12 Questions About Pool Table Lighting
2/2/2013 8:56:56 AM
12 Questions About Pool Table Lighting
I'd like to explore your thoughts regarding overhead pool table lights.
Yes, we all know about the various 3 and 4 lamp overhead pool table lights available, and which size pool table requires which size lighting, but the real "nuts and bolts" knowledge, experience, and results seems missing.
I bring this up because I decided to see how a $22 Costco "energy saving" CFL with dimmer capabilities would compare to the 4 x 100 watt bulbs I've used for a few years.
Please comment on these critical pool table lighting issues for the benefit of us all.
Assuming you have a 3 or 4 bulb hanging fixture... 1. What dimension do you have from pool table surface to lamp surface? e.g. What is the distance from the pool table light down to the pool table top?2. What's the lumen output of the pool table light bulbs?3. What's the bulb actual wattage?4. Are you using CFL or incandescent bulbs in your pool table light?5. Are you using a "Spot" bulb (as in a spotlight design) or a round bulb (as in a plain-jane table incandescent bulb)6. If a CFL type, what is the true watt consumption vs. the alleged watt equivalent output?7. If you know the lightwave frequency (3500K up to 6000K), what is it?8. Are the shades on your pool table light white or mirrored/chrome-like or something else altogether?9. If you have "spot" type bulbs, what angle did the box say they were? ("R"-type and "PAR"-type bulbs usually have the angle on the box)10. I am of the opinion that ideally, a pool table light should not produce some bright areas and some less bright ones on the table top. Does your pool table light do this, and if so, are they obvious or, so subtle you wouldn't notice it?11. Do you agree that the illuminated area of the pool table should be evenly lit and that the only area DIRECTLY lit by the pool table light is the four rail-boards up to and including the outermost trim, with as little "wasted" illumination hitting the floor?12. If the bulbs used are "dimmable," do you ever adjust the output to less than 100% "on" while playing pool? I'll post MY answers, after I run over to my pool table and find out.
12 Questions About Pool Table Lighting
Replies & Comments
Mitch Alsup on 2/2/2013 12:06:35 PM
I did not like the typical pool table light, so I went with a less common pool table light made by Diamond Billiards (diamondbilliards.com).
The pool table light comes with 2 dual bulb real fluorescent fixtures, and I have mine set up with four 25 watt bulbs. Each bulb has a standard fluorescent temperature profile.
I have mine hung above my pool table as such that I can stand at the rail, and bend over the table without my head hitting the light (or come close enough for me to worry some about hitting it.)
I had my pool table light fixture made of the same cherry wood that my pool table is made from.
kkroger on 2/2/2013 2:34:26 PM
- What dimension do you have from table surface to lamp surface? 30"2. What's the lumen output of the bulbs you use? 700 Lumen output.3. What's the bulb actual wattage? 14W with 65W output kinda the same question as 6...4. CFL or incandescent? CFL5. "Spot" (as in a spotlight design) or round (as in a plane jane table incandescent) Globe "Daylight"6. If a CFL type, what is the true watt consumption vs. the alleged watt equivalent output? Consumption is 14W Output is 65W7. If you know the lightwave frequency (3500K up to 6000K), what is it? 5000K8. The shades on your fixture -are they white or mirrored/chrome-like or something else altogether? Polymer, Red in Color no reflective coating9. If you have "spot" type bulbs, what angle did the box say they were? [BTW, "R"-type and "PAR"-type usually have the angle on the box] N/A10. I am of the opinion that ideally, the lights should NOT have bright areas and less bright ones on the table top. Do yours and if so, are they obvious or, so subtle you wouldn't notice it? Not that I can tell11. Do you agree, the illuminated area should be evenly lit, that the only area that should be DIRECTLY lit is the four rail-boards up to and including the outermost trim - with as little "wasted" illumination hitting the floor? Evenly lit is the goal12. If the bulbs used are "dimmable," do you ever adjust the output to less than 100% "on"? No
The light over my Pub Table has a bulb style CFL soft white 40W bulb. The light over my air hockey table has a coil-style 100W bulb.
I do plan to paint the interior of the shades with a white reflective coating.
Zeke on 2/3/2013 8:11:09 AM
Mitch, as much as you love your Diamond Florescent lighting fixture, the photo suggests an under-illumination at head and foot rails of the pool table and over-illumination in the middle of the table (relatively speaking). What is up with that?
It looks worse in the picture than in real life. The corners of the pool table are quite well lit.
guest on 5/30/2014 3:25:49 PM
Mitch, it looks like you bought the 7' Diamond billiard light but your pool table is either a 8' or 9' pool table size, so that would make a difference. I have the 9' Diamond pool table light over a 9' table and it works like a charm with NO shadows or dark areas!
12 Questions About Pool Table Lighting
- Title: 12 Questions About Pool Table Lighting
- Author: Zeke (Ken Secor)
- Published: 2/2/2013 8:56:56 AM
