Lightscape FX Services

We NOW solder all our connections! (read more)

Let Lightscape FX create your night-time outdoor atmosphere

At Lightscape FX, landscape lighting is our specialty. We strive to understand the specific needs of every client and fully meet or exceed their expectations. Knowing that no two applications are the same, we listen closely to our customers combining their expectations with our knowledge and creativity to provide more than illumination.

How to Get Started

Typically, we like to start with a site inspection to evaluate the setting. A quick demonstration usually benefits both the property owner and the designer to understand the desired effects that we will want to achieve. After careful consideration of the possibilities, we can give you an estimate of the cost. On your approval, we will develop a plan for the project. If the final quote meets with your approval, we can usually get started within two weeks.

Over-night Demos

We also offer the ability to leave a simple, temporary lighting arrangement on your property for up to three days so that you can fully appreciate the benefits. There's nothing like driving up to your place and seeing the effects of landscape lighting for yourself.

Fixture Guide

We use a wide range of fixtures to achieve numerous effects. Here a few commonly used fixtures.

	This is our most commonly used fixture. This accent light is constructed using aerospace grade alloys and silicone seals. It uses a halogen MR-16 lamp which is our lighting designers favorite lamp due to its high efficiency, beam control, color rendition and availability. This fixture can accommodate 11 different lamps ranging from 10-35 watts. Take this broad range of illuminating possibilities and add to that the use of special filter and our lighting designer can find a solution to any exterior accent lighting situation.
	Another fixture we use extensively is this small copper path light. As beautiful as it looks, it is even more functional than it is beautiful. One of the challenges today's lighting designers face is to provide adequate pedestrian illumination from increasingly narrow planter areas. This one is just right for those applications. The lamp assembly is milled from solid brass and does an exceptionally good job of providing great beam spread projection with practically no glare. The copper will patina naturally over time to blend in with the surroundings.
	Another very practical fixture is this wall light. When an integral mount is not practical, this unit works well since it is surface mounted. Internal parabolic reflector maximizes lighting efficiency. Tempered glass diffuser optics softens the beam spread transition. The small spherical shape, narrow profile and wide range of powder-coat options allow it to blend into any surrounding material. We use this extensively on wooden deck rails and stairs.

These are just a few of the many fixtures we use. To view more of the fixtures available, click here for a link to the FX Luminaire website, our preferred supplier for fixtures.

Lighting Techniques

·   Path  Lighting

·   Area Lighting

·   Shadow Lighting

·   Directional Lighting

·   Accent Lighting

·   Up Lighting

·   In-Tree Down Lighting

·   Multi-dimensional Lighting

·   Silhouette Lighting

·   Sign Lighting

·   Security Lighting

·   Flower Beds

·   Stair/Step Lighting (embedded or external)

·   Column Lighting

·   Wall Lighting (grazing or scalloping)

·   Underwater Lighting

·   Water Surface Reflection Lighting

·   Spot Lighting

·   Barbeque Lights

·   More

Engineered Solutions

We take extra care to design your system correctly. Cable routing paths are thoughtfully designed for minimal vulnerability.  This example design plan below shows how each lighting zone cable is routed. Lights are grouped together into "zones" so that each zone is load limited based on the distance from the transformer. Calculating and compensating for voltage drops plus proper cable sizing ensures even, consistent voltage and illumination levels and long bulb life. We always leave extra load capacity for future additions. The difference between a well designed lighting system and one that is simple strung together is very apparent and important step in our quality program.

Key Installation Techniques

How can we offer such a long warranty on our installations?

The key is our technique for preventing corrosion at the connections. At the base of every fixture is an electrical connection to the supply cable coming from the transformer. Most installers use a quick clamp-on connector that pierces the insulation to make the connection. This is an easy way to do it. But over time, moisture corrodes this connection and eventually opens the electrical current flow, resulting a failure.

We NOW solder all our connections!

The connection system we use is a two step process. It starts with stripping and twisting the wires. Then we solder the wires by applying flux and dipping them into molten solder. Later, after we have tested the system, we seal the connection using a a special bag-and-seal method developed by FX Luminaire that keeps the moisture out: First, wire nuts are placed on the soldered connections, then the the connection is inserted into a thick mil poly bag filled with a special compound. This compound adheres to plastic tenaciously to prevent any air gaps that would result in moisture entering the joint. A sturdy tie-wrap is used to close the bag and also provide strain relief to the cables. Before we are finished, we work the compound into bottom of the wire nut and between the wires to force all the air out of the bag. No other method we have seen or tried  comes close to the effectiveness of this method. The result is a very dependable lighting system that gives you years of trouble free operation.

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