Design Notes

Planning a Fibre Optic System

This section will take you through the design process for most fibre optic applications. If you need any further help or perhaps you have a non standard requirement then our Technical Department would be pleased to help.

Planning Stage One
Design Parameters and Cost

1. Performance

Decide exactly what you need to achieve with the equipment. Fibre Optics can be used in a wide range of applications and the photometric data in this catalogue should help you to choose the right combination of products.

2. Budget

Having made a rough selection of products, check the cost against the budget. Fibre Optic systems have become cheaper over the past five years but they are still generally more expensive than conventional luminaires for downlighting/accent applications. Sparkle ceilings and other decorative applications can usually show cost savings against conventional tungsten halogen systems.

Planning Stage Two
Simple Rules of Design

1. Harness Lengths

Keep all harness lengths for end lit applications as short as possible. Try to keep tail lengths less than 10 metres and no more than 2 metres between shortest and longest tails. PMMA fibre has considerably lower transmission losses than most glass fibres and longer tail lengths can be used. For exterior paver installations, 30 metres plus is possible.

2. Lateral Fibre Maximum Lengths

For lateral side lit fibre the maximum length should be kept below 30 metres with light coming from both ends. Usually this means a lightprojector at each

end, although the fibre can return in a loop to the same lightprojector. In some installations up to 45 metres can be used but with some fall off toward the centre. The appearance of lengths more than 30m should always be approved by the customer.

3. Lightprojector Choice

Most installations work well with 150w metal halide. These projectors produce good luminance on lateral fibre and are also ideal for cabinet/display lighting.
For maximum output the 400w HTI lightprojector is ideal although the shorter lamp life (1,500 hours) must be compared to the life of the metal halide units (6 to 8,000 hours).

Low level lighting (critical museum displays or sparkle ceilings) can make good use of the 100w halogen lightprojectors.

	DESIGN NOTES
	Planning a Fibre Optic System This section will take you through the design process for most fibre optic applications. If you need any further help or perhaps you have a non standard requirement then our Technical Department would be pleased to help. Planning Stage One Design Parameters and Cost 1. Performance Decide exactly what you need to achieve with the equipment. Fibre Optics can be used in a wide range of applications and the photometric data in this catalogue should help you to choose the right combination of products. 2. Budget Having made a rough selection of products, check the cost against the budget. Fibre Optic systems have become cheaper over the past five years but they are still generally more expensive than conventional luminaires for downlighting/accent applications. Sparkle ceilings and other decorative applications can usually show cost savings against conventional tungsten halogen systems. Planning Stage Two Simple Rules of Design 1. Harness Lengths Keep all harness lengths for end lit applications as short as possible. Try to keep tail lengths less than 10 metres and no more than 2 metres between shortest and longest tails. PMMA fibre has considerably lower transmission losses than most glass fibres and longer tail lengths can be used. For exterior paver installations, 30 metres plus is possible. 2. Lateral Fibre Maximum Lengths For lateral side lit fibre the maximum length should be kept below 30 metres with light coming from both ends. Usually this means a lightprojector at each end, although the fibre can return in a loop to the same lightprojector. In some installations up to 45 metres can be used but with some fall off toward the centre. The appearance of lengths more than 30m should always be approved by the customer. 3. Lightprojector Choice Most installations work well with 150w metal halide. These projectors produce good luminance on lateral fibre and are also ideal for cabinet/display lighting. For maximum output the 400w HTI lightprojector is ideal although the shorter lamp life (1,500 hours) must be compared to the life of the metal halide units (6 to 8,000 hours). Low level lighting (critical museum displays or sparkle ceilings) can make good use of the 100w halogen lightprojectors.		Planning Stage Three Final Calculation We can help with computer plots and renderings for most areas of design and also provide, on computer disk, data files that can be used with most software packages. Planning Stage Four Ordering a System It is often important to see a sample of the equipment prior to ordering. Crescent Lighting has a comprehensive network of agents and distributors throughout the UK, Europe and The Middle East. They would be pleased to demonstrate a system prior to placement of an order. One final and important point, always check the site dimensions to ensure sufficient fibre is ordered. Allow at least one metre extra on each end of a fibre run and ensure that hidden fibre routes are clear and are of known length. General Comments A range of Fibre Optic Lightprojectors for both glass and PMMA fibre. Precise optical design and extensive testing make our units some of the most efficient on the market. Full photometric data is shown under the relevant product specification. All Lightprojectors are fitted with high quality components and most include thermal cutouts and safety micro switches to isolate the electrical components when the unit is opened. All optical systems are factory adjusted to provide optimum output and some projectors utilise a pre-focussed reflector/lamp assembly to ensure continued high output, even after repeated lamp changes. It is important to allow sufficient space and ventilation around the Lightprojector to ensure that the ambient temperature does not exceed the limits shown. We can help with design parameters of enclosures if needed. All Lightprojectors except CRE465 are designed for internal mounting only, with sufficient ventilation. Exterior housings can be supplied. Please ask for details. For side lit (Lateral) installations we recommend a maximum of 450 fibres be fitted into the projector. The fibre quantity is shown for each type of lateral Fiberstars fibre under the appropriate product specification.