This pic comes from a couple of years ago, after a glance at what appeared to be a traditional light fitting on a wall in Glasgow University returned a view that was just ‘too shiny’.
A second glance revealed another oddity – apparently no lightbulb to be seen.
A closer look around the area showed the entire site had been retrofitted with LED luminaires, with flat LED panels mounted in the roof of a traditionally styled lantern.
In the past, I suspect the lantern would have been cast in a foundry, with decorative details moulded into the edges.
The modern interpretation of this lantern is made of folded sheet metal, and the flat surfaces are devoid of the decoration which would have been seen in Victorian times.
As can be seen, decoration is achieved by adding little details, so an effort has been made to avoid an overly plain appearance.
Glasgow University Exterior LED Luminaire
I had to get closer before the LED panel became obvious.
The ‘ROAD SIDE’ sticker is a nice touch, but should probably be removed once the thing is installed.
Note the missing decorative ball on the front right corner mounting (it should hide the plain nut), and the wrap of green/yellow ‘Earth’ insulating tape on the end of the conduit below the base. The installation diagram shows this should feed a cable gland, but the original pic show a grommet here, and the light area seen below shows the grommet is too small for the hole where the gland should be.
DW Windsor Installation Detail
Glasgow University Exterior LED Luminaire Detail
A closer look at the panel, and the sticker which allowed this luminaire’s manufacturer to be identified.
This is the ‘High Performance’ version with high power LEDs providing between (approx) 1,000 to 9,000 lumens, and consuming 12 to 93 watts. There’s even a choice of colour temperature, from 2,700 to 4,000 K.
How things have changed since the days when all you got was a gas flame (or mantle) and had to employ the services of a lamplighter 🙂
DW Windsor LED Panel
I have to say I’m impressed by the level of detail provided by the manufacturer on their web site, with full details on not only the mechanical aspects of their fittings, but reports on all aspects of their electrical and lighting characteristics.
There’s almost too much, but then again, I’m looking at everything – if I was actually looking for a suitable item, I’d just be concentrating on what I needed/wanted.
Coincidentally, International Dark Sky Week passed exactly one month ago (I should have mentioned it, but was too busy, and too late), and there’s a nice outdoor lighting graphic that went with it.
Dark Sky Week 2021
It’s getting interesting to pay attention while wandering around nowadays, and look closer at light fittings.
LED fittings have now been around long enough to become practical alternatives to the various traditional fittings, and their power saving and more efficient designs also make them attractive as replacements during routine maintenance of existing fittings, when all that would have been planned was relamping.
It’s interesting, or perhaps I should really say depressing, that even this simple choice has been hijacked and become a ’cause’ for the conspiracy theorists, who have come up with all sorts of crazy ideas about LEDs, and warning people NOT to change to them, and keep their traditional lighting.
Secret Scotland 