 pawer supply (don't ask) so if it's too bright I can turn them
down.



Someone should come up with some guide lines though because, quite frankly,
there really is little information out there for the absolute beginner about
"how much of what" for anything. (that was general!) I mean, using mdf -
what thickness, picking a transformer - watts - ft2 (i say that because if
your using 3v as some seem to bulbs become another issue again unless you go
back to a general input rule.

With planes we say, generally, 50watts/pound, sport flying, 80watts/pound
aerobatic and 100-120watts 3d/pound . Now we have all sorts of variations as
well but it's a starting point.

..



Just seems that the only way to learn is buy a kit. and that's not an option
for all. (I've never bought a plane or boat kit, it's just me.) Ideally I
look at some existing examples but that's proving harder than I thought to.
Just missed the big Easter display because I didn't know it was on etc etc.

Anyway. It's all fun and just toys in the end.

Just hope my little girl likes it!




"Herb" wrote in message
.. .
Glen Sayers wrote:

could you possibly check


http://www.allthingsmini.com/forum/i...9a7bd73eba7ee9
ad0&act=ST&f=28&t=1084
and make comment?


Well that didn't work


It worked just fine - because the URL is so long, it wrapped to another

line.
You have to cut and paste the url back together. A trick is to use

TINYURL
www.tinyurl.com that will create a very small, PERMANENT substitute url.
Here's the TinyURL equivalent to your link:

http://tinyurl.com/b5wry

but here's my question.
Now working on finalising lighting. There really don't seem to be any
written suggestions out there. i.e. watts per square foot seems a

logical
way to do it for me.


Ahh.. We have the engineering mind at work!

It's not an engineering question, but one of artistic and human factors.

If you were an architect designing the lighting for a 1:1 scale house or

room
(i.e., a REAL one), you certainly wouldn't use some fixed ratio. You'd

consider
dozens of factors, such as
What's the room to be used for?
When is it to be used (at night or day)?
How good is the residents' eyesight?
What kind of ambiance is desired?
What color is the decorating scheme?
What is the purpose of the lighting? (Not to fall down when walking,

desk
work, watching TV, reading, cocktail parties, light shows)
What KIND of lighting - overall even, spotlighted areas,
Where is the lighting going to be placed?
How far away is it from the area to be lighted?
Are we talking about built-in lighting or separate fixtures?

For a dollhouse, some other factors:
Where will it be located - what's the lighting OUTSIDE of the house?
What's the purpose of the lighting? (Visibility, realism, decorative)
What kind of maintenance is needed or possible? There's nothing worse

than
tearing up floors and ceilings because a connection came loose.
What's the dollhouse for? - a plaything and a showpiece have vastly

different
needs.
The array of lights in your photo is very impressive - it may overshadow

(pun
NOT intended) the content of the room.

Wattage isn't a measure of light, but of power. A 20 Watt fluorescent bulb
produces the same amount of light output as a 60 Watt incandescent. If

you must
measure the light, you need to measure it in lumens or candlepower or
teraphotons per nanosecond or ...

small lights, low power = more lights to get up to a recommended

wattage.
One big light = watts in one hit.


What would you do in your own house or flat? Use one megawatt floodlight

or a
selection of well-placed smaller fixtures?

Can anyone suggest a starting point?
My conclusion is 1.73 watts/square foot would make an acceptable

starting
point.


Per square foot ... a pretty meaningless measure - what is being lighted?

The
floor? And then where are the lights? If you're lighting the floor, you

need
more generated lumens if the lighting comes from the ceiling than if it

came
from table lamps - or in-the-floor panel lights

Yes I realize there are lots of variations like types of bulb but I'm
looking to a safe starting point.


There is none. Your basic judgement and instinct will be far better than

any
formula! What LOOKS right? We sometimes use a combination - hidden

lighting to
light up a room for being viewed, plus lamps and fixtures that don't

produce a
lot of light, for a realistic look.

- Herb



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